DIC Corporation (DIC株式会社, Dī Ai Shī Kabushiki-gaisha) is Japanese chemical company, specializing in the development, manufacture and sale of inks, pigments, polymers, specialty plastics and compounds and biochemicals.[4]
It was founded in 1908 as Kawamura Ink Manufactory, renamed to Kawamura Kijuro Shoten in 1915, incorporated as Dainippon Printing Ink Manufacturing in 1937 and renamed to Dainippon Ink and Chemicals (DIC) in 1962 before the name was changed to the present name DIC Corporation in 2008 on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.[5] The company slogan "Color & Comfort By Chemistry" suggests that DIC products should deliver color and comfort to daily life.
DIC in Japan has 10 plants in Japan, located in Tokyo, Chiba, Hokuriku, Sakai, Kashima, Yokkaichi, Shiga, Komaki, Saitama, and Tatebayashi. The main research laboratory in Japan is located in Sakura, Chiba cooperating with DIC development centers in China (Qingdao DIC Finechemicals Co., Ltd., Qingdao, China) and the Sun Chemical Group's research laboratories (in USA, Germany and UK).[6]
2009 Established DIC Graphics, joint venture with Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) integrating DIC's domestic printing ink business and DNP's printing ink business
2021 Acquired BASF’s Global Pigments Business, known as BASF Colors & Effects (BCE)
Business and products
DIC is divided in 3 business units and 6 product divisions
Color Material Products Division: pigments for printing inks, pigments for coatings and plastics, pigments for specialty applications, pigments for color filters, pigments for cosmetics and health foods (Spirulina)
The company recently inaugurated an advanced toluene-free plant for liquid ink manufacturing called Optima. This is DIC’s fifth plant in India, located at Sakhya in Bharuch district, Gujarat.
The plant is built on an area of 92,500 sq. m, occupying 45,000 sq. m of the plot to cater to a growing demand for Toluene Free/Keyone Free (TF, KF/NTNK) inks in the country.
Under phase I, the plant has a capacity of 10,000 Tonnes of TF, KF/NTNK liquid inks in two shifts. DIC India further plans to expand the plant to manufacture value-added and specialty products for the domestic and export markets. The company plans to use the remaining plot area to build plants for different types of products in its operations.[10]
The new plant is expected to provide employment to over 100 people and boost the company’s access to the Northern and Western markets due to its location at the center of the chemical hub in India.
DIC India’s other four plants are located in Uttar Pradesh, Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Kolkata, and Karnataka.[11]
In 1990, the company established the Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art to exhibit artwork collected by the company and its affiliates. The museum is located in a 30-hectare park near to its Central Research Laboratories.
Gallery
DIC Corporation locations
New DIC headquarters building in Tokyo
DIC Central Research Laboratories in Sakura
Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art also in Sakura