It is a great honor to be appointed as the President and Representative Director of TB Kawashima Co., Ltd. as successor of Mr. Shuichi Koyama. I am committed to make my utmost efforts on behalf of the Company as it continues to grow and to develop its business.
The automobile industry is said to be in a transitional period once every 100 years. Additionally, the once-in-a-century pandemic caused by novel coronavirus has been changing people’s lifestyles, and our company’s main focus, fabrics for transportation vehicles, is in a rapidly changing environment, too. Those are the circumstances TB Kawashima finds itself celebrating the 10th anniversary since its inception as a merger company.
We have been able to provide many attractive fabrics to our customers all over the world through proud traditions standing over 170 years strong, from our founding parent organizations, Toyota Boshoku Corporation, Kawashima Selkon Textiles Co., Ltd., and Tatsumura Textile Co., Ltd. In addition, the power of teamwork in grasping customer needs accurately and realizing them as one force among the design, technology, sales and marketing members has contributed to the success. In recent years, we have diversified the lines of products. Examples are BRIN・NAUB®, which is the finest nubuck-type covering material, and SILCREVE®, to accommodate the expanding synthetic leather market, both of which are highly evaluated by the customers.
In terms of global response, in consideration of future growth potential, we have established a new factory equipped with integrated production system that spans the processes from fabric production to cutting and sewing in Dafeng Ward, Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province in China, and are preparing for the start-up. In addition, in India, so that we can effectively adapt to the market expansion, we are restructuring current TB Kawashima India, our local manufacturing plant, to form a joint venture with Aunde Achter & Ebels GmbH, a leading German fabric manufacturer.
Looking ahead to the future changes, we are also working on the development of fabrics that bring joy of light decorations, and other things such as textile that enables sensing of physical conditions, for future mobile spaces of autonomous vehicles and new commuter vehicles. Further, in the field of functional chemical development featuring anti-stain, antibacterial, antivirus, and antistatic discharge effects where we are specialized in, we would like to continue to contribute to the safety and comfort of everyone’s life in a wide range.
We will continue to make strenuous efforts to provide products that bring our customers delight and pleasure. Your continued kind support would be sincerely appreciated.
