GUNZE manufactures plastic films, engineering plastics, medical products, and textiles, and develops production equipment for printing and food machinery.
グンゼ株式会社 (GUNZE Limited)
Osaka (Headquarters) · Ayabe, Kyoto · Moriyama, Shiga · Amagasaki, Hyogo · TsuyamaNew on Amplifa
About GUNZE
GUNZE is a listed Japanese conglomerate founded in 1896 in Ayabe (Kyoto Prefecture) with four business segments: Function Solutions, Medical, Apparel, and Life Create. In the Function Solutions segment, plastic films (including biaxially oriented polypropylene films, OPP laminate and shrink products), engineering plastics such as fluoropolymer filter support materials, and electronic components (transfer belts, touch panels with ITO films) are manufactured. In 1986, the Medical Division became the first company in Japan to produce resorbable surgical suture materials made from bioabsorbable polymers. The Mechatronics Division develops and manufactures production equipment such as fully automatic bottle washing machines for milk beverages and food, as well as seamless knit conveyor belts and high-performance aerogel-based insulation materials. The core manufacturing technologies are resin molding (melt extrusion, dispersion mixing, multi-layer forming), textile processing (knitting, dyeing, sewing), and surface processing. Locations in Japan are the headquarters in Osaka, the founding site in Ayabe, the research and plastics plant in Moriyama (Shiga), and plants in Amagasaki and Tsuyama.
- Site
- Osaka
- Processes
- Resin molding (melt extrusion molding), Dispersion mixing, Multi-layer forming, Knitting (knit processing), Dyeing, Sewing, Adhesive bonding/sewing (automated line), Surface processing
- Materials
- Vinyl chloride (semi-rigid film), Biaxially oriented polypropylene, Nylon, Polyester, Silk (raw silk), Bioabsorbable polymers, Fluoropolymer, ITO
- Founded
- 1896
- Industries
- Medical/Healthcare, Plastic films/Packaging, Engineering plastics, Mechatronics/Mechanical engineering, Food and milk beverage industry, Electronics
- 01
Material development (Research & Development, Moriyama)
- 02
Resin processing (melt extrusion, dispersion mixing, multi-layer forming)
- 03
Film finishing (printing, laminating, surface processing)
- 04
Textile processing (knitting, dyeing, sewing)
- 05
Plant engineering (Mechatronics)
- 06
Assembly and distribution
Materials & Processes
Polyvinyl chloride (semi-rigid)
Semi-rigid PVC film, developed in 1962 as packaging film for women's stockings.
Biaxially oriented polypropylene
Base material for packaging films, laminate and shrink products.
Polyester
Used, among other things, in sewing threads (Tetoron span sewing thread) and knitted textiles.
Polyamide (nylon)
Material of the full-fashion stockings and sewing threads, developed jointly with Toray.
Fluoropolymer
Filter support material for the engineering plastics division.
Bioabsorbable polymers
Base material of resorbable surgical suture materials.
Indium tin oxide (ITO)
Coating material for transparent conductive films and touch panels.
Aerogel
Nanofiber material for high-performance insulation materials in mats and jackets.
Ionically conductive polymer
Basis of the carbon-free antistatic fiber STATAWAY.
Silk (raw silk)
Historical original material of the company until its exit in 1987.
Locations
Osaka
JPHeadquarters (relocation 2014)
Ayabe (Kyoto)
JPFounding site / original parent site, medical plant (2017)
- Materials
- Bioabsorbable polymers
Moriyama (Shiga)
JPResearch & Development; plastics plant (Circular Factory, 2023)
- Materials
- PVC, polypropylene, fluoropolymer
- Melt extrusion lines
- Biaxial stretching lines
Amagasaki (Hyogo)
JPHistoric plant; today shopping center 'Tsukashin'
Tsuyama
JPHistoric plant (sewing thread production from 1954)
- Materials
- Nylon, polyester
- High-speed false twisting machine 'False Super' (1959)
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resin molding (melt extrusion molding)Plastics | – | – | – | – | PVC (vinyl chloride), Polypropylene, Fluoropolymer, Engineering plastics |
| Dispersion mixingPlastics | – | – | – | – | – |
| Multi-layer formingPlastics | – | – | – | – | – |
| Knitting (knit processing)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Silk, Nylon, Polyester |
| DyeingSurface | – | – | – | – | Fibers |
| SewingJoining | – | – | – | – | Fibers |
| Adhesive bonding/sewing (automated line)Joining | – | – | – | – | Textile fabrics |
| Surface processingSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Production equipment and apparatus development (mechatronics/sensing technology)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of bottle washing/cleaning machines (fully automatic non-stop type)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of knit conveyor belts (seamless)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Knitting yarn |
| Manufacture and processing of high-performance insulation materials (aerogel/aerogel jacket)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Aerogel, Nonwoven fabric |
| Manufacture of biaxially oriented polypropylene filmPlastics | – | – | – | – | Polypropylene |
| Manufacture of transfer belts for color copyingPlastics | – | – | – | – | – |
| Touch panel manufacturingPlastics | – | – | – | – | ITO film |
| Manufacture of absorbable surgical suturesJoining | – | – | – | – | Bioabsorbable polymers |
| Processing of OPP laminate products and shrink productsPlastics | – | – | – | – | OPP |
| Printing of plastic filmsSurface | – | – | – | – | Plastic film |
| Energy-saving consulting/engineering and energy efficiency servicesEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Development of conductive films (antistatic yarn STATAWAY)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Ionically conductive polymer |
5 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fully automatic bottle washing machine (cleaning machine) | GUNZE Limited | – | – | – | – |
| Multi-strand reeling machine (Gunze-style multi-strand machine) | GUNZE Limited | – | – | – | – |
| Drying and cocoon boiling machines (historic equipment) | – | – | – | – | – |
| Biaxial stretching film production equipment | – | – | – | – | – |
| High-speed false twisting machine 'False Super' | GUNZE Limited | – | – | 1959 | – |
Additional services
Reference customers