Sunstar Group

Sunstar was founded in 1932 by Kunio Kaneda, 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.[9] Until 1946, Kaneda Brother’s Company produced metal tubes and founded Kaneda Light Metal Tube Industries.

In 1946, the company developed 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 1988, Sunstar acquired the US dental manufacturer, J.O. Butler, Inc. 20 years later, in 2007, Sunstar started the transfer of the headquarters office functions to Switzerland and privatized ownership by management and employee share buyout (delisted from Osaka Securities Exchange).

In 2000, Ace Hardware signed a 20 year agreement with Sunstar’s engineering division that would allow the hardware company to open stores in Japan.[10] In 2007 Sunstar launched the World Dental Hygienist Awards, which recognizes and honours the work and accomplishments of dental hygienists who have made significant contributions to the dental hygiene field.[11] 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.[12] In 2019 Sunstar built a factory in Rain, Germany with the intent to sell structural adhesives, however, the product development timeline was moved several times due to an inability to create the desired material and meet the standard specifications, inhibiting product development and leaving the company without the success hoped for.[13] Adding to the confusion of the year, Sunstar suddenly dismissed the president of Sunstar Engineering Americas without an explanation to the company and promoted their accountant, who had limited experience outside their department, to the top position, confusing many.[14]

1. Oral Care[1] [2]
2. Health & Beauty[15][5] [16][17]
3. Adhesives, Sealants, Coatings, Elastomers[3]
4. Vehicle Safety[4]