Kuraray is a global specialty chemicals company and one of the largest suppliers of polymers and synthetic microfibres for many sectors of industry. Kuraray transforms materials for the future and for the ever-changing world. Kuraray is committed to developing materials that deliver quality and value. Kuraray has offices located around the world with production facilities in Germany, Singapore, Japan and two facilities in the United States. Kuraray pioneered development of polyvinyl alcohol (Kuraray Poval™) in the early 1950s in a small plant in Japan. Originally in the form of the raw material Vinylon, Kuraray Poval™ was commercialized and sold by Kuraray beginning in 1958. As applications for Kuraray Poval™ were developed, Kuraray grew its production.