Noritake and Kuraray Team Up

The two Japanese industry leaders will integrate their dental materials operations.

Noritake Co., a supplier of ceramics for crowns, and Kuraray Co., which produces dental materials based on polymer and organic synthesis technologies, are integrating their respective dental materials businesses. Wholly owned units Noritake Dental Supply Co. and Kuraray Medical Inc. were first brought under a joint holding company established on April 1. The two firms plan to broaden their product lines and combine technologies to develop new materials.

Kozo Yamada, president of Noritake Dental Supply, and Sadaaki Matsuyama, president of Kuraray Medical, initially announced the deal on January 28. In the second phase of the integration, the holding company and its two units are slated to merge by April 1, 2012.
"Our distinct customer bases ensure that this merger will be mutually beneficial in terms of sales and market presence," Yamada says.

The decision to join forces was prompted in part by questionable growth potential for the domestic dental materials market, due to a declining population and other factors.

In addition to expanding in Japan, the firms expect to lift sales overseas. "We are confident that Kuraray Medical and Noritake Dental Supply will experience exponential growth within 5 to 7 years following the integration," Matsuyama predicts.