01.01.03
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Sales: $168 million
Description: Key Personnel
Yutaka Tanaka, president; Takayuki Ono, managing director; Yoshiaki Mizutani, director; Mitsuo Kanno director
Plants
Shiga, Tokyo
Processes
Resin bonded, needlepunched, thermal bonded, wetlaid, spunlaced, meltblown, tackspun
Major markets
Apparel interlinings, apparel insulation, air filters, plaster bases, automotive mats, automotive head liners, batter electrode separators, protective apparel, face masks
The year 2002 was marked by a 5.5% decrease in Japan Vilene’s overall sales, which were slightly less than $300 million. Meanwhile, the company’s nonwovens sales dropped from $194 million to $168 million, caused both by currency fluctuations and pricing pressures in its core markets. For instance, sales in apparel, air filtration, medical and consumer categories all registered decreases and only automotives and electrical were positive. Industrial sales remained flat.
The bulk of Japan Vilene’s weakness was registered within Japan; domestic sales increased 13.3% and represented 20% of total sales led by significant gains in North America and Asia. Japan sales decreased in the double-digit range.
According to news reports, Japan Vilene received a temporary boost from concerns related to Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome. n April, the company’s share price rose nearly 30% in one day on expectation of strong flu mask sales. Company executives reported that mask sales, which are traditionally strong in hay fever season, were boosted by a practice among airlines of distributing medical masks to passengers in-flight. SARS panic has since subsided and mask sales have returned to more typical levels.
Sales: $168 million
Description: Key Personnel
Yutaka Tanaka, president; Takayuki Ono, managing director; Yoshiaki Mizutani, director; Mitsuo Kanno director
Plants
Shiga, Tokyo
Processes
Resin bonded, needlepunched, thermal bonded, wetlaid, spunlaced, meltblown, tackspun
Major markets
Apparel interlinings, apparel insulation, air filters, plaster bases, automotive mats, automotive head liners, batter electrode separators, protective apparel, face masks
The year 2002 was marked by a 5.5% decrease in Japan Vilene’s overall sales, which were slightly less than $300 million. Meanwhile, the company’s nonwovens sales dropped from $194 million to $168 million, caused both by currency fluctuations and pricing pressures in its core markets. For instance, sales in apparel, air filtration, medical and consumer categories all registered decreases and only automotives and electrical were positive. Industrial sales remained flat.
The bulk of Japan Vilene’s weakness was registered within Japan; domestic sales increased 13.3% and represented 20% of total sales led by significant gains in North America and Asia. Japan sales decreased in the double-digit range.
According to news reports, Japan Vilene received a temporary boost from concerns related to Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome. n April, the company’s share price rose nearly 30% in one day on expectation of strong flu mask sales. Company executives reported that mask sales, which are traditionally strong in hay fever season, were boosted by a practice among airlines of distributing medical masks to passengers in-flight. SARS panic has since subsided and mask sales have returned to more typical levels.