SAKATA INX CORPORATION (Representative Director, President & CEO: Yoshiaki Ueno) announced that it has decided to install a manufacturing equipment at our Tokyo Plant (Noda city, Chiba) for coatings intended for direct food contact (equipment compatible with DFC※1). Construction has already begun with completion scheduled for August 2026. This investment aims to further enhance safety and reliability in the food packaging field, and is expected to be the first production equipment of its kind compatible with DFC in Japan※2 operated by a manufacturer of packaging materials.
【Background of the equipment installation】
Our group is focusing on the global deployment of coating agents that contribute to adding high value to packaging. We are accelerating these efforts as evidenced by our acquisition of Coatings & Adhesives Corporation, a U.S.-based coating agent manufacturer, two years ago. As part of this initiative, we have decided to introduce equipment compatible with DFC to strengthen our domestic coating agent business.
Companies that manufacture packaging that comes into direct contact with food, such as paper cups and burger wraps, are required by the Food Sanitation Act to manufacture in a hygienic environment. On the other hand, material manufacturers that supply materials used in those packaging (such as paper and coating agents) are not currently subject to this regulation. However, against the backdrop of growing societal demands for food safety and security, it is anticipated that material manufacturers will also be required to manufacture in more hygienic environments in the future. Looking ahead to this trend, we will establish a structure to further enhance safety and reliability in the food packaging field by proactively introducing equipment compatible with DFC.
【Content of Production】
This equipment will produce our developed “PFAS-free oil-resistant agent,” for which demand has been increasing in recent years, and we also plan to expand production to include various coating agents for packaging applications, such as water-repellent and moisture-proof agents. Furthermore, leveraging the expanded production capacity resulting from the operation of this equipment, we will explore the possibility of accepting contract manufacturing orders. With the introduction of this equipment, we will provide our customers with the following benefits:
- Supply of materials that meet higher hygiene standards suitable for packaging that comes into direct contact with food
- Delivery of materials that prioritize safety and reliability in the food packaging field
- Establishment of an advanced supply system in anticipation of stricter future regulations
【Future outlook】
At our Homewood Plant, U.S. operated by one of our group subsidiaries, we already have a proven track record of operating equipment compatible with DFC and have accumulated extensive knowledge and experience in supplying materials for direct food contact applications. In addition, as part of our efforts to obtain ISO 22000 certification, we are working to establish a quality and safety management system that complies with international standards.
With the installation of this new equipment at our Tokyo Plant as a starting point, we will explore ways to strengthen our global supply system, with a view to expanding our operations not only within Japan but also at overseas locations such as in the growing Asian market, etc.
We will continue to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society by providing products and services that promote safety, environmentally-friendly, and quality improvement in the food packaging field.
※1 DFC：Direct Food Contact
※2 Based on our research (as a manufacturer of materials for packaging applications)
About SAKATA INX CORPORATION
Founded in 1896, SAKATA INX is the world's third largest chemical manufacturer in sales of printing inks, with operations in more than 20 countries and regions worldwide, including Asia, the Americas, and Europe. The company manufactures and sells printing inks used for various packages, beverage cans, and information media, industrial inkjet inks for digital printing, and image display for liquid crystal displays. Under the business theme of “Creation of Visual Communication Technology,” the company aims to “create an information culture that makes people's lives more comfortable” through environmentally-friendly and sustainable products and continues to take on the challenge of entering new fields.
https://www.inx.co.jp/english/