History
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.[11] Until 1946, the 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 1969, Hiroo Kaneda, Kunio's eldest son took up his father's mantle. Under Hiroo's leadership, Sunstar expanded globally over the next 60 years.[12]
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).
Also in 2007, the Sunstar Foundation and International Federation of Dental Hygienists instituted the World Dental Hygienist Awards to recognize dental hygienists who have made significant contributions to dental hygiene science, or to patients, the community and the general public.[13]
In 1989, the GUM line of products for periodontal care was launched.
In 2008, the BUTLER SG series for mucosal erosion was launched.
In 2009, the headquarters building in Switzerland (Sunstar Suisse S.A., Etoy) was completed. In 2011, Sunstar Acquired Interbros GmbH (German toothbrush and interdental brush manufacturer) as well as Degradable Solutions AG (a 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 a new base for the consumer business in Brazil.
In 2015, a new headquarters building in Etoy, Switzerland, was completed.[14]
In 2018, Sunstar Engineering Americas won an Innovation Award from the Adhesives and Sealants Council (ASC) for "automated application of UV Curable Foams".[15]
In 2019, Sunstar built a factory in Rain, Germany with an investment of 20 million Euros,[16] however, a lack of progress after a highly celebrated opening has left many in the region wondering if the company is planning to leave.[17] The intent was to manufacture newly developed structural adhesives by a product development group in the United States for German OEMs, however, a legacy polyurethane developed in Japan is mainly produced there. Earnings have been negative every year since construction up to at least 2023.[18]
In 2024, Sunstar announced a new global transformation program.[19]
In 2025, Hiroo Kaneda was awarded the honorary title of chairman emeritus in recognition of his 60 years of leadership at Sunstar, as he left the board. Mayumi Kaneda was appointed as the family representative director, marking a generation change.
