Kuraray, the global specialty chemicals company headquartered in Japan, offers a wide range of solutions for the medical and hygiene industries: from medical films and adhesives to fine chemicals for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and nonwovens that do not require chemical additives and are suitable for the production of sterile bandages, bandages, masks and surgical caps. Another of Kuraray’s focal areas of development is dental technology, where it provides innovative products such as self-etching adhesives, advanced luting composites and aesthetically pleasing zirconium oxide blanks for high-quality dental applications. The portfolio also includes versatile thermoplastic elastomers such as SEPTON™ and HYBRAR™, which are particularly suitable for the production of flexible, transparent and durable medical devices. The materials meet the highest requirements in terms of flexibility, dimensional stability, purity and sterilizability and are therefore ideal for the production of tubes, infusion bags, adhesives, films, diapers and toothbrush handles. The products also score highly in terms of sustainability: HYBRAR™  impresses as a more environmentally friendly alternative to PVC, while SEPTON™ is now available as a bio-based version. Visitors to K 2025 (Düsseldorf, October 8-15, 2025) will be able to see the quality of SEPTON™ and HYBRAR™ for themselves at the Kuraray booth (Hall 7a, Booth D06).
 
Industrial transformation – Kuraray provides answers
Whether it is the ban on PFAS, stricter regulatory requirements or increasing demands on sustainability and skin compatibility, manufacturers of hygiene and medical products are under increasing pressure to innovate. Kuraray supplies materials that meet functional demands, comply with regulatory requirements, and are also resource-efficient. As a development partner, Kuraray uses its years of expertise and technological depth to support its customers as they move towards more sustainable, legally compliant product solutions.
 
Materials with proof of sustainability
By introducing ISCC PLUS-certified variants of key product groups, Kuraray facilitates the replacement of fossil resources in the production process – without compromising on quality and functionality. ISCC PLUS certification is based on the mass balance approach, which transparently tracks the quantity of sustainable raw materials and allocates them to the final product. Certified products include: SEPTON™, HYBRAR™, KURARAY LIQUID RUBBER, KURARAY POVAL™, ELVANOL™, EXCEVAL™, the PMMA resin PARAPET™ and MOWITAL®. These products retain their technical advantages and enable an immediate step towards climate neutrality.
 
Co-creation: Innovation arises in dialog with industry
Kuraray sees itself not only as a supplier, but also as a development partner for companies in the hygiene and medical sectors. Solutions can be configured in close cooperation with customers and their functionality, quality, and sustainability can be adapted flexibly to individual requirements. Working closely with its customers, Kuraray develops tailor-made products – for example for tubes, infusion bags, diapers and toothbrush handles. At K 2025, Kuraray will be showcasing practical solutions that address current legislative, technical and sustainability requirements.
 
Product innovations for hygiene and medical applications
The products that Kuraray is presenting at K 2025 address key requirements in the hygiene and medical sectors:
 

• HYBRAR™
  The thermoplastic elastomer HYBRAR™ is characterized by flexibility, dimensional stability, sterilizability and high purity. This makes it particularly suitable for applications with high demands on fit and technical precision. HYBRAR™ is used in medical films, adhesives and tubes that need to be robust, transparent and flexible. The decisive advantage: HYBRAR™ is a more environmentally friendly alternative to PVC. Kuraray offers a particularly efficient and sustainable solution for the production of infusion bags and tubes without PVC and plasticizers: dry blending of HYBRAR™ and/or SEPTON™ with polypropylene to produce medical films – impact-resistant, safe and efficient to process.
• SEPTON™
  The granular thermoplastic elastomer SEPTON™ is used wherever there is a need for flexible, high-performance materials that also ensure safety and comfort. For example, it can be found in toothbrush handles, medical tubes, infusion and blood bags and the elastic components of diapers. Thanks to the high stretchability and adjustable, soft elasticity of SEPTON™, the tension is distributed evenly, which is particularly beneficial for baby diapers. This is because the elastic cuffs cut in less, preventing skin irritation and ensuring greater comfort for the child. SEPTON™ is also chemically pure, meaning it contains no harmful substances, is odorless and easy to process, which is why it is already being used by leading diaper manufacturers. Another highlight is that a variant of SEPTON™ based on renewable raw materials is now available. 

Arrange an appointment with Kuraray at the K 2025

Book an individual appointment with Kuraray experts at K 2025 in advance at 
https://go.kuraray.com/K2025

About Kuraray
Established in 1991, Kuraray Europe GmbH is based in Hattersheim, near Frankfurt am Main, Germany. In 2023 the company generated annual sales of EUR 1.1 billion. 
It has more than 850 employees in Germany at its sites in Hattersheim, Frankfurt and Troisdorf. Kuraray is a global specialty chemicals company and one of the largest suppliers of industrial polymers and synthetic microfibers for many sectors of industry. Examples are Kuraray Poval™, Mowital®, Trosifol® and Clearfil™. Kuraray Europe also has around 209 employees at seven other European sites. They are also working on the development and application of innovative high-performance materials for a wide range of sectors, including the automotive, paper, glass and packaging industries, as well as for architects and dentists.

Kuraray Europe is a wholly owned subsidiary of the publicly listed Kuraray Group, which is based in Tokyo, Japan, and has more than 11,900 employees worldwide and sales of EUR 4.7 billion.

Press contacts:

Manager Corporate Communications 
Kuraray Europe GmbH
Philipp-Reis-Strasse 4
65795 Hattersheim am Main, Germany
Phone: +49 69 305 85734
E-Mail: Carmen.Mundt@kuraray.com 
Internet: www.kuraray.eu 

Julia Schreiber
Head of Communication Management
möller horcher c/o trivid GmbH
Frankfurter Strasse 151A
63303 Dreieich, Germany
Phone: +49 3731 2070 
E-mail: julia.schreiber@moeller-horcher.de
Internet: www.moeller-horcher.de