I.S.T. Kami Co., Ltd. Receives Top-Level 'Eruboshi' Certification for Promoting Women's Participation

I.S.T. Kami Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Taka-gun, Hyogo Prefecture; President: Toshiko Sakane; hereinafter 'the Company'), a group company and the main manufacturing plant of I.S.T. Corporation (Headquarters: Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture; President: Toshiko Sakane), which develops, manufactures, and sells high-performance materials such as polyimide resins, is pleased to announce that it has received the highest 3-star certification under the 'Eruboshi' system based on the Act on Promotion of Women's Participation in the Workplace.

■ Initiatives for Women's Empowerment at I.S.T.
At our company, we are constantly challenging ourselves with new research and development, with about one-third of all employees engaged in R&D and technical development. Female employees are playing active roles as leaders, and 15% of them are currently in management positions. To support the desire to balance both career and family, we have created an environment where maternity and childcare leave systems are easy to use. The childcare leave acquisition rate and the return-to-work rate for women have both been 100% over the past three years. We are also working to realize flexible work styles by introducing staggered working hours and remote work systems.

We received the top-level 'Eruboshi' (3rd stage) certification because of our high ratio of female employees, the active participation of women in management and leadership development, and the establishment of systems that support career development and transitions to regular employment.

We will continue to strive for a better workplace environment where all employees can thrive, while contributing to the local community through chemistry.

■ About 'Eruboshi' Certification
This is a certification system based on the Act on Promotion of Women's Participation in the Workplace, granted to companies that meet specific criteria in five areas: recruitment, continuous employment, working hours, ratio of female managers, and diverse career paths.

■ About I.S.T. Corporation
Our mission is to 'make the impossible possible.' We are a material brand that creates the future with high technical capabilities, handling everything from R&D to manufacturing and sales of high-value-added materials, manufacturing equipment, and inspection technology. Our products include polyimide resins, high-performance composite fibers, and high-value-added textile materials. Our toner fixing tubes for laser printers have held over 70% of the global market share for 35 years.