Behind the Glass: How Kuraray Is Building What Comes Next

In laminated safety glass, that interlayer made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) plays an important role by helping keep broken glass fragments together after impact.

When you walk through an all-glass lobby or across a glass floor, did you know there may be a structural interlayer born of hurricane wind-resistance research helping make that architecture possible?

The likely answer to both questions is 'no'. That invisibility, in many ways, is the point. And, for Kuraray’s Advanced Interlayer Solutions (AIS) team, it’s also an opportunity.

You’ve likely seen the results before. You just didn’t know what was behind them.

Growing with the Business

For me, that behind-the-scenes impact is familiar. I have worked with this business since 2006, beginning as a financial analyst after starting my career in internal audit. Since then, I have had the opportunity to see the AIS business unit grow across products, regions and operations.

Today, as Director of Controlling and Business Support at Kuraray America, Inc., my role gives me a central view of how strategy, operations, finance and business leadership connect.

Beyond KAI, I also support AIS through global finance and business leadership responsibilities, including serving as the Managing Director of our new Middle East entity in Dubai and President of Kuraray Korea.

Across each of these roles, the focus is the same: helping AIS operate as one connected global business.

Leading the Next Generation of Materials

The AIS business unit is built on decades of innovation, application knowledge, domain experience and market success.

Our innovative technologies help laminated safety glass perform in demanding applications, from automotive windshields to architectural glass systems.

In many cases, the interlayer’s role is not to prevent glass from breaking, but to help keep broken glass fragments together after breakage, reducing the risk of injury and improving post-breakage safety.

Enabling New Possibilities

Advanced interlayers can also help glass function as a structural component, enabling lighter, stronger, and more energy-efficient designs. This opens the door to bold new applications and redefines what architects and engineers can achieve.

Our contribution to this type of work was recently recognized through four award-winning projects featuring our solutions at the USGlass Magazine­­® Design Awards 2026. From residential architecture to landmark cultural and commercial buildings, these projects reflect what our solutions can bring to performance and innovation worldwide.

Read more about the award-winning projects and how our solutions contributed to each design HERE.

For us, innovation and sustainability are closely tied. Our products help reduce overall material use and lower emissions.

At the same time, we’re exploring recycled content, alternative feedstocks, and ways to reduce our footprint across the value chain. To us, sustainability is not a one-time effort. It’s an ongoing responsibility.

Our goal isn’t to follow the market. It’s to help define it.

We’ve established a strong position in interlayers, particularly in architectural applications. The next step is to develop the next breakthrough in glass that pushes performance, safety and sustainability even further.

Expanding Into High-Growth Markets

Growth is a key priority for us, and our expansion into the Middle East reflects that.

The AIS unit recently established a sales and marketing office and a locally licensed warehouse in Dubai, UAE, which positions us in a fast-growing region with strong demand for infrastructure and innovation. It also creates a foundation for broader Kuraray growth.

When you get into your car, have you ever thought about what helps hold your windshield together if the glass breaks? 

Like any expansion, it has required us to quickly learn new regulations, environments and ways of working. Our general manager there is helping us navigate the complex regulatory landscape from the ground up. But those experiences are strengthening us and helping us grow more effectively worldwide.

From Silos to One Global AIS Team

When I think about what it takes to lead a global business today, it starts with alignment.

The AIS business unit moved away from a traditional, siloed structure and instead built a globally integrated model that spans 14 legal entities across the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Rather than solving problems region by region, we work together across functions – operations, R&D, finance, sales and marketing – to standardize and optimize how we operate. Decisions are made with a global lens. In a business where consistency of quality and reliability of supply are fundamental to customer trust, operating as one coordinated global unit rather than a collection of regional silos creates real competitive advantage.

Creating Connection Across Regions

A critical step toward building one global AIS team was the launch of a monthly global call designed to create consistency, connection, and shared ownership across the team. The call included rotating ownership, a globally relevant icebreaker, a structured agenda with flexibility to address business needs, open Q&A and anchored with participation from senior leadership.

The Power of Psychological Safety

Leadership philosophy in manufacturing often gets reduced to KPIs and operational targets. But building a truly high-performing culture requires something harder to measure: the belief, at every level of the organization, that your voice matters.

Psychological safety plays an important role in that, and I am proud of the AIS team for spearheading psychological safety initiatives at Kuraray.

When people feel comfortable speaking up, they contribute more, and that’s where improvement really happens.

• We’ve focused on breaking down barriers, encouraging open communication and creating an environment where people can challenge ideas and use data to drive decisions.
• We’ve maintained a strong sense of connection and respect.
• We’ve helped people understand their role in the larger system.

As a result, our people remain engaged with their work. Focusing on continuous improvement has become part of our culture, not just a management initiative.

Looking Forward with Confidence

Kuraray is a company with over 100 years of history. What does it mean to lead a business unit with that legacy? It means learning from past failures as seriously as celebrating successes.

Not everything has gone perfectly, and that’s part of the value. We take those lessons, apply them and use them to move forward more effectively. Our legacy gives us perspective, but it’s our ability to evolve that defines what comes next.

As I look forward, I see real opportunity. By staying aligned globally, continuing to innovate with purpose and investing in our people, we’re not just keeping pace with change, we’re helping shape the next century of innovation.

Eric Pennypacker, Director of Controlling, President Kuraray Korea, Managing Director Kuraray Middle East