Tosoh caters to a global clientele with a broad range of product lines, including synthetic zeolite, zirconia, and silica glass. Our products, characterized by their distinctive features, contribute to enhancing the quality of life while also reducing environmental impact.
Business Vision
By delivering products and services with new value to the market, the Advanced Materials Division strives to establish itself as a specialty business group with a global presence. Tosoh continues to advance the development of providing distinctive products such as zirconia powder, synthetic zeolite, silica glass, sputtering targets, and electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) to customers around the world. This initiative aims to enhance the quality of life and reduce the burden on the environment. In every facet of our business, the company is committed to our mission of realizing a sustainable society. With this objective in mind, we will actively promote the development of new technologies associated with the circular economy and carbon recycling so we can contribute more to the actualization of a recycling society.
In response to the current situation in Ukraine, Tosoh will only pass on cost increases to customers when required in the attempt to minimize the impact of escalating prices for products such as raw materials and fuel. Additionally, in light of geopolitical risks such as tension between the United States and China, the company will reassess its raw material suppliers and sales regions.
Medium-Term Business Policy (FY2023–FY2025)
Ceramics
- Maintain supply of the world’s top share of zirconia powder for fine ceramics
Zeolite
- Expand market share by enhancing functionality and reducing costs
Electronic Materials
- Capitalize on the growing semiconductor demand through timely capacity expansion
Battery Materials
- Continue to introduce high-performance products
- Achieve stable profit growth by diversifying raw material ore
Japan’s sole manufacturer—EMD
World’s top share—Zirconia powder for fine ceramics
Products Certified as Social Issues Solution
- High-silica zeolite HSZ purifying catalyst for automobile exhaust gas
- High-silica zeolite HSZ adsorbent for VOC removal device
For more details, please visit Social Issue Solutions section
Medium-Term Business Policy Initiatives
Toward Specialty Business Operating Income in Excess of ¥100 Billion
Tosoh will achieve our objectives through the execution of three strategies: partnership, involving co-creation with customers; technology dissemination—the creation of new demand—and brand strategy. The company will continuously develop and introduce distinct products, propose solutions to customers, and progressively increase production capacity, specifically for silica, sputtering targets, and ceramics.
The company has begun to boost production capacity at manufacturing facilities dedicated to sputtering target materials used for semiconductor thin film formation, as well as for silica materials and fabricated quartzware. Among our recent product launches are zirconia powder, designed with a low sintering temperature to minimize environmental impact, and high-silica zeolite, which features high thermal stability and compliance with automobile exhaust gas regulations. Moreover, we are positioning ourselves for future profit growth by developing gallium nitride sputtering targets for gallium nitride thin film deposition.
As we explore new business opportunities, Tosoh’s goal is to develop new products and provide solutions that align with societal demands. This involves utilizing both forecasting, where business strategies are formulated based on available patent and non-patent information, and back casting, a method that begins by envisioning the desired future and then working backward to identify and develop the most suitable measures required.
Differentiation Strategies
Zirconia: Development of environmentally friendly ZgaiaTM
By redesigning the zirconia particle structure, Tosoh succeeded in developing the world’s first low yttria (Y2O3) additive grade Zgaia 1.5Y-HT—previously not possible with conventional products—achieving high bending strength and fracture toughness. Zgaia 1.5Y-HT can also be sintered at a lower temperature (1,250°C) in contrast to the conventional sintering temperature (1,500°C), thereby contributing to a reduction in CO2 emissions.
Silica glass: Secured competitive advantage through collaboration with Tosoh Group (materials + processing)
Tosoh's semiconductor silica business features comprehensive production capabilities—covering materials to fabricated quartzware—which enables the company to promote advanced development materials to customers, obtaining certification, and addressing customer issues in a coordinated manner. We will also intensify our efforts to capitalize on the rising demand for semiconductor growth in different regions, capitalizing on the strength of our global processing operations.
High silica zeolite: Reducing environmental impact
The widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) faces various challenges—especially for large commercial vehicles that are still dependent on internal combustion engines. In addition, stricter emission regulations are in the planning stages globally. With regard to high silica zeolite, Tosoh is continuously introducing next-generation products, underpinned by its extensive track record in catalysts for exhaust gas purification and our partnerships with customers. Based on the company’s unique material design and manufacturing technology, the stable purification and durability of our high-silica zeolite have been praised under the Euro 7 emissions regulations as an innovative and responsive technology.
Sputtering targets: Develop solution-based business for customers requiring state-of-the-art semiconductors
Tosoh will enhance its technical capabilities to provide advanced solutions, strengthen customer relationships, and broaden its portfolio with differentiated and new product lines. The Tosoh Group possesses technologies for handling various types of metals—including low-melting point, high-melting point, and alloys—as well as ceramics. The company aims to optimize and complement the Group’s strengths to enhance customer value.
Electrolytic manganese dioxide: Continuously launch high-end products
Tosoh is committed to continuously improving its product technologies and constantly delivering world-class, high-performance products. One of the company’s strengths is its global supply system centered in two bases in Japan and abroad.
Moreover, there are high expectations for manganese-based raw materials in the energy sector, and new developments are in progress based on existing technologies.
S Lineup of High-Performance Products Based on Proprietary Technologies and Global Brand Strength
Regarding zirconia powder, Tosoh’s unique hydrolysis method provides a significant quality advantage, and the company has secured the world’s top leading market share for zirconia powder, which is used in the production of fine ceramics. The utilization of high-silica zeolite, supported by high-precision material design technology and excellent quality, is prevalent in exhaust gas systems for diesel vehicles, contributing to a global reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. Quartz products, adopted by major semiconductor equipment manufacturers worldwide, demonstrate high-quality materials and precision processing technology. Tosoh sputtering target materials integrate metal melting and powder metallurgy technologies, while the company’s battery materials are made possible through our electrolysis technology, enabling the production of high-performance manganese dioxide. Continued global development for both products remains a priority.
O Toward the Realization of Carbon Neutrality
The oxygen ion conductivity of zirconia makes it well-suitable as an electrolyte for environmentally friendly and highly efficient solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), which do not emit CO2, and solid oxide electrolyzer cells (SOECs) that efficiently produce hydrogen. Tosoh’s goal is to encourage the extensive use of the company’s zirconia materials and contribute to carbon neutrality.
Zeolites play a crucial role as adsorbents and catalysts in the recovery of CO2 and the production of fuels and chemicals from non-fossil fuels. We are actively developing zeolites designed for the recovery of CO2 from industrial exhaust gases, transforming fuel into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and producing chemicals using methanol as the key component.