certified ISO-14001. The company reported post-tax profit at Rup 148 M on revenues of Rup 3.75 bn for the year to end-March 2005, compared against Rup 96 M on Rup 3.23 bn for the previous year.
DIC had intended to hive off its polystyrene business, combining it with PS Japan, a joint venture between Asahi Kasei, Idemitsu Petrochemical and Mitsubishi Chemical, but this plan was dropped as a result of objections and special requirements notified by the Japanese anti-trust authorities. DIC acquired Eques Coatings (based at Oss, Netherlands) last year, boosting its global market share in UV-curable coatings and adhesives for optical disks to more than 50%.
In the printing inks industry, DIC plans to raise its competitiveness by concentrating production in motherplants, by developing the most optimal distribution system and by implementing comprehensive measures such as the collective purchase of raw materials among group companies. It already has a mother-plant at Nantong (China) and it is converting its facilities in Thailand and in Germany to fulfill similar roles. The company is currently considering establishing a mother-plant in India.
As well as divesting unprofitable activities, DIC intends to boost its research and development work at its research centres in Sakura (Japan), Berlin (Germany), Qingdao (China) and at the four US research centres supervised by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sun Chemical (of Fort Lee, NJ).