Technical History
Year

VALQUA’s Technical History

1927

Founded NIPPON BRAKE LINING SEISAKUSHO for manufacturing of brake linings for automobiles and various
high-speed machines.

1929

Started research of Compressed Asbestos Sheet and various gaskets.

1930

Started manufacturing of clutch facings.

1931

Started manufacturing of asbestos braided gaskets.
Started manufacturing of high-test lining.

1932

Started manufacturing of asbestos spiral gaskets.
Started research and prototype manufacturing of cloth-inserted rubber molds.
Started manufacturing of laminated compressed sheets.

1933

Received a request from the Imperial Japanese Navy Technical Department to research special high-temperatureand high-pressure metal gaskets.
Started manufacturing of laminated Compressed Asbestos Sheet (No. 902, 305, and 1000).

1934

Completed research on special high-temperature and high-pressure gaskets (No. 1250).
Registered special high-temperature and high-pressure gaskets in the Navy Purchasing List.

1935

Installed Japan’s first manufacturing equipment for large Compressed Asbestos Sheet (for 120-inch sheets).
Started manufacturing of prototypes of large Compressed Asbestos Sheet.

1936

Started research work on fabrication of synthetic rubber.

1937

Had synthetic rubber gaskets installed in KAMIKAZE as the first Japanese product in a round-the-world flight.
Started manufacturing of grease (No. 1).
Obtained polysulfide synthetic rubber, HITACOLE,＊1 and started research work on oil resistance gaskets.

1941

Started manufacturing of synthetic rubber gaskets for aircraft and asbestos compression sheets.

1943

Appointed by the Army Fuel Plant for research on gaskets for oil refining equipment.

Spring 2017

1939

Started manufacturing of aircraft gaskets.
Following the National General Mobilization Law (Article 25), ordered to conduct research tests for powergenerating high-temperature and high-pressure gaskets.
Started manufacturing of metal gaskets for fuel and industrial use.
1947

Started manufacturing of piston valves.

1949

Completed a molding processing method for polyvinyl chloride resin and started sales.

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Started research work on a new braiding method for asbestos mole-braided gaskets.
Commissioned by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry for research on high-temperature, high-pressure,and superheated steam gaskets.
1950

Successfully completed research work on new braiding methods and started manufacturing mole-braided (latticing)gaskets.
Completed research work on high-temperature, high-pressure, and superheated steam gaskets commissioned by
the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.

1951

Completed research work on synthetic rubber oil seals for bearing oil prevention.
Started research work on silicon rubber processing.
Imported Teflon powder＊2 from the United States and started research work on the Teflon molding method.
Started research work on O-rings.

1952

Completed research work on the fabrication of Teflon and started sales as VALFLON®.
Started manufacturing of synthetic rubber oil seals.
Completed research work on metal spiral gaskets and started manufacturing and sales as VALQUATIGHTTM.

1953

Completed MECHANICAL SEAL for rotators and started manufacturing and sales.
Received subsidiary aid from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry for research on the performance ofaircraft gaskets made mainly of silicon or Teflon.

1954

Started manufacturing and sale of O-rings.

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Technical History
Year

VALQUA’s Technical History

1955

Received subsidiary aid from Ministry of International Trade and Industry for fabrication and manufacturing technology
of polytetrafluoroethylene.

1956

Started manufacturing and sale of Teflon-coated adhesive tape.
Imported Teflon extruders and started research work on thin-walled tubes, hoses, and coated cables.
Started manufacturing and sale of fluorocarbon rubber.
Synthetic rubber gaskets used for fighter jets (F-86) for the first time in Japan.

1957

Completion of industrialization tests for fabrication and manufacturing technology of polytetrafluoroethylene
approved by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
Released technical report, VALQUA REVIEW.

1958

Started manufacturing and sale of Combined Drip-Ring Gaskets (No. 2800).

1959

Started manufacturing and sale of screw joint seals, TAPE SEALTM.

1960

Started manufacturing and sale of VALFLON® glass cloths (No. 7920).
Started manufacturing and sale of ball valves.

1962

Started manufacturing and sale of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (HOSUTAREN GUR＊3) products.
Product name: VALREN.

1963

Started manufacturing and sale of Teflon grease SPRAY WAX (ＵＮＯＮ S).

1964

Developed Japan’s first Teflon fiber and started manufacturing and sale.
Completed the world’s largest (400 mm) VALFLON® large-diameter pipes.

1965

Founded NIPPON ELASTON, CO. as a joint venture with the German company ELASTOMER AG and started
manufacturing and sale of thermoplastic polyurethane, ELASTORUN.*4Started manufacturing and sales of Cordseal<Soft>TM.

Spring 20171966

and sale of DURA SEAL.
1967

Newly developed fire-resistant coating material, REF-LIGHT, received certification by the Ministry of Construction.
Jointly developed valve seals with the American company DINNER CO.
Started manufacturing and sale of high-temperature metal coating, VALFLON® BELLOWS.

1968

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Entered a technologically cooperation with the American company DURA METALLIC and started manufacturingStarted manufacturing and sale of carbon fiber-braided gaskets (No. 97-CT, Current No. 6232).
Completed standardization of mechanical seals for mixers and started manufacturing and sales.

1969

Started manufacturing and sale of PURE VALFLON® PASTE.
Started manufacturing and sale of flexible duct connectors, FLECTORTM.

1970

Started manufacturing and sale of metal hollow O-rings.

1971

Started manufacturing and sale of VALFLON® powder gaskets, PHLOROTIGHT.
Received approval to display the API (American Petroleum Inst.) certification mark for ball valves meeting API
Standard 6D.
Started manufacturing and sale of VALFLON® Lining Ball Valve.
Started sale of DOH and MS-type gas removal apparatuses.
Started manufacturing and sale of heat transfer spiral gaskets with twigs, HEAT TRANSFER VALQUATIGHTTM
WITH TWIG.
Started manufacturing and sale of fire-safe ball valves.

1972

Started sale of flexible tubes for air conditioners, VALFLC.
Started manufacturing and sale of ELASTORUN Laminated Films.
Started manufacturing and sale of Gasket Cutter in new design.
Started manufacturing and sale of VALFLON® FLAWLESS GASKET.

1973

Developed completely wet spraying VALQUA WET and started accepting orders.
Started sale of gasket tools in new design.
Started manufacturing and sale of VALFLON® THERMAL CONTRACTION TUBE.

1974
55Started manufacturing and sale of gland gaskets with braided carbon fibers, CHEMSEALTM.

Technical History
Year

VALQUA’s Technical History

1974

Started manufacturing and sale of soundproofing construction material, NOISE DAMPER.

1975

Started manufacturing and sale of Japan’s first completely unlubricated gasket, NORPACKTM.
Received development subsidiary paid from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Agency of Industrial
Science and Technology for research on non-contact seal applications.
Developed anti-corrosive Compressed Asbestos Sheet (No. 1500AC, No. 1501AC, and No. 921AC) and started
manufacturing and sales.
Jointly developed steel-fiber-mixed lightweight concrete slabs with Kajima Corporation.
Entrusted by the Research Development Corp. of Japan with the development of manufacturing technology forheat and alkali-resistant glass fibers.

1976

Developed acid-proof Compressed Asbestos Sheet made from chrysotile (No. 1000) and started manufacturing andsales.
As an important technology research and development project, received subsidiary aid from the Ministry ofInternational Trade and Industry, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology for industrialization tests for
manufacturing of heat-resistant and fireproof building materials with Shirasu glass fibers.
Terminated contract with the British company TBA INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS LTD. for technical cooperation for
dust laying asbestos cloth.

1978

Terminated contract with the American company FLUOROWARE INC. for cross-licensing of fluorocarbon resin PFA injection
molding, transfer and compressing molding techniques.

1979

Started manufacturing and sale of fused fluorocarbon resin PFA wafer carrier containers and jigs forsemiconductor manufacturing.

1982

Started manufacturing and sale of Compressed Non-Asbestos Sheet.

1983

Spring 2017

Started sale of metal-coated spring gaskets, TRYPACKTM.
Started sale of Oil Sheet.
Started sale of gland gaskets for aramid fiber rotation shafts.
1984

Started sale of VALFLON CRYSTAL RUBBERTM.

1985

Promoted development of various non-asbestos products.
Started sale of GREENTIGHT.

1990

Started sale of VALFLON® Semi-rigid Coaxial Cable.

1993

Received the Plunket Award from the American company DU PONT for ALL FLUOROCARBON RESIN BAR

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CODE.
Established Nara Works in Gojo, Nara, and started manufacturing of highly functional rubber products.
1994

Started sale of CLEANTIGHT®.

1995

Received the Plunket Award from the American company DU PONT for PFA tubes for copying machine rolls.
Started sale of large-capacity, site-construction-type VALFLON® Sheet Lining Tank.

1997

Received the Plunket Award from the American company DU PONT for site-construction-type VALFLON® SheetLining Large-CapacityTank.

1998

Started sale of high-purity fluorocarbon rubber seals for liquid crystal/semiconductor devices, ARMOR® series(4 types).

1999

Started sale of rectangular gate valves for semiconductor or FPD manufacturing device manufacturers.

2001

Started publishing quarterly issues of VALQUA Technology News to pass down most of the roles of the VALQUA
REVIEW.

2002

Received the Plunket Award from the American company DU PONT for electrode films of electric double-layer
capacitors.

2004

Started sale of heat-resistant non-asbestos sheet gaskets, BLACKHYPER®.
Founded the Fluorocarbon Resin Search Institute and VALQUA Seal Research Institute in Shanghai, China.

2005

Completely terminated manufacturing of asbestos products.

2006

Completely terminated sale of asbestos products.
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Technical History
Year

VALQUA’s Technical History

2006

Started sale of high-temperature VALFLON® jacket gaskets, No. N7030 (H) SERIES.

2008

Integrated the Fluorocarbon Resin Search Institute and VALQUA Seal Research Institute into the VALQUA China
Research Institute (newly established in Shanghai).

2010

Founded J/V VALMEI Corporation (headquartered in Tokyo) to reinforce Expanded Fluoroplastics (sa-PTFE™)
business.
Founded China Membrane Institute in VALQUA China Research Institute in Shanghai, China.
Launched enhanced China operations through an operational and capital tie up with Daikin Industries, Ltd.
Started sale of PTFE sheet gaskets with white filler, BRIGHTHYPER®.

2011

Established the China Functional Resign Research Institute in Shanghai VALQUA Fluoroplastics Corp. Ltd. as atechnological development base.

2012

Started sale of CRYSTALLINE SILICA FREE SERIES using amorphous silica instead of crystalline silica as anenvironmental measure.

2013

Founded ADVANCE FLON TECHNOLOGIES (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD. as a joint venture with Guarniflon S.p.A.,
Italian company, in China.
Started sale of PTFE sheet gaskets with filler, UNIVERSALHYPER®.
Started sale of earthquake-proof countermeasure gaskets No. 6596A.

2015

Published“New Gaskets and Gasketing Technology”(by Takahito Nishida, senior fellow at VALQUA).

2016

Started sale of RCF FREE SERIES using materials other than ceramic fibers as an environmental measure.
Opened APPLIED R&D INSTITUTE in South Korea.
Started sales of improved seal paste, classified as non-dangerous goods with a safe, environmental, carcinogenfree combination.

Spring 2017

＊1 HITACOLE is the name of a product manufactured by HITACHI, LTD.
＊2 Teflon is the name of a fluorocarbon resin product manufactured by DU PONT.
＊3 HOSUTAREN GUR is the name of a product manufactured by HOECHST.
＊4 ELASTORUN is a trademark of BASF Polyurethanes GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung).

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