Life sciences, car industry evolve with JSR technology

JSR Corporation breaks new ground in the life sciences and car industries with materials innovation that has proven indispensable to modern life.

The company's technology is revolutionising the detection of infectious diseases such as hepatitis in China. A joint venture in Beijing makes diagnostic reagents readily available to hospitals and clinics throughout China to satisfy increasing demand.

Magnetic beads, another diagnostic reagent derived from JSR's pioneering polymer technology, analyse the DNA structure for health risks or to identify the most effective drugs for existing diseases. An exciting prospect in the life sciences is breakthrough research and development (R&D) on biosensors that can help cancer patients prolong their lives.

"We followed the market evolution," says Nobu Koshiba, JSR president. "There are many similarities in the development and manufacturing processes for semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. For semiconductor manufacturing, we adhere to strict procedure and protocols to tightly control impurity levels because they can affect the performance of final products. The same discipline can be applied in life sciences."

JSR's technology is also transforming the vehicle tyre market. The company is building a huge plant in Thailand for its solution polymerised styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR), the raw material for fuel-efficient and high-performance tyres. The plant is close to major tyre manufacturers that are establishing a huge presence there. Thailand will likewise be JSR's base for S-SBR distribution to China and Southeast Asia.

Establishing joint venture partnerships is crucial in this business. "From the standpoint of the butadiene producer, they can capture the value of the raw material and its end-product," Koshiba says. "We bring in the polymer technology, while they pitch in the raw materials. That's where we see a common interest."

This has already happened in Europe, where JSR established a joint venture with MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas for an S-SBR plant in Hungary. Slated for launch in 2017, the plant will serve major tyre manufacturers in Western Europe and fast-rising European markets.