Japan Pulp and Paper Company Limited
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History

The history of the JP Group has evolved hand-in-hand together with the Japanese paper distribution industry.

1845 - 1959 Foundation --- Creation of a paper trading company

     
1845
  • Saburobei Nakai establishes a private paper company, Echisan Shoten, in Kyoto.
    The company deals in traditional Japanese paper (washi).
Tokyo head office, circa 1910
1876
  • Begins dealing in machine-made paper. First in Japan to deal in this type of paper.
1882
  • Product distribution contract with Paper Company (Current Oji Paper Co., Ltd.) signed.
1899
  • Shanghai Nakai established.
1902
  • The main store moved to Tokyo from Kyoto, with the establishment of Nakai Shoten.
1916
  • Becomes a limited company, name changed to Nakai Shoten Limited.
1955
  • Hong Kong Representative Office Opened (now Japan Pulp & Paper (HK)).
1963
  • Company name changed to Nakai Limited.
1967
  • New York Representative Office Opened.

1970 - 1999 Establishment of Japan Pulp and Paper Company Limited --- Stock listing and expansion of business activities

1970
  • Japan Pulp and Paper Company Limited formed through the merging of Nakai Limited and Fuji Yoshiten Company.
  • Jakarta Representative Office opened.
Signing of the merger between Nakai Limited and Fuji Yoshiten Company
Safeshred Co., Inc.
1972
  • Dusseldorf Representative Office opened (now Japan Pulp & Paper GmbH).
1973
  • Company listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
  • JP Resources Co., Ltd.(now Fukudasansho Co; Ltd.) established.
1974
  • Japan Pulp & Paper (U.S.A.) Corp. established.
1981
  • Beijing Representative Office opened.(now Japan Pulp & Paper (Shanghai) Beijing Branch Office)
1994
  • Talico established in Mexico.
1998
  • Safeshred Co., Inc. in the USA became a subsidiary, marking the start of the JP Group's full-scale entry into the wastepaper recycling business outside Japan.

2000-2009 - Diversification through expansion of Non-Japan wholesaling, Paper Manufacturing & Processing, and Raw Materials & Environment businesses

2002
  • JPTS Electronics Materials (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. established.
 
Eco-Port Kyushu Co., Ltd.
Eco-Port Kyushu Co., Ltd.
2002
  • JPTS Electronics Materials (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. established.
2003
  • Purchased Pulp and Paper sales division of the Tomen Group and acquired shares of Oriental Asahi JP Carton Box.
  • Taiho Paper Co., Ltd. became a subsidiary.
2004
  • Kawabe Biomass Power Generation Co., Ltd. established.
2006
  • Taipei Representative Office opened. (now Japan Pulp & Paper (Taiwan))
2007
  • Seoul Representative Office opened. (now Japan Pulp & Paper (Korea))
  • Moscow Representative Office opened.
  • Eco-Port Kyushu Co., Ltd. established.
2008
  • Dubai Representative Office opened.
2009
  • Eco Paper JP Co., Ltd. acquired the paper manufacturing operations of Tokiwa Corporation.

2010-2024 Promotion of Glocalization through M&A

     
2010
  • Gould Paper, a major independent U.S paper merchant, became a consolidated subsidiary of JP, expanding the JP Group's business activities throughout North America and Europe.
Eco Power JP Co., Ltd.
Corex Shinei's new recycled household paper mill
Ball&Doggett Group, a leading paper merchant in Oceania, joins the group
Ball&Doggett Group, leading paper merchant in Oceania, joins the group
Premier Paper Group, a leading paper merchant in the UK, joins the group
Premier Paper Group, a leading paper merchant in the UK, joins the group
OAJ begins full-scale operations of its new mill
OAJ begins full-scale operations of its new mill
2011
  • Acquired shares of Corelex Group, a major player in the recycled household paper sector.
2012
  • KCT Trading, an Indian paper merchant, came under the JP umbrella and expanded the JP Group's business activities throughout India.
2013
  • JP Loginet Group established.
  • Eco Power JP Co., Ltd. established, and entered the electric power selling business.
2014
  • Hanoi Representative Office opened.
2015
  • Manila Representative Office opened.
  • Operations commenced at the Kushiro Onbetsu Solar Power Generation Plant by Eco Power JP.
  • Operations commenced at the Corelex Shin-Ei's new recycled household paper mill.
2016
  • Noda Biopower JP (established in 2014) started operation of a woody biomass power plant.
2017
  • Fukudasansho, a major player in the Japanese wastepaper trading sector, acquired.
  • Ho Chi Minh Representative Office opened.
  • Acquired shares of Ball & Doggett Group, a major paper merchant in the Oceania region.
  • Started using the Group brand “OVOL”.
2018
  • 100% of the shares of the Aarque Group were acquired, leading to strengthened sales in the sign and display market in the Oceania region.
  • OVOL Fibre Solution India established, strengthening the paper recycling business in India.
  • Western-BRW Enters the JanSan Business.
  • The OVOL Nihonbashi Building was completed.
  • OVOL New Energy established in Malaysia, strengthening the engages in the collection, sale and exporting of PKS.
  • Acquired shares of, Spicers Paper (Singapore) (now OVOL Singapore) and Spicers Paper (Malaysia) (now OVOL Malaysia) a major paper merchant in the Southeast Asia region.
2019
  • The OVOL Kyoto Ekimae Building was completed.
  • Premier Paper Group, a leading paper merchant in the UK, joins the group.
2020
  • Paper merchant Fuchikami, which has a high market share in paper sales in the Kagoshima and Okinawa regions, joins the group.
2021
  • Formulation of OVOL Vision 2030 “Paper, and beyond".
  • Narumi-Kamiten Co., a paper merchant in Aomori, joins the group.
  • OAJ begins full-scale operations of its new mill.
2022
  • Osaka Paperware Mfg. Co., Ltd. and Misuzushigyo Co., Ltd., containerboard manufacturers in Osaka, join the group.
  • Premier Paper Group Acquires Stake in Zulu Packaging and Wine Box Company, Strengthening Film Sales and Packaging Materials Businesses in the U.K.
  • Ball & Doggett Group Acquires Conect Enterprises and Cas-Pak Products to Strengthen Sign & Display and Flexible Packaging Businesses in Oceania
  • OVOL Singapore Acquires Stake in Thermal Transfer Ribbon Processing and Sales Company Transam Industries.
2023
  • Premier Paper Group has acquired shares in Graphic And Paper Merchants Holdings, a sign and display, and paper wholesaling business in Ireland.
  • Signatory to the UN Global Compact.
  • Japan Pulp & Paper (M) ,has acquired shares in Mutiara Paper (M) , a paper wholesaler.
  • Japan Pulp & Paper (M) has acquired shares in Compedo Media , a sign & display media and hardware sales and technical services company operating to strengthen its sign and display business in Malaysia.
2024
  • OVOL Singapore has acquired shares in CAS Technology, a sign & display hardware sales and technical services company operating in Singapore to strengthen its sign and display business in Singapore.
  • Gould Paper Corporation has acquired shares in EFP-Chavassieu , a paper, paperboard and non-woven fabric distributor in France.
  • Formulation of OVOL Medium-term Business Plan 2026.
  • Ball & Doggett Group Acquires Pacrite Industries, Sign Essentials to Strengthen Sign & Display and Flexible Packaging Businesses in Oceania.
  • OVOL Papier Deutschland, OVOL Packaging, OVOL ComPlott, OVOL France, and JJ LOOS become group companies through the establishment of a new company and acquisition of business in Germany and the acquisition of shares in two companies engaged in the paper and other wholesale business in France, Expanding wholesale business in continental Europe.
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