History
Our Journey Powered by Innovation and Technology
Facing the changing times, Japan Vilene has continuously created values since its founding in 1960.
Our history is a series of bold challenges—shaping the future through technology.
1960
Foundation of Japan Vilene
June 1960 – Japan Vilene was founded in Chuo-ku, Tokyo.
About a year later, on June 16, 1961, a memorable moment marked the beginning of our production history. Mr. Meister, a mechanical engineer from Carl Freudenberg, who was guiding our interlining production, wrote with white chalk on a nearby concrete pillar as the first product emerged from the running machine: “1700 first meter”. This simple phrase became the first step in the history of Japan Vilene.
Company History
History of Technological and Product Development
1960
June
Japan Vilene Co., Ltd. founded in Chuo-ku, Tokyo
September
Osaka Sales Office opened
1961
June
Shiga Factory completed
Began production of interlining materials at the Shiga Factory
1962
Began production of air filters Viledon and liquid filters
1963
Started full-scale production of wadding materials for apparel
1967
June
Completion of Second Building at Shiga Factory
1969
Began production of battery separators
1970s–1980s
Into Everyday Life, Into Society
From the iconic nonwoven wedding dresses worn by “A Thousand Brides” at Expo ’70 in Osaka, Japan Vilene began expanding into products closely connected to daily life. We entered diverse fields such as disposable medical products and automotive floor mats, while also strengthening our corporate foundation through factory expansions, new company establishments in Japan and abroad, and stock market listing.
1970
March
Completion of the Third building at the Shiga Factory
May
Listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
At Expo ’70 (Japan World Exposition), a symbolic event featured “A Thousand Brides” marching in wedding dresses made from our nonwoven fabric
1971
Entered the medical disposables field, including masks and pads.
1972
July
Completion of Tokyo Factory
Adopted as transdermal backing materials
1973
Developed automotive floor mats
1976
February
Established Nobil Co., Ltd. (now Vilene Create Co., Ltd.)
July
Opened Osaka Branch (Osaka City)
1979
Launched “G-8000 Range”, a line of interlining materials with a soft texture for apparel
1980
October
October – Established Freudenberg & Vilene International Limited in Hong Kong
1981
Introduced “Viwarm”, a thermal wadding material
Began sales of automotive headliner materials
1982
December
Completion of the Fourth Building at the Shiga Factory
Launched “Stretch Viwarm”, a thermal wadding material with excellent elasticity
1983
April
Established VIAM Manufacturing Incorporated in Los Angeles, USA
May
Opened Nagoya Sales Office
November
Relocated Head Office to Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Began sales of cleaning rolls
1984
March
Designated to the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
1985
June
Completion of Processing Factory at the Tokyo Factory
June
Established Pacific Giken Co., Ltd.
1987
April
Opened Nagoya Branch (Nagoya City)
Launched elastic transdermal backing materials for non-water-based gel patch base fabric for medicated plasters
Introduced “Polvec” duster cloth
1989
May
Established Taiwan Vilene Nonwoven Company Limited
(now Freudenberg & Vilene Nonwovens (Taiwan) Company Limited)
November
Relocated Head Office to Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
November
Completion of Second Building Tokyo Factory
Began sales of two types of industrial respirators certified by national standards in Japan
1990s–2000s
Business Diversification and Environmental Initiatives
Japan Vilene strengthened its commitment to quality control and environmental responsibility through the establishment of Central Research Laboratory and acquisition of ISO certifications. We expanded our product lineup with innovations such as recycled fiber wadding, anti-static sheets, and battery separators. Our global expansion accelerated with the establishment of bases in China, South Korea, and the United States. In the 2000s, we continued to pursue sustainable growth, including the launch of nanofiber nonwoven fabrics.
1990
June
Opened Tokyo Research Institute (now our current Central Research Laboratory)
1992
June
Launched, a dustproof and cushioning material
1994
April
Completion of the Fifth Buiding at the Shiga Factory
April
Established Vilene Ibaraki Service Co., Ltd. (now VIS Co., Ltd.)
1995
February
Established Freudenberg & Vilene Nonwovens (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. in Suzhou, China
February
Tokyo Factory registered for ISO 9002
March
Shiga Factory registered for ISO 9002
Developed “Viwarm Eco”, a recycled fiber padding material for apparel
Launched an anti-static sheet
1996
Both Shiga and Tokyo factories received ISO 9001 certification
1997
June
Acquired Oyama Chemical Co., Ltd.
Developed battery separators for hybrid vehicles
1998
Exhibited the drip-absorbing sheet “Drip Keeper” at the Meat Industry Trade Show.
March
Shiga Factory and Tokyo Factory registered for ISO 14001
October
Established Korea Vilene Company Limited in Pyeongtaek, Republic of Korea
November
Established VIAM (Tennessee) Limited Partnership in Tennessee, USA.
2000
Announced the industry’s first dechlorinated pre-filter material, “Viledon FR-585”.
Freudenberg developed the next-generation nonwoven fabric “EVOLON”.
2001
January
Established VIAM Holding Incorporated in Los Angeles, USA.
January
Relocated Nagoya Branch (Nagoya City).
July
Relocated Osaka Branch(Chuo-ku, Osaka)
December
Established Korea Filtration Technologies Company, Limited. Company Limited (now Freudenberg Vilene Filtration Technologies Korea Company Limited) in Pyeongtaek, Republic of Korea.
Announced the industry’s first recycling system for used air filters.
2003
Registered the adhesive medical base material with the U.S. FDA Drug Master File (DMF) for the first time.
Obtained certification for the U.S. N95 standard and launched sales of N95 respirators.
Started production of angiography drapes.
2004
September
Established Tianjin VIAM Automotive Products Company Limited (now Tianjin VIAM Company Limited) in Tianjin, China.
2005
September
Established Freudenberg & Vilene Interlinings (Nantong) Company Limited in Nantong, China.
Announced the environmentally friendly air filter “Ecoalpha”.
2006
Announced the development of nanofiber nonwoven fabric.
2007
February
Established Japan VIAM Co., Ltd.
Announced gas diffusion porous material for fuel cells.
2008
January
Integrated three North American VIAM Group companies into VIAM Manufacturing Incorporated in Tennessee, USA.
Established Freudenberg & Vilene Filter (Thailand) Company Limited in Chonburi, Thailand.
2010s–2020s
A period of business restructuring.
Technological development advanced across a wide range of fields, including cell culture substrates, fuel cell filters, and PM2.5 countermeasure products.
New products such as printed interior materials for automobiles and insect-proof filters were also introduced. The company expanded its presence in North America, Asia, Mexico, and Europe, strengthening its global business foundation. In 2015, the Company was delisted from the stock exchange and became part of the Freudenberg Group in Germany, laying the foundation for the next phase of growth.
2010
Jointly developed silica nanofiber substrates for cell culture.
Launched sales of “TWINETEX”, a printed headliner facing for automobiles.
2011
January
Established VICAM
Incorporated in Tennessee, USA.
December
Relocated headquarters to Chuo Ward, Tokyo.
Launched sales of the insect-proof filter “Mushitorufa”.
Developed filters for radioactive material adsorption.
2012
May
Established VIAM Manufacturing Mexico S.A. de C.V. in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Launched sales of fuel cell filters.
2013
May
Established VIAM Manufacturing (Thailand) Company Limited in Prachinburi, Thailand.
August
Acquired Oshitari Laboratory, Inc.
Launched sales of “HYPERBRID”, a stretch interlining developed using hydroentanglement technology.
Launched “Full Shut Mask” for PM2.5 protection.
2014
October
Opened Kyushu Sales Office.
2015
December
Delisted from the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Became a subsidiary jointly owned by FT Holdings Co., Ltd., Freudenberg SE, and Toray Industries, Inc.
Launched of newly developed transdermal backing materials materials.
2016
February
Established VITECHMEX NONWOVENS S.A. de C.V. in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
April
Became a joint venture company, with Freudenberg SE holding 75% and Toray Industries, Inc. holding 25% of the shares.
2018
April
Acquired Hanns GLASS GmbH & Co. KG in Germany.
January
Vilene Create Co., Ltd. merged with Pacific Giken Co., Ltd.
2024
May
Shiga Factory and Tokyo Factory registered for ISO 45001
2025
Launched sales of printed nonwoven fabric “ASTERISM”.
Overview
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The History of Japan Vilene
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