Kurita Water Industries
A Japanese water-treatment company supplying treatment chemicals, facilities, process solutions, maintenance, and environmental services.
Last updated October 17, 2026
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Overview
Kurita Water Industries Ltd. is a Japanese water-treatment technology and services company founded in 1949. Its original business centered on chemicals for treating boiler water, based on technology associated with naval boiler operations. The company subsequently broadened its activities from chemical sales into the design and supply of water-treatment facilities, chemical cleaning, maintenance, process-treatment chemicals, and environmental remediation. Kurita’s business serves industrial customers whose operations depend on reliable water quality and controlled process chemistry. Its markets have included pulp and paper, petrochemicals, steel, electronics, semiconductor-related manufacturing, and other industrial users. The company has also supplied water-treatment systems and related services for municipal and general industrial applications. Its capabilities extend across water-quality analysis, facility operation and maintenance, chemical cleaning, tool cleaning, ultrapure-water supply, and remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater. The company’s early development was marked by a series of adjacent-business expansions. In 1951 it entered the water-treatment facilities business and established its first research and development center. It added chemical cleaning in 1953 and maintenance services in 1958. During the 1960s, Kurita entered process treatment, developing chemicals for sectors such as pulp and paper, petrochemicals, and steel. The company moved into electronics-related treatment in the 1970s, a direction that later supported its involvement in increasingly demanding industrial water applications. Kurita also developed environmental businesses beyond conventional water treatment. It launched soil-remediation activities in 1991 and later added consulting intended to help customers manage soil-pollution risks. In 2002, it began an ultrapure-water supply business. This broadened the company’s role from selling treatment inputs and equipment to providing continuing, performance-oriented water services. International expansion became a sustained part of Kurita’s strategy from the mid-1970s onward. The company established overseas subsidiaries and affiliates and entered China through Kurita Water Industries (Suzhou) Ltd. in 2004. It also expanded in Europe through the acquisition of the water, paper, and aluminum-compounds business of BK Giulini and the establishment of Kurita Europe APW GmbH. These moves gave the company additional regional reach and product capabilities. Kurita remains a publicly listed Japanese company whose offering combines chemistry, engineering, equipment, monitoring, operations, maintenance, and environmental consulting. Its positioning is based on helping customers manage water resources, production processes, and environmental risks rather than functioning solely as a chemical supplier. The company is also associated with sustainability-oriented investing: according to the cited reference material, its shares have been included in the Nature Stock Index since 2003. Exact current revenue, employee, geographic-sales, and ownership figures are not included here because they are not supported by the supplied source material. Kurita Water Industries Ltd., commonly known as Kurita, is a Japanese company in the specialty-chemicals sector. Its business is focused on water treatment, including water-treatment chemicals and related technologies and services. The company serves industrial and institutional customers whose operations depend on managing water quality and water systems. Kurita was established in Japan in 1949 and has developed from its domestic origins into an international business. Its activities are associated with treating water used in industrial processes and with supporting customers’ water-management needs. The company’s product and service areas include water-treatment chemicals, water-treatment systems and equipment, and operational support. Specific product names and current market-by-market coverage are not established by the supplied evidence. Kurita Water Industries Ltd. is a publicly listed Japanese company and remains active. Its corporate website is https://kurita.com. The supplied evidence identifies Kurita with the specialty-chemical category, but does not provide details about its current leadership, ownership structure, headquarters, or individual offerings.
History
Kurita Water Industries was founded in Japan in 1949 by Haruo Kurita. The company began by selling chemicals for boiler-water treatment, drawing on boiler technology associated with Kurita’s previous naval experience. This initial focus gave the business a foundation in industrial water chemistry and created a platform for later expansion into engineering and service activities. In 1951, Kurita entered the water-treatment facilities business and established its first research and development center. It added chemical cleaning in 1953 and maintenance services in 1958, developing a more comprehensive model around customers’ water-treatment assets. During the 1960s, the company moved into process treatment. New chemical products were developed for industries including pulp and paper, petrochemicals, and steel, where water quality and process chemistry directly affect production reliability and product quality. Kurita became a listed company during this period. Its shares were listed on the second sections of the Tokyo and Osaka stock exchanges in 1961 and moved to the first sections of those exchanges in 1962. The company also established a second research center in 1962, supporting the expansion of its process-treatment portfolio. The company entered electronics-related treatment in 1973. During the 1980s it established a third research and development center and developed a tool-cleaning business. These activities reflected the increasing importance of specialized water and cleaning technologies in advanced manufacturing. Kurita later extended its environmental scope through a soil-remediation business launched in 1991. In 2001, it began consulting services intended to help customers manage risks associated with soil pollution, and Land Solution Inc. was established as a subsidiary focused on soil-remediation consulting. In 2002, Kurita launched an ultrapure-water supply business. This represented a shift toward supplying water as an ongoing service in addition to providing chemicals, equipment, and technical support. In 2004, the company entered the Chinese market by establishing Kurita Water Industries (Suzhou) Ltd. The following year, it opened the Kurita Global Technology Center in Nogi, Tochigi, described in the reference material as its fourth research and development center. International development had already been underway from the mid-1970s, and Kurita subsequently established a network of overseas subsidiaries and affiliates. Its international expansion included activity in Europe and the acquisition of the water, paper, and aluminum-compounds business of BK Giulini, followed by the formation of Kurita Europe APW GmbH. These steps broadened the company’s regional presence and strengthened its ability to serve industrial customers outside Japan. Kurita’s business scope now spans water-treatment chemicals and facilities, process-treatment chemicals, equipment operation and maintenance, chemical cleaning, tool cleaning, water-quality analysis, ultrapure-water supply, and soil and groundwater remediation. The company’s history shows a progression from a specialized boiler-water chemical supplier to an integrated provider of industrial water technologies and environmental services. The supplied reference material also states that Kurita has been included in the Nature Stock Index since 2003, reflecting its association with sustainability-focused investment criteria. Kurita Water Industries Ltd. was established in Japan in 1949. It grew into a company focused on water treatment, operating in the specialty-chemicals sector. Its business encompasses water-treatment chemicals as well as related systems, equipment, and services supporting the management of water in industrial settings. Over time, Kurita developed from a Japanese business into an international company. Its broader business focus is helping customers manage water quality and water systems in connection with industrial operations. The company remains active and publicly listed. The supplied evidence does not establish detailed dates for particular product launches, acquisitions, international expansions, or leadership changes, so those events are not set out here.
- 2005
Kurita Global Technology Center opened
[1]The company opened the Kurita Global Technology Center in Nogi, Tochigi, described as its fourth research and development center.
- 2004
Entry into China
[1]Kurita entered the Chinese market by establishing Kurita Water Industries (Suzhou) Ltd.
- 2003
Nature Stock Index inclusion
[1]The cited reference material states that Kurita has been included in the Nature Stock Index since 2003.
- 2002
Ultrapure-water supply launched
[1]Kurita began supplying ultrapure water as an ongoing service.
- 2001
Soil-pollution risk consulting added
[1]The company began consulting for soil-pollution risk management, with Land Solution Inc. established as a remediation-focused consulting subsidiary.
- 1991
Soil-remediation business launched
[1]Kurita expanded into soil remediation, extending its environmental-services portfolio beyond water treatment.
- 1973
Entry into electronics
[1]Kurita entered the electronics industry with related treatment activities.
- 1962
First-section listings and process-treatment expansion
[1]The company moved to the first sections of the Tokyo and Osaka exchanges and established a second research center supporting new process-treatment chemicals.
- 1961
Initial stock-market listings
[1]Kurita shares were listed on the second sections of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Osaka Securities Exchange.
- 1958
Maintenance services added
[1]Kurita began providing maintenance services for water-treatment facilities.
Products and positioning
An integrated water-treatment technology and services provider combining treatment chemistry, engineered facilities, industrial process solutions, maintenance, water-quality management, and environmental remediation. A Japanese specialty-chemicals company focused on water treatment and related industrial water-management needs.
Chemical treatment · 1949
Water-treatment chemicals
Kurita’s original business involved chemicals for boiler-water treatment. Its chemical portfolio later expanded to cover broader industrial water-treatment requirements, including treatment associated with water-treatment facilities and process operations. These products are used as part of managed treatment programs rather than as standalone consumer goods.
Industrial process treatment · 1962
Process-treatment chemicals
Beginning in the 1960s, Kurita developed chemicals for process-treatment applications in industries such as pulp and paper, petrochemicals, and steel. The offering addresses industrial processes in which water chemistry, deposits, corrosion, or related operating conditions can affect production performance.
Industrial equipment and systems · 1951
Water-treatment facilities
Kurita supplies water-treatment facilities and systems, complementing its chemical products with engineering capabilities. The facilities business began in 1951 and forms part of the company’s integrated approach, in which equipment, treatment chemistry, monitoring, and technical services can be combined for industrial and other customers.
Water-as-a-service · 2002
Ultrapure-water supply
Launched in 2002, Kurita’s ultrapure-water supply business provides highly purified water as an ongoing service. The offering is particularly relevant to manufacturing environments requiring tightly controlled water quality, including electronics-related applications.
Technical services · 1953
Operation, maintenance, and cleaning services
Kurita provides continuing technical support for water-treatment assets, including facility maintenance, chemical cleaning, and tool cleaning. These services extend the company’s role beyond system supply and chemical sales by supporting the operation and upkeep of customer installations.
Environmental remediation · 1991
Soil and groundwater remediation
Kurita entered soil remediation in 1991 and later added consulting for soil-pollution risk management. The business addresses contaminated soil and groundwater and is supported by analysis and consulting capabilities, including the activities associated with Land Solution Inc.
Analytical and consulting services
Water-quality analysis
Water-quality analysis supports Kurita’s treatment, process-management, and maintenance activities. The supplied reference identifies analysis of water quality as one of the company’s business fields, although it does not specify individual analytical products or service names.
Brand decisions
2004
Expansion into ChinaStrategyBackground
Kurita had been building an international network of subsidiaries and affiliates since the mid-1970s and sought to extend its presence in Asian industrial markets.
Action taken
The company established Kurita Water Industries (Suzhou) Ltd., marking its entry into the Chinese market.
Aftermath
The move added a Chinese operating base to Kurita’s international network. The supplied sources do not provide subsequent financial results or detailed operating outcomes.
2002
Launch of ultrapure-water supplyStrategyBackground
Kurita had developed from a supplier of treatment chemicals and facilities into a provider of continuing technical and maintenance services.
Action taken
The company launched an ultrapure-water supply business, adding an ongoing water-service model to its portfolio.
Aftermath
The initiative broadened Kurita’s participation in high-specification industrial water applications. The supplied sources do not provide financial or customer-specific results.
1991
Entry into soil remediationStrategyBackground
Kurita’s established expertise in water quality and environmental treatment provided a basis for expanding into adjacent contamination-management services.
Action taken
The company launched a soil-remediation business and later developed consulting for soil-pollution risk management.
Aftermath
Soil and groundwater remediation became an additional environmental-services field alongside Kurita’s water-treatment activities.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Kurita completes acquisition of Keytech Water Management[4]
Kurita Water Industries announced that it completed its acquisition of Keytech Water Management through its North American subsidiaries in a stock purchase deal. Keytech will operate as a wholly owned consolidated subsidiary of Kurita Canada Inc.
- Unconfirmed
Kurita receives Distinction Award for Water Company of the Year[5]
Kurita announced that it received the Distinction Award for Water Company of the Year from Global Water Intelligence as part of the Global Water Awards.
Kurita completes merger of U.S. subsidiaries[6]
Reported:
Kurita Water Industries announced completion of the merger of its four consolidated U.S. subsidiaries, which combined as Kurita America Inc.
Kurita wins 2019 Energy Conservation Grand Prize award[7]
Reported:
Kurita Water Industries was awarded the Agency of Natural Resources and Energy Director-General's Award in the Product and Business Model category of the 2019 Energy Conservation Grand Prize for improved heat transfer efficiency through its Dropwise Condensation Technology.
Sources8 sources
- 1Kurita Water Industriesen.wikipedia.org
- 2Kurita Water Industries official websitekurita.co.jp
- 3Kurita Water Industries Ltd. official websitekurita.com
- 4Kurita完成对Keytech Water Management的收购wateronline.com
- 5Kurita 获得年度水务公司优异奖wateronline.com
- 6栗田工业完成美国子公司合并chemengonline.com
- 7栗田工业荣获2019年节能大奖en.antaranews.com
- 8Kurita Water Industries Announces Merger Of Its U.S. Subsidiarieswateronline.com
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