Research & Development

The JSP Group is working to develop sustainable new products and technologies with the aim of becoming a company that is needed by society, based on foamed plastics that have the features of resource saving and energy saving. Many of our product lines are the result of years of research and development. Our team use innovative technologies to create new products that will grow and develop in the future.
In our research centers we work diligently to further develop our core technologies of extrusion foaming and bead foaming to bring about innovations and to provide new added value to society. The new added value that we create is made into high quality and powerful intellectual property rights through the collaboration of our researchers and the Intellectual Property Department. This is how we ensure the superiority of our business activities.
The seeds of new technologies do not grow easily, but the flower buds are created by putting passion into them and overcoming obstacles one by one.

Basic Policy

Research & Development Organization

The JSP Group's research and development activities are based on the protection of global energy resources, including energy and resource conservation, and consideration for the global environment, in order to anticipate the demands of society and the market, and to provide products that are trusted by users.

Research and development is conducted from a global perspective based on two research centers, Yokkaichi Research Center and Kanuma Research Center. These centers are run in cooperation with the development and production technology departments of each business division and domestic and overseas affiliates, and in collaboration with external parties. Both laboratories are working to improve the quality and performance of current products and to develop new high-performance product groups by utilizing the Group's core foaming technology and related expertise. The Yokkaichi Research Laboratory and the Kanuma Research Laboratory are mainly engaged in the development of new technologies and new products using bead foaming technology and extrusion foaming technology, respectively. Furthermore, we strive to secure intellectual property rights for new technologies and products developed by filing patents strategically and promptly.

Yokkaichi Research Center

The JSP Group is working to develop and expand a range of highly functional products that take advantage of its strengths in technologies such as suspension polymerization, direct bead foaming, and bead molding.

In order to meet the increasingly sophisticated and diverse needs of the global marketplace, we are researching and developing a range of bead foams not only on conventional foam materials such as polystyrene and polyolefin with improved heat resistance and flame retardance, but also on engineering plastics, bioplastics, and recycled plastics. In addition, we are developing new product ranges focused on the latest next-generation technology markets to realize a comfortable society.

With regard to FOAMCORE, a surface-integrated bead foam that combines blow-molding and bead-molding, we have deepened its characteristics of lightweight and high strength through shape design technology, and in addition to the existing housing equipment and float fields, we are expanding our approach to the automotive field and other fields, both in Japan and overseas.

SUPERFOAM, a blow-molded product that combines blow molding and extrusion foaming, is used in air conditioning ducts for automobiles and agricultural machinery due to its lightweight, heat-insulating, and sound-dampening properties. In the automotive sector in particular, the number of car models using SUPERFOAM in Japan is gradually increasing, and approaches from overseas are also increasing. We will continue to develop high performance products to expand into new applications and fields.

- The JSP Group is working to develop and expand a range of highly functional products that take advantage of its strengths in technologies.

Kanuma Research Center

Based on the extrusion foaming technology that has evolved over the years, we strive for the early development of products that are environmentally friendly and meet or anticipate various market needs.

For living materials and food packaging, we are developing foam sheets with new added value for frozen food containers and microwavable containers, both of which are in growing demand. We are also working on the development of existing expanded polystyrene sheets to make them even lighter. In addition, the development of micro-organism carriers for food waste disposal machines is underway to expand the business area.
For industrial materials, we are developing foam sheets with various functions based on a variety of materials to expand applications. In the display materials and industrial materials fields, we are developing expanded polystyrene sheets with various functions based on diverse materials in order to increase demand. In the market for heat insulating materials in the construction field, demand for MIRAFOAM Λ (Lambda), a high-performance extruded polystyrene foam, has been also increasing year by year in line with the increase in the number of houses with ZEH, Net Zero Energy House, specification. In order to further expand the market, we are continuing to improve our low thermal conductivity technology and develop new high-performance heat insulating materials. In addition, we are developing inorganic fire-resistant and heat-resistant insulating materials to expand our business area. By bringing these materials to the market, we aim to make further contributions to an energy-saving society.

- We strive for the early development of products that are environmentally friendly and meet or anticipate various market needs.

Intellectual Property Division in Kanuma Research Center

- We promote strategic global intellectual property management for the JSP Group.