Since their humble beginnings in providing electron guns for televisions sets, Shiga prefecture’s own Nissin Kogyo is developing precision stamping technology for exciting new applications in the medical and mobility field.
“We would like to bring our stamping and core technology to the top level. It is our goal to keep challenging new markets worldwide.”
Takashi Shimizu, President, Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
An industry presence for more than 60 years, Nissin Kogyo initially came to prominence manufacturing electron guns for television sets, establishing an enviable reputation for its niche core technologies. But reputations live and die on a company’s ability to adapt quickly to societal change, and with the market for tube TVs in terminal decline, finding the next opportunity has been a challenge.
In the last few years, armed with knowledge of burr control, surface treatment and assembly technologies, and eager to contribute to an emerging market, Nissin Kogyo has successfully repositioned itself as a high-quality manufacturer of precision automobile parts for the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry, taking advantage of its peerless stamping technology to meet increased consumer demands for safety and durability.
Company President, Takashi Shimizu, is keen to emphasize Nissin Kogyo’s unique ability to keep pace not only with the type of auto components required but also the scale of production demanded by a rapidly expanding market. To this end, the company’s cutting and grinding method, suitable for dealing with low volumes, has taken a proverbial back seat for now.
As the NEV industry continues to expand – Japan is planning to ban conventional gasoline car sales by 2035 – Nissin Kogyo has also looked to collaborate with its cousin company to consolidate its market position.
Mr. Shimizu explains: “This collaboration maximizes our special tools capability. We do die design and build in-house, and our cousin company makes bespoke machines for special tooling.” So far, the venture has seen the companies work together on approximately 20 machines, one of which is being used to manufacture parts for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs) in the company’s Indonesian plant.
Away from the EV industry, Nissin Kogyo’s ability to produce high-quality components at scale has seen Mr. Shimizu look to diversify into other markets. He sees comparisons between the NEV and medical sectors: “In the near future, our strengths may be best harnessed in the medical industry, and in particular for the manufacture of disposable parts, such as catheters.” As with other markets, a certain quantity of orders is required to fulfill the company’s machine capacities.
An established international presence, Nissin Kogyo has sufficient global reach to future-proof its status should the automotive component market become saturated in the coming years. With plants in the U.S.A., Singapore, Indonesia and China, Mr. Shimizu makes no secret of the importance of receiving support from the company’s original local subsidiaries: “We began our business in the U.S. in 1990. Fortunately our first partner is still with us, and still studying new technologies with us.”
It is this spirit of collaboration which enables Nissin Kogyo to function on a global scale, and Mr. Shimizu, for one, has no desire for that to change. As the company nears its 70th anniversary, expansion is not on his horizon. Far more important, in his words, is to “bring our technology to the next level by collaborating with our colleagues in Nissin Global.”
Customer satisfaction is key too, of course. But it will develop organically if the company continues adapting to societal changes, investing in cutting-edge technology, and challenging new markets, in conjunction with its established global team.
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