Corporate
Profile

[Company strength]
We have continued R&D on this product since 2010, and have patented the original technologies in 15 countries and regions. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and many shareholders funded us when we needed a huge amount of initial investment as a startup manufacturer. This enabled us to set up a pilot plant as planned. This plant was helpful in productizing LIMEX, and we accumulated know-how in this facility. After the success of the pilot plant we decided to construct a second production facility for mass production. We believe that these patents, technologies, and production facilities are our great strengths. 

[Business description]
Our new LIMEX material, which mostly consists of limestone, will replace paper and plastics. No water is necessary to make this product, so it helps to reduce water resource consumption, as well as reducing petroleum-based raw materials because it can replace plastics. LIMEX is also cost competitive because its main ingredient is cheap limestone. This product is both ecological and economical. Its compact production facilities do not use water and can be set up anywhere in the world. This can create new industries and employment, and help solve environmental issues on a global scale. 

[Industry]
Other ceramics manufacturing

[Strength of products/technologies]
For the paper market: LIMEX does not consume wood or water resources because it mostly consists of limestone. Its main ingredient is lime (calcium carbonate), which is an inorganic material, so it can be recycled semi-permanently. This product also excels in water resistance and durability compared with paper products. You can use it outdoors or for other applications that are not possible with paper.
For the plastics market: You can improve a product’s price competitiveness with reduced material cost by replacing the raw material with calcium carbonate. Japanese plastics companies (either sellers or manufacturers) are required to pay a recycling consignment fee of 47 yen for every kilogram of plastic. The use of LIMEX exempts them from this fee because LIMEX is mainly made of limestone.


[Representative's message]
Our business is to manufacture and sell materials that are alternatives to the current mass consumption of paper and plastics. Our product can help alleviate oil and water resource issues while being cost competitive. We will strive to put this material in many markets around the world. Our first plant was completed in Miyagi Prefecture thanks to the support of many people, and we were finally able to launch our product in October this year. We have faced various obstacles, but I feel that we are just a step away from our goal. We will put our internal organization in order, and continue to drive this business forward. 

[Company structure for market development/overseas expansion]
We succeeded in creating practical applications of our product rather recently, and it was launched in October 2015. We are about to strengthen our sales force. 

[Market share/Ranking]
Existing stone papers are not really widespread in either the domestic Japanese or overseas markets. We will promote LIMEX as a stone paper that has solved the problems of conventional stone papers. 

[Awards and media coverage]
[Awards]
The 9th Nippon New Business Creation Award competition (Japan New Business Conferences), Restoration Award; Job Creation 2015, Special Award; Japan Venture Awards 2016 (Organization for Small and Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, SMRJ), Great East Japan Earthquake Restoration Award.

[Media]
The Nikkei, “Restoration of Disaster-Hit Industries” (January 3, 2016), “Making Paper-Replacing Material Using Limestone” (April 13, 2015), “Production Sites are Established in Miyagi, Spending 6.6 Billion” (December 17, 2015); and so on.


[Joint research and development]
We have joint development projects with major companies and universities on certain themes of application development (currently confidential). 

[Main Clients / Business History (domestic)]
Many companies and municipalities (business cards); nursery company (subsidiary to a major beverage producer; seed and sapling labels).