Promerus, LLC was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Bakelite Co., LTD of Japan on August 1, 2001. The organization was previously the Electronic Materials Group of the The BFGoodrich Company. As a member of the Sumitomo Bakelite family, Promerus represents a significant presence in North America for both research and commercial activities related to polycyclic olefins. From its offices and laboratories in downtown Akron, OH, Promerus is focused on growing its business and serving its customers through the development of advanced materials for electronic and other applications.
2018:
- Exhibited at SID Display Week in Los Angeles, CA
- Promerus, LLC (a subsidiary of Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.) named Mr. Masayuki Inagaki as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, replacing Mr. Koji Choki
- Promerus, LLC (a subsidiary of Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.) named Mr. Seiji Suzuki as President, replacing Mr. Goichiro Kuwaki
2017:
- Obtained ISO 9001:2015 Certification
- Exhibited at IMAPS 50th Anniversary Symposium in Raleigh, NC
- Exhibited at Printed Electronics USA in Santa Clara, CA
2016:
- Obtained 120th U.S. Patent
- Dr. Edmund Elce received the Award for Cooperative Research from the ACS Polymer Materials Science and Engineering Division. This award recognizes significant and sustained joint research in polynorbornenes with Professor Paul Kohl from Georgia Institute of Technology.
2015:
- Promerus, LLC (a subsidiary of Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.) named Mr. Goichiro Kuwaki as President, replacing Mr. Koji Choki.
- Promerus, LLC (a subsidiary of Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.) named Mr. Koji Choki as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
2014:
- Promerus, LLC (a subsidiary of Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.) named Mr. Koji Choki as President, replacing Dr. Robert Shick, who relocated to the Sumitomo Bakelite facility in Utsunomiya, Japan.
- Obtained 100th U.S. Patent
2013:
- “Patent Power: Strong ideas start here” – Soder, C., et al. Crain’s Cleveland Business 2013
2012:
- Promerus, LLC (a subsidiary of Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.) named Dr. Andrew Bell as Chief Operating Officer, replacing Dr. Robert Shick, who continues in his role as President.
2011:
- Obtained 80th U.S. Patent
- US DOE Funds Joint Development Project
2008:
- Obtained 60th U.S. Patent
- Promerus Receives President’s Award from Parent Company Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.
2006:
- Completed ISO-9001 Certificate
- Robert Shick became President and Chief Operating Officer
- Promerus receives Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd. President’s Award for New Product Development
2005:
- Promerus installs EV Group IQ Aligner with both 200 and 300 mm capability for development activities in wafer level packaging.
2003:
- Princeton and Georgia Tech create 100nm scale channels with Promerus’ sacrificial materials and demonstrate electrophoretic transport of DNA within these channels.
2002:
- Joint Marketing Agreement completed with Ferrania S.p.A. covering the sales and distribution of Promerus’ Appear™ 3000 and Ferrania’s Arylite™ Performance Films.
2001:
- Acquisition of Electronic Materials Group by Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd., Completed.
- August 1, Promerus, LLC formed as a wholly owned subsidiary with Malcolm Miles as President and Chief Operating Officer.
2000:
- Phase IV of Pilot Plant construction was completed. This phase included refining equipment, ultra-pure water system and clean-room packaging.
- Goodrich Announces Sale of Performance Materials Group.
1999:
- Secured United States Display Consortium contract for development of engineered substrate for flat panel display applications.
1998:
- Awarded National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Advanced Technology Program Grant for “Optical Polymers and Manufacturing Processes for Low-Cost WDM Devices and Systems”.
1997:
- Development program targeting photoresist polymers for semiconductor fabrication applications initiated.
1995:
- Development Group transferred to Goodrich Performance Materials Division.
- Construction begins on a pilot facility for demonstration of monomer and polymer processing.
- Awarded National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Advanced Technology Program Grant for “Tailored Optical Polymers through Catalysis”.
1993:
- Development Group Formed within Corporate Technology.
1992:
- Breakthrough catalytic and synthetic event involving new high activity catalyst and new, novel high temperature poly(norbornene).
