Innholdsfortegnelse for 11/12/2021 i Newsweek International

1965 “Dapper, relaxed Joe Wilson, president of Xerox Corp., is one executive who can say he is literally working up a storm,” Newsweek said. He “plans to turn his bumptious $385 million a year Xerox Corp. into a $2 billion a year behemoth by 1975.” Now a Fortune 500 company, Xerox has evolved by driving innovation into the 3D-printing industry. The company also has expanded its environmental impact with its recently published 2021 Global Corporate Social Responsibility Report, which outlines its goals and commitment to producing more eco-friendly procedures and technologies. 1976 “The chance to boogie again is appealing to the Beautiful People, the bourgeoisie and the blue-collar worker alike,” Newsweek wrote at the height of the disco era. This year, Netflix released the series Halston about the designer whose name…

Delivering cutting-edge technology from Kumamoto, Japan, to the rest of the world, meistier corporation provides comprehensive support to maximize equipment life-time value, constantly improving our expertise to meet the needs of local customers. Through a fusion of manpower and ICT, we can efficiently connect our Fab support engineer teams around the world with customers regardless of time or distance. This ensures that the most suitable engineers are always available to respond to customer requests and provide speedy and timely support. By pursuing and utilizing a “Smart ICT Support System” that makes full use of our global network of offices, the skills of our experienced employees, and also big data, we can work together with our customers to create a smart society of the future. Over the years, meistier corporation has…

TOYO emphasizes its commitment to creating original, innovative and high-quality solutions and delivering great pre and after-sales service and satisfaction for customers across its business units. This approach provides a formidable business model for the company. One area presenting an advantage of TOYO’s diverse portfolio is the automotive sector. In the past, test strategies were focused on engine noise and vibration. These days however the industry has turned its attention to connected cars, batteries, and electric motors. This seismic change necessitates the development of an entirely different set of test and measurement systems. The company is well-positioned to support the development of this key industry due to the bold and transformative steps it has taken. TOYO customers depend on its advanced OTA (Over the Air) testing system to build next-gen…

Kureha Corporation has recently announced its decision to build a new polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) plant at its wholly owned subsidiary in the Jiangsu Province of China. To be completed in Spring 2024, Kureha’s new 10,000-ton production facility will allow the company to decisively improve its capacity to address the increasing requests for PVDF among its customers. The plant’s capacity will eventually reach 15,000 tons per annum, aiding Kureha’s mid-term plan to seamlessly align with market growth and increase its revenue in the PVDF business. PVDF, a binder material in lithium-ion battery (LIB) manufacturing, is experiencing fast-growing demand in the LIB-powered automobile sector as part of many countries’ environmental initiatives. Kureha’s PVDF currently enjoys a dominant market position in the LIB segment, meaning the company’s future capacity expansion will no doubt…

Over its long history, Nihon Parkerizing has mainly tailored itself to the core pillars of the Japanese economy, namely the steel and automotive sectors. However, when a company’s very lifeblood is a continuous enhancement of its technology, the pursuit of new areas for its products becomes a logical end and an indubitable strength. Two of Nihon Parkerizing’s products which are currently helping propel the company into new pastures areChidori andPal-Feel. Both are the culmination of the Japanese term “suriawase,” translated as “fine-tuning”. President Mitsuru Matsumoto outlines the company’s innovative spirit: “We have always been ahead of the times. Our corporate culture has always been one of ‘challenging new business areas,’ so for us, venturing into new fields is an integral part of our identity.” “We will continue to sharpen our…

In our daily lives, metal products are used in a variety of settings, but the suitable tools are needed to create their final form. Since its establishment in 1946, Chuo Koki has been heavily involved in this important process, providing the necessary machining accuracy in a timely manner for the required applications. Because Chuo Koki is a small- to medium-sized business, it is able to act with the mindset of “customer first”. To achieve this, the company has adopted “horizontal integration” to provide one-stop services, from product development to sales as an integrated service. “Our business is focused on responding quickly to our customers’ needs, delivering products they demand.”Yasuhiro Minoura, President and Representative Director, Chuo Koki Co., Ltd. “Our goal is to be chosen by our customers, so we need…

“One of the demanding themes among several enhancements and new features that we are currently researching is improved anti-reflection properties. This will be an important factor in the future growth of the Higashiyama Film business.”Takashi Kameshima, President, Higashiyama Film Co., Ltd. Having won the full confidence of clients from across the world with its high technological competencies and high-quality products, Higashiyama Film has once again been displaying its knack for effortless adaptation to the changing nature of the times, while never neglecting existing market needs. To unwaveringly meet customers’ needs while advancing current technologies requires an innovative company culture and Higashiyama Film certainly has that. Takashi Kameshima, president, sees and explains the firm’s core focus clearly: “We respond flexibly and promptly to client and market needs. Everything from prototyping and…

“Our telescopic mast was originally made for broadcasting cars, but recently has been used as the base for mobile phone antennas.”Hirofumi Yuasa, President & CEO, YUASA CO., LTD. With its novel and original telescopic masts, YUASA has put to use its extensive technology and know-how in hydraulic cylinders to create a solution in high demand from a growing range of industries. Engineered for precision control from the ground, these mast systems can be mounted with antennas, monitoring cameras, floodlights and other components at the highest point. “Our telescopic mast was originally made for broadcasting cars in Japan, but recently, it has been used as the base for mobile phone antennas,” says Hirofumi Yuasa, President and CEO of YUASA. “This is particularly helpful when antennas damaged by earthquakes need repairs. We…

Japan has faced stiffer regional competition from the likes of China, Taiwan and Korea in recent decades, as these countries have grown increasingly stronger in areas such as electronics, semiconductors, and automobiles. But behind the scenes, Japanese SMEs still dominate niche B2B-facing industries, leveraging Japan’s monozukuri craftsmanship philosophy, which entails the development of superior-quality components and machinery defined by unmatchable performance; as well as an acute understanding of customer needs. “Japanese companies are very meticulous in responding to the end user’s needs. By doing so, they have greatly improved their product line-up,” says Toru Nishido, president of Iwatsu Electric, which manufactures communication systems, printing systems, and test and measurement systems. “Japanese monozukuri lies in the developers, that is, the team always caters to the needs of users in great detail.”…

In a field as constantly evolving as semiconductors, innovation becomes not just an advantage but a necessity to survive. Japan’s Creative Technology has been at the forefront of the industry for nearly 30 years, and today uses its culmination of past technologies to provide an all-encompassing one-stop shop for electrostatic chucks. By truly understanding the functional side of electrostatic chucks, Creative Technology provides a unique service for its clients. As president Yoshiaki Tatsumi explains: “Making full use of our knowledge and experience so far, we strive to come up with the best solution from every angle, starting from design to production.” By way of example, the company is able to apply its chucks not only in the semiconductor field, but also in other applications such as robotics and food products,…

With over 70 years of experience, Right MFG, a Japanese company specializing in the manufacturing of medical & optical instruments and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, relies on two words to define its very essence: ‘monozukuri’, the Japanese craftsmanship philosophy at the heart of its manufacturing, and ‘kokorozashi’, which represents will, motivation, initiative or a sense of purpose through contributing to society, which is taught as the Japanese spirit. As an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), Right MFG provides a range of products and services for its clients, from design to manufacturing as a “Monozukuri Specialist” for OEM export, with the company boasting original brand products that are revolutionizing their respective fields. The unique N2 purge system forms the basis of its new functions in the semiconductor handling equipment field, while its AVG…

“We aim to create a system that can stop overusing materials and limited resources by creating a circular and virtuous economy.”Yusaku Yukita, CEO, ASAKA RIKEN CO., LTD. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have become a key objective in many companies’ green initiatives. However, it takes those truly focused on creating sustainable change for transformation to occur, and lithium-ion battery (LiB) recycler Asaka Riken is a perfect example of just that. Founded in 1969, the company possesses unique and protected technology to recover valuable elements from LiB, which are set to be used exponentially more as the world transitions towards electric vehicles. As Asaka Riken President Yusaku Yukita explains: “We aim to create a system that can stop overusing materials and limited resources by creating a circular and virtuous…

Japanese craftsmanship goes far beyond simply skilled workers, it is a philosophy which encompasses every aspect of the production process, including the upkeep of machinery. These machines working continuously must be created from high-quality materials in order to perform optimally, and EDOGAWA GOSEI ensures manufacturers’ machines are coated in outstandingly resistant, specialist paint. Founded in 1935, EDOGAWA GOSEI’s innovative EPOLITE paint provides a coating which is resistant to cutting oil, and the company has developed paints and coatings for a wide range of industries, from semiconductors to healthcare. President of EDOGAWA GOSEI, Koji Shinohara, explains the company’s philosophy is based around a combination of “the spirit of craftsmanship with a hidden sense of hospitality”. EDOGAWA GOSEI also understands the need to work towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, with…

Many of Japan’s renowned automotive manufacturers are today dedicated to making more lightweight vehicles in the pursuit of greater sustainability, particularly as the industry transitions to electric cars which can be significantly heavier than internal combustion vehicles. To make these lighter vehicles, there have been some significant changes in the materials now favored, with heavy metals like steel today gradually being replaced by materials like aluminium and magnesium. This trend has impacted on the business model of not just the car makers, but the auto parts industry too. “We are trying to produce auto part products that can be applied to multiple types of material, but still function in the same way,” explains Eiji Kojima, President of Daiwa Kasei, one of Japan’s most prominent auto parts manufacturers and member of…

With demand driven by the global automotive industry and the transition to electric vehicles, Ochiai is currently advancing with establishing its overseas production sites internationally. As a comprehensive manufacturer of industrial fasteners, Ochiai has been supplying a wide variety of products to its customers in numerous fields for more than 70 years, but predominantly for the automobile industry. Having established a unified in-house production facility where the company performs everything from die design to manufacturing, Ochiai is today an industry leader in its specialized area of industrial fasteners. “The success of Japanese companies like ours in competing on a global stage is attributable to tradition and technologies accumulated for decades.” Takayuki Ochiai, President and CEO, Ochiai Co., Ltd. of this transition. However, Ochiai, as a major supplier to the industry,…

In ways large and small, artificial intelligence (AI) has become ubiquitous. Search engines, maps and social media are analyzing our histories to make predictions and tailor relevant responses. Text and email applications, which know the words and phrases we use most often, are trying to complete our sentences. AI programs like AlphaGo and AlphaZero are winning games—in their cases, Go and chess—by playing themselves and, in so doing, developing their own not-quite-human concepts of the games. At MIT, an AI program discovered a new antibiotic by identifying patterns in data that humans did not—or possibly never could. Struck by these and other breakthroughs, the all-star team of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Schmidt Futures co-founder and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and MIT Schwarzman College of Computing Dean Daniel…

“In the more than 150 years since our founding, SCREEN has experienced incredible growth and diversification. We will continue working to further deepen our proud history and constantly improve our corporate value.”Toshio Hiroe, CEO & President, SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd. From energy, semiconductors and electronics to pharmaceuticals and bio-sciences, there are incredible and transformative developments happening in these innovation-driven industries, and SCREEN Holdings is proud to be playing a fundamental role behind the scenes in all of them. Established as a printing company over 150 years ago, SCREEN produced Japan’s first photographic glass screens in 1938 and throughout its history the company has sought to continuously refine technologies in its three core areas: surface processing, direct imaging and image processing. These core technologies have formed the basis of SCREEN’s successful…

The history of Japan’s optical equipment manufacturers can be traced back to World War II, during which these companies provided scopes for the munitions industry. In the post-war period, focus shifted to the development of microscopes, industrial measuring instruments and electro-optical devices, before eventually expanding to semiconductors and, more recently, optical devices for new technologies such as the Internet of Things, automation and artificial intelligence (AI). As such, optical manufacturers have played a very important role in Japan’s industrial development, with Seiwa Optical being one of the chief players in the industry for more than seven decades. “Seiwa Optical was founded in 1947. To sustain the business over such a long time, it has been necessary to manage it with a balance between traditional inheritance and modern innovation,” says company…

For more than a century, Nippon Carbon has been a pioneer in the carbon industry, having succeeded in industrializing graphite electrodes for electric arc furnaces, whilst also introducing carbon fiber products for the first time in Japan. With these innovations, the company has continued to devote its experience and know-how in the field of carbon and graphite by developing value-added carbon products that meet changing societal and industrial needs. In recent years, however, Nippon Carbon and the Japanese carbon industry have faced increased regional competition. In order to enhance its competitiveness, the company is today proactively exporting insulators for the heat treatment field, targeting the US, Europe, and China. “According to my estimations, I believe that Nippon Carbon is the greatest manufacturer and exporter of insulators in the heat treatment…

We live in a world that is shaped by the speed of science, technology, and communication. Companies today face a myriad of challenges, including flexible product development that is in sync with the state of the market, increasing sales, and making product availability more efficient and more sustainable. IWATSU ELECTRIC, whose advanced technology supports businesses with these increasing demands placed upon them, offers high-caliber tech solutions to its customers through a fusion between hardware and software systems development. “Our goal is to further the satisfaction of our customers through offering the best solutions. IWATSU is constantly striving to create new value and contribute to enriching society,” says Toru Nishido, President of IWATSU ELECTRIC. “Our three main business pillars are communication systems, printing systems, and test and measurement systems, and with…

“Contribution to the society through MONOZUKURI.”Satoru Horikawa, President and CEO, SHOEI CO., LTD. Cars are quickly evolving from metal shells built for simple transportation into advanced computers on wheels. One of the most important aspects of this evolution is how the user interacts with the technology, and that is where SHOEI’s innovative touch panels come into play. SHOEI has been able to stay ahead of the latest trends in the industry. For example, the company sourced high-grade German wide plate glass and applied industry-leading technology, including customized wiring systems and white resin dot spacer printing to give a resistive feeling. SHOEI’s passion for innovation is illustrated by the company’s development of automotive HUDs (Head-Up Displays) with 3D technology and its work on Coca-Cola’s vending machines in Japanese train stations. “We…

“We are constantly adapting to the changing environment, providing high-quality products using our self-developed manufacturing equipment to improve society.”Taro Kawazoe, President, Nippon Seisen Cable Ltd. With sales bases in Hong Kong, China, Singapore and the Philippines, NS Cable continues to expand and develop as a global company, with its immediate focus being on developing, manufacturing and selling overseas. Such a task requires strong synergies within the company, and NS Cable possesses these in abundance: high-quality core products, round-the-clock avail-Cable: namely in the supplying of cables for the burgeoning industrial technology and IoT-led changes within the robotics and machine tool making industries. NS Cable’s meticulous attention to detail means a constant stream of returning, contented customers. As president of NS Cable, Taro Kawazoe, explains: “Even though Japanese products are more expensive,…

PUERTO RICO HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY HURRICANES, earthquakes and political turmoil in recent years. But the tiny island has gained a badge of honor that may surprise some: it’s the most vaccinated place in America. The U.S. territory has fully vaccinated more than 2.3 million residents, amounting to just over 73 percent of its population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The island also has among the lowest COVID-19 infection rates in the U.S. While some people across the U.S. mainland continue to resist vaccine mandates, Puerto Rico successfully vaccinated a majority of its residents by “putting science before politics,” Daniel Colón-Ramos, a Yale University professor who heads the coalition of scientists advising Puerto Rico’s government on the coronavirus pandemic, tells Newsweek. “Social distancing, use of…

You’re a dream team. How did you find each other and decide to work on this topic? ERIC SCHMIDT: Writing this book together has been a pleasure—and a welcome source of community during the pandemic. When Henry and I met a decade ago or so, the first thing he said to me was: “The only problem I have with Google is that I think that you’re going to destroy the world.” I thought, “Well, that’s a challenge from Henry Kissinger!” After a few years, alongside Dan, our conversations became this book. HENRY KISSINGER: We started having regular conversations after Eric introduced me to AI. We were at a conference. AI was on the agenda. I almost skipped the session, but he stopped me; he persuaded me to stay. That was…