By C. A. Pomeroy
MORESCO (Matsumura Oil Research Corp.) is a research and manufacturing company
originally affiliated with Matsumura Oil Co., Ltd. but now an independent entity
that produces, among other products, hot-melt adhesives that are used in such
environments as within home appliances and automobiles. As soldering is being
pushed to go "lead-free" due to ecological concerns but still facing
big difficulties, some electrical and electronic equipment makers are looking
to make effective use of the hot-melt adhesives. This reporter visited the Hyogo
Prefecture-based company's main office last July, but various reports seeping
out concerning forward-looking changes being adopted by MORESCO -- such as research-related
upgrading of its manufacturing facilities (e.g. Akoh, in Hyogo as well) in addition
to the now-public scheduled move of the headquarters to Kobe (the prefectural
capital not far from its current HQ site) -- led to this late filing <not
late enough to be after this year's Akashi fireworks display, the event in '99
having left "yours truly" with a lasting impression>. The applications
of the hot-melt adhesives include beam deviating units on TV tubes as well as
watertight polyamide molding of components on circuit boards, cables and connectors.
It is foreseen that with the expansion in use of electronic devices, the market
for this product-line will expand in tandem.