Company History

Resonac Group started its operations by focusing on the future possibilities of the electrochemical industry, which utilized one of Japan's important resources: abundant water energy. Originating from electrochemistry, our Group’s technology further evolved to cover the fields of inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and metal materials. Today, the technology is inherited to wide variety of products that are essential in everyday life, including materials and components used in the information/telecommunication industry and the automotive industry.

Resonac Group

2023 Became Resonac Holdings Corporation and Resonac Corporation, integrating Showa Denko K.K and Showa Denko Materials Co.,Ltd.

Former Showa Denko K.K.

1908 Established Sobo Marine Products K.K.
1921 Established Takada Aluminum Equipment Manufacturing K.K.
1926 Established Nihon Iodine K.K.
1928 Established Showa Fertilizers K.K.
1931 Started manufacturing ammonium sulfate using domestic technology (Showa Fertilizers K.K.)
1934 Industrialized domestically produced aluminum (Nihon Iodine K.K.)
1937 Established Riken Kohaku Kogyo K.K.
1939 Established Showa Denko K.K.
1945 Resumed production of ammonium sulfate fertilizer
1951 Achieved domestic production of synthetic resin emulsion
1953 Achieved domestic production of unsaturated polyester resin
1965 Achieved domestic production of vinyl ester resin
1969 Oita Petrochemical Complex started commercial operation
1981 Developed the “Cojunal Method”, a high-purity aluminum refining
1986 Started manufacture and sale of aluminum cylinders
1988 Expanded into the hard disk business
Acquired a graphite electrode business in the United States, and established Showa Denko Carbon, Inc.
2001 Merged Showa Aluminum Corporation
2003 Started the business to recycle used plastic as material for ammonia at Kawasaki Plant
2005 Started mass production of perpendicular magnetic recording hard disks first in the world
2008 Made Showa Tansan Co., Ltd. (presently Showa Denko Gas Products Co., Ltd.) a consolidated subsidiary
2009 Started production of cooling devices for power control units
Integrated the hard disk business of Fujitsu Limited and launched Showa Denko HD Yamagata K.K.
2010 Merged Showa Highpolymer Co., Ltd.
2016 Made SunAllomer Ltd. a consolidated subsidiary
2017 Acquired SGL GE, a company engaged in the graphite electrode business (presently SHOWA DENKO CARBON Holding GmbH)
Established Advanced Battery Materials Division
2019 Established Coating Materials Department
2020 Acquired Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd. (presently Showa Denko Materials Co., Ltd.)

Former Showa Denko Materials Co.,Ltd.

1912 Hitachi, Ltd. began research into electrical insulating materials for electrical machinery. This is the origin of Hitachi Chemical.
1932 Started production of laminate.
1939 Started production of carbon brushes.
1955 Started production of copper clad laminate.
1962 Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd. was established as a separate entity.
1963 Began business by taking over the assets of the Chemical Products Division of Hitachi, Ltd.
1978 Started selling photosensitive film of alkali-based solvents.
1984 Started production of circuit connecting film for displays..
1992 Started selling reflow-resistance epoxy molding compounds.
1998 Started high-volume production of carbon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.
Started manufacturing CMP slurries for STI (shallow trench isolation).
2001 Started manufacturing molded plastic rear door modules.
2013 Headquarters moved from Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward to Chiyoda Ward.
2014 Absorbed Hitachi Powdered Metals Co., Ltd..
2016 Absorbed Hitachi Kasei Polymer Co., Ltd..
2017 FIAMM Energy Technology S.p.A. became a consolidated subsidiary of Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.
PCT, LLC, a Caladrius Company (currently, Minaris Regenerative Medicine, LLC) became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.
ISOLITE GmbH became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.
2018 Kyowa Medex Co., Ltd. (currently, Minaris Medical Co., Ltd.) became a consolidated subsidiary of Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.
2019 apceth Biopharma GmbH (currently, Minaris Regenerative Medicine GmbH) became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.
2020 Became a consolidated subsidiary of Showa Denko K.K.
Changed company’s name to Showa Denko Materials Co., Ltd.
2021 Spun off Regenerative Medicine Business Sector (Yokohama Site) to form Minaris Regenerative Medicine Co.,Ltd.