Sunstar Group

Sunstar is a Japanese global oral care, health and beauty, chemicals, and motorcycle parts conglomerate with affiliates in 29 countries. Its main businesses are the development, manufacturing and sale of oral care products (toothpastes, toothbrushes and dental rinses) as well as of chemicals (building materials and automotive) and motorcycle parts (sprockets and braking disks). In recent years it has been expanding into the area of Cosmetics and Health Food.
Sunstar's founder, , established the Kaneda Keitai Shokai Company in Osaka, Japan in 1932 as a seller of rubber glue for bicycles. The introduction of metal tubes for packaging of the rubber glue - and later also toothpastes formed the basis for the early success of the business. The company since has developed into the leading oral care business in Japan with a significant international presence. The engineering business also has a leading position for several of its products in Japan and other markets. Group sales exceeded one billion United States dollars for the first time in the 1990s and are now at the level of 1.4 billion US dollars per year.
After having been listed on the Osaka Securities Exchange since 1961, Sunstar undertook a management and employee buyout of all shares in 2007. The ownership of Sunstar Japan and the other group companies of the Consumer Goods Business was transferred to Switzerland and the Engineering business to Singapore, in an effort to accelerate globalization.
History.
Sunstar was founded in 1932 by , who established the Kaneda Brother's Company as a distributor of bicycle parts in Osaka, Japan. In 1933, he started selling rubber glue for puncture repair packed in a small metal tubes. In the following years until 1946, Kaneda Brother’s Company produced metal tubes and founded Kaneda Light Metal Tube Industries.
In 1946, the company took its first step into the oral care business by developing its first toothpaste in a metal tube. Also that year, the company engaged in the production of bicycle parts. In 1948, the company started to sell medical toothpaste. In 1950, four predecessor companies merged to establish Sunstar, Inc in Japan. Shortly after that, in 1953, the production of toothbrushes began. That year Sunstar Engineering, Co. Ltd. was also formed. 
In 1955, Sunstar Group was established to organize sales dealerships in Japan. Later in that same decade, in 1958, the current main Japanese plant and laboratories were completed in Takatsuki, Osaka. In 1961, the company was listed on Osaka Securities Exchange and later on, in 1977, the Sunstar Foundation was established. 
In 1988, Sunstar acquired the US dental manufacturer, J.O. Butler, Inc. 20 years later, in 2007, Sunstar started the transfer of the head quarters office functions to Switzerland and privatized ownership by management and employee share buyout (Delisted from Osaka Securities Exchange).
In 2009, the headquarters building in Switzerland (Sunstar Suisse S.A., Etoy) was completed. A couple of years later, in 2011, Sunstar Acquired Interbros GmbH (German toothbrush and interdental brush manufacturer) as well as Degradable Solutions AG (Swiss bonegraft manufacturer). In 2013, Sunstar established a new product development center for the Industrial and Consumer Business in Singapore. In 2014, the fine blanking automobile metal parts was expanded in Indonesia and Thailand. The company also opened of a new base for the consumer business in Brazil.
In 2015, the second headquarters building in Etoy, Switzerland, was completed. A year later, a new factory and development center for the Consumer Business in Chicago, USA was opened. In Europe, Sunstar also launched ‘BUTLER GrindCare’. In 2017, the company kept expanding in Europe and acquired Oral Company International BV to strengthen the Consumer Business sales in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg. Sunstar also acquired U-VIX corporation to enter the business of indoor air quality. A year later, in 2018, Sunstar opened a new Consumer Business office in Poland. 
In 2019, the company acquired TSUBAMEX Co., Ltd., to reinforce the metal processing business, and opened a new factory for the Industrial Business in Rain am Lech, Germany. Also that year, Sunstar acquired GelX to strengthen the global healthcare portfolio. In 2020, Sunstar announced COVID-19 measures. The company also transferred the GUIDOR brand.
How the Kaneda family story influences the company.
The genuine mission to improve consumer global health and well-being is rooted in the history of the Kaneda family. Sunstar’s founder, Kunio Kaneda, lost his long-term battle with diabetes in his mid-fifties. Following his death, his son, Hiroo Kaneda, decided to use Sunstar’s passion for engineering and innovation to help people improve their quality of life.
After being diagnosed with diabetes and periodontal disease, Hiroo Kaneda initiated collaborative research to prove the existence of a relationship between both diseases. Partnering with several medical institutions and experts, Sunstar was instrumental in establishing a bidirectional link between periodontal disease and diabetes and addressed this connection in the Sunstar Portside Symposium in 1986 for the first time.
The company’s name ‘Sunstar’ even comes from the ritual of brushing teeth in the morning as the sun comes up – and again at night under the stars. The company remains focused on oral care research and innovation – working with clinicians, academics and scientific researchers worldwide to design, manufacture and distribute innovative, high-quality oral health care products while funding significant scientific research projects.
The Periolink.
There is a strong link between our oral health and our general health. Gum disease is a risk factor for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory disorders. Patients with diabetes are more likely to suffer from gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Sunstar continues to raise awareness, research and innovate to prevent the onset of oral health complications.
Main business.
Consumer business represents 66% of sales with industrial business totaling 34% of sales.
Oral Care.
Sunstar offers a comprehensive range of oral care solutions – for consumers and patients and from care to prevention. 
Healthy Living Environment.
Environmentally-friendly building materials such as adhesives, sealants and coatings, as well as air purifying products and systems to enhance the quality, safety and comfort of the indoor environment.
Health & Beauty.
Skin care, hair care and health food products.
Safety & Mobility.
Car braking systems.