What is the history of Sumitomo Bakelite?

Written by Editorial Team | Last Updated: August 2026

Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd. traces its corporate history back to 1911 when the historic Sumitomo group began pioneering research into phenolic resins, leading to the commercial production of Bakelite, the world's first fully synthetic plastic, in Japan. In 1932, Sumitomo Bakelite was formally established as an independent operating company dedicated to advanced plastics and polymer chemistry. Over subsequent decades, the enterprise expanded its manufacturing expertise into semiconductor packaging materials, high-performance laminates, medical devices, and automotive components, growing into a major global multinational chemical enterprise.

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