01.01.04
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Sales: $185 MILLION
Description: Key Personnel
Yutaka Tanaka, president; Kazunori Imamura, managing director; Mitsuio Kanno, director
Plants
Shiga, Tokyo, Japan
Processes
Resin bonded, needlepunched, thermal bonded, wetlaid, spunlaced, meltblown, tackspun
Major Markets
Apparel interlinings, apparel insulations, air filters, plaster bases, automotive mats, automotive headliners, battery electrode separators.
Despite economic recovery, Japan’s largest roll goods producer, Japan Vilene continued to struggle last year. The company’s corporate sales increased 2.3% to ¥38.3 billion; while nonwovens sales were reported at ¥20.9 billion, or $185 million. By segment, sales to apparel markets decreased 3.8% to ¥6.7 billion; automotives sales increased 0.7% to ¥15.7 billion; air filtration increased 0.4% to ¥8.7 billion; electrical materials increased 13.9% to reach ¥4.1 billion and sales increased 2.4% to ¥6.6 billion in consumer categories.
The most rapid growth rate was reported in sales of electrical materials, which continued the success it first achieved in 2002. This has largely been attributed to sales of nonwovens in the battery separators market. Japan Vilene’s core niche in this segment is in nickel hydrogen batteries used in hybrid electric vehicles made by Toyota and Honda. Demand in this market is expected to increase as production of these hybrid gas/electric vehicles continues to rise.
Of the company’s sales, ¥28.2 billion were domestic and ¥10.1 billion were reported overseas. Japan Vilene’s largest foreign market is North America, representing ¥5.8 billion (a 10.8% decrease compared to last year), followed by Asia, which represents ¥3.7 billion, a 35.4% increase.
The growing importance of Asian markets is evident in recent investments reported by Japan Vilene. Most recently, the company announced a joint venture agreement with its partner Freudenberg Nonwovens in the Chinese filter market. Together, the two companies acquired 75% of Changchun Autofilter (CCAF), which mainly targets the car and truck filter market in China. CCAF will retain the remaining 25% of the business. The group will produce and sell filters for engine and cabin filters and was scheduled to begin constructing a new facility in June. Before the plant is complete, FVFC will produce filters at CCAF’s existing facility in Changchun. Technology and know-how will be transferred to the new company from partner companies in Japan and Germany.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., Japan Vilene’s wholly-owned subsidiary VIAM has been producing floor mats in facilities in California and Tennessee for some time. The Tennessee site is about to be expanded.
Japan Vilene has had considerable success in the automotives market and can produce various products including floor mats, ceiling materials, air filters and battery separators for hybrid vehicles. As the automotives industry is forecast to grow in 2004, this will boost consolidated sales at Japan Vilene.
Looking ahead, the company is using a five-tiered strategy to achieve future growth. This includes: responding to the changing needs of customers and markets; enhancing competitiveness by recognizing business opportunities and aggressively investing in high growth areas; effectively utilizing human resources; working toward a harmonious coexistence with the environment and reinforcing the trust and confidence of stockholders and other stakeholders.
In terms of market areas, Japan Vilene will continue to reinforce its competitiveness in existing markets that have struggled. These include car mats, glass nonwovens and battery separators. Meanwhile, the company will increase its focus on newer markets such as auto cabin filters and standardized face masks. Growing overseas business will also be a top priority.
Sales: $185 MILLION
Description: Key Personnel
Yutaka Tanaka, president; Kazunori Imamura, managing director; Mitsuio Kanno, director
Plants
Shiga, Tokyo, Japan
Processes
Resin bonded, needlepunched, thermal bonded, wetlaid, spunlaced, meltblown, tackspun
Major Markets
Apparel interlinings, apparel insulations, air filters, plaster bases, automotive mats, automotive headliners, battery electrode separators.
Despite economic recovery, Japan’s largest roll goods producer, Japan Vilene continued to struggle last year. The company’s corporate sales increased 2.3% to ¥38.3 billion; while nonwovens sales were reported at ¥20.9 billion, or $185 million. By segment, sales to apparel markets decreased 3.8% to ¥6.7 billion; automotives sales increased 0.7% to ¥15.7 billion; air filtration increased 0.4% to ¥8.7 billion; electrical materials increased 13.9% to reach ¥4.1 billion and sales increased 2.4% to ¥6.6 billion in consumer categories.
The most rapid growth rate was reported in sales of electrical materials, which continued the success it first achieved in 2002. This has largely been attributed to sales of nonwovens in the battery separators market. Japan Vilene’s core niche in this segment is in nickel hydrogen batteries used in hybrid electric vehicles made by Toyota and Honda. Demand in this market is expected to increase as production of these hybrid gas/electric vehicles continues to rise.
Of the company’s sales, ¥28.2 billion were domestic and ¥10.1 billion were reported overseas. Japan Vilene’s largest foreign market is North America, representing ¥5.8 billion (a 10.8% decrease compared to last year), followed by Asia, which represents ¥3.7 billion, a 35.4% increase.
The growing importance of Asian markets is evident in recent investments reported by Japan Vilene. Most recently, the company announced a joint venture agreement with its partner Freudenberg Nonwovens in the Chinese filter market. Together, the two companies acquired 75% of Changchun Autofilter (CCAF), which mainly targets the car and truck filter market in China. CCAF will retain the remaining 25% of the business. The group will produce and sell filters for engine and cabin filters and was scheduled to begin constructing a new facility in June. Before the plant is complete, FVFC will produce filters at CCAF’s existing facility in Changchun. Technology and know-how will be transferred to the new company from partner companies in Japan and Germany.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., Japan Vilene’s wholly-owned subsidiary VIAM has been producing floor mats in facilities in California and Tennessee for some time. The Tennessee site is about to be expanded.
Japan Vilene has had considerable success in the automotives market and can produce various products including floor mats, ceiling materials, air filters and battery separators for hybrid vehicles. As the automotives industry is forecast to grow in 2004, this will boost consolidated sales at Japan Vilene.
Looking ahead, the company is using a five-tiered strategy to achieve future growth. This includes: responding to the changing needs of customers and markets; enhancing competitiveness by recognizing business opportunities and aggressively investing in high growth areas; effectively utilizing human resources; working toward a harmonious coexistence with the environment and reinforcing the trust and confidence of stockholders and other stakeholders.
In terms of market areas, Japan Vilene will continue to reinforce its competitiveness in existing markets that have struggled. These include car mats, glass nonwovens and battery separators. Meanwhile, the company will increase its focus on newer markets such as auto cabin filters and standardized face masks. Growing overseas business will also be a top priority.