May 20, 2025
Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 4203 HQ: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, President and Representative Director: Kazuhiko Fujiwara) announced today that it has decided to close the Navanakorn plant of Kawasumi Laboratories (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “KLT”), a consolidated subsidiary which manufactures medical devices.
Background and Details of the Closure
KLT was established in 1978* as one of the manufacturing bases for the Medical Products Business. Since 1999, KLT has established two plants, the Navanakorn Plant and the Korat Plant, manufacturing medical devices for the Japanese and overseas markets.
As part of the portfolio transformation of our Medical Products Business, we have decided to close the Navanakorn Plant and consolidate KLT’s production capacity at the Korat Plant. Through this move, we aim to improve production efficiency and strengthen the competitiveness of our medical device business.
* Established by Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc. (currently SB-Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc.)
Regarding the closure of the Navanakorn Plant
The Navanakorn Plant is scheduled to cease operations at the end of December 2025. Among the products manufactured at the plant, Blood Tubing Line for dialysis treatment will be terminated in March 2026, and the production of other products will be transferred to the Korat plant to continue production. The majority of the plant’s employees (approximately 550 as of the end of March) are expected to retire.
Company profile of KLT
| Name | Kawasumi Laboratories (Thailand) Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Location of Head Office | Pathum Thani Province, Kingdom of Thailand |
| Plant location | Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima Province), Nava Nakorn (Pathum Thani Province) |
| Representative | Tatsuya Nakaoka, Representative Director & President |
| Established | 1978 |
| Paid-in capital | TBH 235 Mil（99.5% owned by SB-Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc.） |
| Number of Employees | 1,762 （as of End of March FY2025） |
| Business description | Manufacture of medical devices and pharmaceuticals |
Company profile of SB-Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc.
| Name | SB-Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Location of Head Office | 3-25-4 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, Japan |
| Representative | Akiko Okubo, Representative Director, President & COO |
| Established | 2021 (former Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc. was established in 1957) |
| Paid-in Capital | JPY 301 Mil (100% owned by Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.) |
| Business | Development, manufacture and sales of medical devices and pharmaceuticals |
Related Information
For inquiries on this information
Medical Products Business Division, Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.