JSP Corporation - Introduction

Introduction

4-2-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo
100-0005
Japan
Telephone: (+81) 3 6212 6300
Fax: (+81) 3 6212 6302
Web site: http://www.co-jsp.co.jp

Public Company
Incorporated: 1962 as Nihon (Japan) Styrene Paper
Employees: 747
Sales: ¥77,724 million ($735.3 million) (2004)
Stock Exchanges: Tokyo
Ticker Symbol: JSP
NAIC: 326150 Urethane and Other Foam Product (Except Polystyrene) Manufacturing

JSP Corporation is the world's largest producer of expanded polypropylene plastics (EPP), backed by its proprietary beads foaming and extrusion foaming processes. The company, which developed the first EPPs in the 1970s, markets these materials under the P-Block, ARPOR (in North America), and EPPOR brand names, as well as its Super Blow line of hybrid foam technology products. The company has also been a pioneer in the development of biodegradable plastics, such as its Green Block packaging products. These products are said to break down completely into carbon dioxide and water when in contact with soil. JSP subgroups its product lines into four primary categories: Sheets, Beads, Boards, and others. Applications using JSP's products include styrene paper; P-Pearl polypropylene foam sheeting used as a food packaging material; Acryace sheeting used in the construction of rear-projection television screens; Miramat polyethylene foam sheets, used as a cushioning material; packaging materials under the Caplon, P-Board, P-Mat, Miranet, and other brands; P-EPP (porous expanded polypropylene), used for acoustical paneling, among other applications; P-Block and ARPOR, which are used in the production of automobile bumper systems; expanded polyethylene, providing molded protective packaging; and cross-linked expanded polyethylene, used for a variety of cushioning applications, from sports equipment to flooring under-liners. JSP Corporation is an internationally operating business, with production plants in the United States, Mexico, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and China, in addition to 11 production facilities in Japan. The company also operates a number of research and development facilities and in the mid-2000s has been focusing its research and development efforts on creating new product applications for its core technologies. Japan remains the group's largest market, with nearly 74 percent of sales of ¥77,724 million ($735.3 million) in 2004. Mitsubishi Chemical is JSP's largest shareholder, following the merger of Mitsubishi Chemical Foam Plastic into JSP in 2003. JSP is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and led by chairman Masaaki Harada and president Rokurou Inoue.