FY2012 CSR Website CSR > Site Reports > Worksites > R&D Center

The R&D Center is located next to the Kawasaki Plant in a section of thepetrochemical complex in Kawasaki across the Tama River from Haneda Airport.
The center carries out development of materials that support ZEON Group business,
primarily synthetic rubber, through to development of processing technologies. R&D
activities are pursued in line with a basic philosophy of contributing to society throughthe ongoing creation of world-leading products that “do not imitate and cannot beimitated” using unique, innovative, and environmentally friendly technologies.

Aerial view of the R&D CenterOn the premises of the ZEON Takaoka Plant, in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture, we also carry out developmentof optical film for application to LCD televisions and next-generation displays, materials for organic EL lighting, which
contributes to energy conservation, and medical equipment, such as catheters, used in the examination andtreatment of blood vessels, the digestive organs, the gallbladder, and other parts of the body.
Through the development of such diverse materials and parts that make life more convenient, as well as thecreation and delivery to a wide range of customers of new products that contribute to conservation of energy and thenatural environment, the R&D Center wants to ensure that ZEON Corporation remains a company that is “friendly tothe environment and needed by society.”
The center also engages in activities as a member of the local community. This involves the continuation of zero
emissions* efforts through thorough sorting of waste generated by R&D activities, Ecocap (plastic bottle capcollection) activities, street-cleaning activities conducted together with neighboring corporations, and ongoinginternships.
In addition to efforts in Japan, the center plans to aggressively advance R&D activities conducted together withresearch laboratories and technological support service locations in North America, China and Europe, as well as
joint research with overseas universities and corporations. We will continue R&D activity to deliver to customers
around the world new products that benefit the global environment and human prosperity.
*Zero emissions:
The establishment of systems that discharge no emissions into the natural world, and the fundamental idea behind such establi shment.

In accordance with the ZEON CSR Policy, all researchers have CSR awareness as they carry out research. In termsof compliance, related laws are strictly observed in all research activities, and the company aims for a highly
stimulated and safe research environment that is free from accidents. Before the R&D Center embarks on a newresearch project, research and administrative departments come together to conduct new experiment safety
examinations in which they discuss the research unit’s proposal and confirm legal compliance matters and safety
considerations, such as chemical substance safety and exposure protection for researchers, as well as ensure
proper allocation of resources. ZEON Corporation will proceed with R&D activities under a system that ensuresongoing provision of quality products offering a high degree of safety and that customers can trust.

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The R&D Center’s action policy in fiscal 2011 was “to improve the efficiency of research activity and ensure thoroughimplementation of safety operations through selective focus and visualization of all activities.” Effective safety
activities led to the attainment of seven million hours without accident or incident (zero lost-time accidents). The
center also managed to keep landfill disposal at zero throughout the year due to thorough sorting and recycling ofwaste generated by research activities.
In fiscal 2012, emphasis will be placed on “noticing” dangers with the implementation of comprehensive risk
prediction activities. Risks will be lowered by becoming aware of dangers and visualizing work tasks throughdialogue, helping to ensure the year goes by without accident or incident. Waste recycling will continue in order tokeep landfill disposal at zero.

The R&D Center aims to create products based on unique, innovative technologies that “do not imitate and cannot
be imitated” in conformance with the ZEON R&D Policy. This approach to product creation will allow us to quickly
realize customers’ visions for the future. In other words, “ZEON creates the future today through the power ofchemistry.”

VOICEZEON Creates the Future

As we are required to develop new products that match developments in a rapidlychanging world, we will undertake the following.

1. Researchers shall gather their own information from around the world inorder to develop products that anticipate changing trends.
2. We will advance appropriate product creation by preparing quality
function deployment (QFD) matrices that visualize establishment ofYoshiyuki Mitsuhira,design and production quality for each product development process.
General Manager – R&D Center
3. Eliminating the need for “redoing” will be vital for speeding up productdevelopment. We will make efforts to establish mass production technologies for ensuring smoothtransition from research to actual production.
I believe these initiatives will allow us to develop products that satisfy the customer.

Besides researcher participation in cleanup and planting activities in the vicinity ofresearch laboratories, the R&D Center participates together with the Kawasaki Plant
and neighboring companies in joint cleaning and maintenance of sidewalks along
the Tonomachi Yakosen street. In fiscal 2012, we will continue to strengtheninteraction with universities, for example by accepting more interns and dispatching
temporary instructors.
ZEON researchers and fiscal 2011 interns-2-Social function together with fiscal
2011 interns