Our Corporate Communications staff spend time getting to know Sumitomo Corporation's different business sites around the world, reporting on how the people at those sites work. We will keep you up to date with the world of Sumitomo Corporation, which extends to every corner of the globe.
Ayumi Shogase,
Mass Media Relations Team, Corporate Communications Department
Ayumi Shogase joined the Group in 2002. After working in the Broadcasting & Cinema Business Department and the Direct Marketing Department, Shogase was assigned to the Corporate Communications Department in 2008, where she is currently responsible for public relations for the Media, Network & Lifestyle Retail Business Unit. She enjoys good food, Japanese sake, fashion and traveling within Japan, and readily admits to being "not good at saving money and time management."
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Automated People Movers
First Japanese transport system to be introduced into U.S. airports
Trains are manufactured in Japan and transported to America
Sumitomo is engaged in the construction of new airport transportation systems at three U.S. airports in Miami, Washington and Atlanta. Construction of these systems, which is being mainly undertaken by a Japanese heavy industry company, is slated for completion in and after 2009. When finished, these will be the first Japanese transport systems in the United States.
Work on AeroTrain, a new transportation system for Washington Dulles International Airport, began in 2003. Construction of the four stations, tracks and tunnels connecting to the main terminal and underground concourses is mostly completed. However, because the system is designed to be an automatic, unmanned operation, it is essential to carry out careful testing. Inspection and fine adjustments are underway for door opening and closing, smooth takeoff and speed reduction, and coordination with signalers. The service is scheduled to be launched sometime in 2009.
Sumitomo is the prime contractor for this project, which has been ordered by the airport operator, and is therefore managing the entire process. To win the contract and ensure the smooth implementation of the project, Sumitomo performed a number of tasks, including gathering data, participating in the bidding process, negotiating adjustments and modifications in the terms of the contract with the airport operator, supervising the progress of the construction work and ensuring compliance with U.S. laws and regulations.
Katana Summit: Manufacturing "stems" of large wind mills for wind power generation
The human figure at the right of the photograph gives an idea of the scale of the towers.
As the world's largest consumer of electricity, the United States faces a formidable challenge as it attempts to lessen its dependence on oil. With a background of increasing environmental concern, Sumitomo was quick to recognize the potential of wind power as new source of energy and partnered with Katana Industries Inc. to establish Katana Summit as a joint venture in 2007. Katana Summit is engaged in the manufacture of the towers that support wind power generators.
These iron towers have a diameter spanning 2 to 4.5 meters, are 60 to 80 meters high and weigh 150 to 200 tons. Because of their enormous size and weight, transportation of these towers consumes up a vast amount of labor and costs. Therefore, manufacturing needs to take place close to the power station at which the towers will be installed.
Around plant, the vast plain stretches to the horizon as far as the eye can see.
In summer 2008, Katana Summit set up a new plant in Nebraska, the central part of the country, where more wind power generation facilities are expected to be constructed. With this and the first plant in Washington, Katana Summit now has an annual manufacturing capacity of 600 towers, making it the third largest company of its kind in the United States.
The city of Columbus, where the new plant is located, has a population of about 20,000. The only Japanese resident of the town is company vice president, Mr. Hashimoto, sent there by Sumitomo and his family. "Because this is a new industry, all the staff and engineers have little experience and the machines are all new," he says. Going on to describe the continual process of trial and error the company has been challenged by faced with he says, "For example, towers are cone-shaped and taper out toward the top. We had to make repeated fine adjustments to cut out the exact shape from a flat iron sheet and weld the whole thing together."
Pet products: The Hartz Mountain Corporation
The number-one pet product brand in the biggest pet-loving nation in the world: Day care, but not for children...
Spending time with a pet at work
With approximately 60% of the population owning pets, the United States has the largest market in pet products in the world. (By comparison, while approximately 20% of its people have pets, Japan has the world's second-largest pet product market). The Hartz Mountain Corporation, a Sumitomo company, is the United States' top pet product brand, with a history spanning over 80 years. It is even said that there is no pet-owner in the U.S. that doesn't know Hartz.
The company's strength can be seen in its partnership with the world's largest retail chain, Walmart, for whom Hartz has long acted as "category advisor" in the category of pet products. (Walmart appoints a "category advisor" for each category of products it sells.) This role requires Hartz to suggest a selection of goods to Walmart's buyers and designers and to provide objective expert advice on the latest market trends and other matters. Hartz also recommends layouts for Walmart's pet products sales areas, which, when finalized, are used at every Walmart store in the United States.
Hartz toys on the floor
Many of the Hartz Mountain's employees are pet lovers and the company's office is very pet-friendly—employees can bring their pets to work with them whenever they want. Walking through the offices, you can see a number of fenced-off pet areas as well as employees wandering around with their dogs and cats. Hartz brand cushions and toys scattered around on the floor completes the picture.
In a drastically changing business environment, prudent decisions are often required. However, the United States is still the largest economy in the world and one of the few developed countries with sustained population growth. During my time in the United States, I was able to witness Sumitomo's steady engagement with the country, especially in areas such as retail and environment-related industries, which have solid growth potential in the medium and long term.
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