Osaka (SCCIJ) – A well-attended plant tour combined with a reception and a five-star hotel dinner was the significant contribution of the Kansai chapter to the annual event calendar of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan. The group of SCCIJ members and guests visited a factory for state-of-the-art conveyor modules of Itoh Denki at its headquarters in Kasai City (Hyogo Prefecture). Every year, the SCCIJ goes to see a different company in the Kansai region to deepen its understanding of Japanese enterprises with a global operation.
Dominant player Itoh Denki
Around 20 SCCIJ members and guests, among them Mr. Jean-François Paroz, the Ambassador of Switzerland to Japan, went by bus from Osaka to Kasai City. Mr. Andre Zimmermann, President of the SCCIJ, warmly welcomed the participants and thanked Mr. Yoshihisa Shigeta, General Manager Legal & International Affairs, and his team from Itoh Denki for organizing the company presentation and factory tour.
Ambassador Paroz, in his function as the Honorary President of the SCCIJ, greeted the group and emphasized the importance of the economic ties between Switzerland and Japan, especially concerning world-leading companies like Itoh Denki. The company has a 70 percent market share for conveyor modules used in many industries or material handling solutions, among them the United States Postal Service.
The event started with a presentation, outlining Itoh Denki’s group business worldwide. To satisfy their ‘customers’ needs for innovation and quality, the firm produces all components in-house, including electronic and software parts. During the two-hour long tour of the factory, the participants could get a first-hand glimpse of the various manufacturing and assembling stages of the modules as well as the stringent quality controls. The newspaper “Kobe Shinbun” covered the SCCIJ’s visit the next day (article in Japanese here).
50th anniversary Eiger & Matterhorn tour
After the tour, a bus transferred the SCCIJ Delegation back to Swissôtel Nankai, Osaka, for a reception and a dinner as the second part of the event. Itoh Denki’s Chairman, Mr. Kazuo Itoh, and his son, President Mr. Tetsuya Itoh, joined the group. They had both attended their company’s product exhibition on the same day in Osaka. SCCIJ President Zimmermann welcomed the new guests and thanked Chairman Itoh for the opportunity to see his head office and factory.
He then introduced Mr. Isamu Tatsuno, Founder & CEO of the outwear producer and retailer Montbell, who presented a video about his recent climbing of the Swiss mountain Matterhorn. The exploit took place in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of his ascent to the Eiger through “North Face” and the Matterhorn in 1969. The film about the ascent gave an impressive testimony of his achievement.
Before the Kanpai, the Swiss Ambassador also thanked the SCCIJ for its active role in the Kansai area. He mentioned the numerous initiatives by the Swiss Embassy on the road to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics 2020. At the delicious Swiss buffet dinner, the lively discussion about the days’ experiences and related topics continued well until late evening. Special thanks go to the Swissôtel team for their great hospitality and service.
Text: SCCIJ based on a report by Dieter Sommerhalder; Pictures: © SCCIJ