With a new state-of-the-art plant in Fukushima, Nitto Kohki is contributing to regional revitalization and eco-conscious manufacturing.
By Daniel de Bomford and Bernard Thompson
The future of manufacturing is not the elimination of the human factor, but rather a technological augmentation of human capability. Smart factories are sleek, yet familiar, where autonomous robots cart goods, and human workers carry out the precise operations. It isn’t just grand technology; it’s the hidden things like quick-connect couplers, tools, and pumps that will shape tomorrow’s manufacturing.
Leading this evolution is Nitto Kohki. Founded in 1956, the precision manufacturing pioneers have continued to push the boundaries of what is possible. Akinobu Ogata, president of Nitto Kohki, regards the company’s new plant, situated in Fukushima City, as the culmination of the company’s philosophy.
Constructed to replace two aging plant sites and increase efficiency, the new plant is situated between the two old sites. “The most important part of this transition was preserving both the manufacturing technologies and the employees,” he states.
The plant itself is a masterpiece, designed by world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma as his first project of this kind, alongside Taro Ashihara, one of the most respected architects in this field. Kuma was immediately drawn to the natural surroundings of the site. “He walked the entire site, climbed the stairs to the highway, and noticed a stunning view of the mountains,” Ogata says. “He told me he wanted to design a building that took full advantage of that landscape.”
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While some technology was brought from the old plants, a large proportion of it has been developed for the new site. The company has implemented an automated warehouse and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to manage the inventory. “Our goal is to operate the plant 24 hours a day, even during unmanned hours, to reduce the workload on our operators and make their jobs easier,” the president states. Now that the operation has been fully realized, Nitto Kohki is looking to implement AI to detect early signs of equipment malfunctions and wear.
Ogata prioritized environmentally friendly operations for the new plant, with a focus on lower electricity consumption and reduced emissions. “While providing a safe and comfortable work environment for our employees was a fundamental requirement, we also aimed to produce eco-conscious products that would build greater trust with society,” the president says.
Another key driver of decision-making was the plant’s contribution to regional revitalization. Across the country, workers are migrating from regional towns to population centers like Tokyo for work.
“Our decision to build a new plant in Fukushima was intended to help reverse that trend, and I believe it already has,” Ogata says. He believes that they have begun to reverse the trend, having hired 46 employees from the local region, and setting targets to hire between 10 and 20 each year.
Nitto Kohki’s new Fukushima plant embodies the company’s vision of combining innovation, sustainability, and regional revitalization to shape the future of manufacturing.
To hear more from President Akinobu Ogata of NITTO KOHKI, check out this interview with him.
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