Topura Co., Ltd. Business report FY2006
Business Highlights
Financial overview
In million JPY | FY2006 | FY2005 | Rate of Change | Factors |
Sales | 29,361 | 27,546 | 6.6% |
- Sales increased favorably
due to the robust auto market. |
Ordinary income | 541 | 316 | 70.9% | -Ordinary income increased due to increased revenue generated by greater sales volume; and the Company's bold internal rationalization activities. However, Income was partially offset by sharp rises in the prices of materials and resources. |
Current net income | 71 | 86 | (16.8%) |
-The Company reported an extraordinary profit of 12 million JPY and an extraordinary loss of 325 million JPY. |
Challenges for FY2007
Though there are uncertain factors such as measures to deal with
eliminating the use of chromium hexavalent and material price
hikes, the Company will develop active management strategies on
the following: changing its earnings structure; constructing
a global manufacturing structure based on four key areas: Japan,
the USA, China and Europe by launching mass-production at its
Chinese joint venture; and increasing sales volume of high-strength
and highly functional bolts.
R&D
-The Company developed products and researched both fundamental processing and evaluation technology at its development headquarters, the Design and Development Division
- There are 19 employees in the entire group who are assigned to work in R&D. Total R&D expenses in FY2006 for the entire group were 207 million yen.
-The Company formed a close partnership and alliance with NHK Spring Co., Ltd., a company which is a large shareholder of Topura. Together, their efforts have been very effective in conducting R&D activities on cutting-edge technology.
R&D activities
- In order to achieve the best structural design for fastening products, the Company is jointly developing smaller and lighter fasteners by coming up with proposals on bolts that have greater strength and rigidity, and are more anti-corrosive. The Company is also working on proposals for tapping screws to be used on high-tensile steel plants. In doing so, the Company is researching basic technology to develop applications for new materials, design screws, and develop processing technology; in addition to developing technology that improves the reliability of evaluations.
- The Company developed products which are designed to reduce total costs through simplifying the production processes used for fastening parts, streamlining operations, and adding functions that prevent assembly errors. This will lead to creating screws with improved fastening qualities and more functionality.
- Based on the Company's underlying
commitment to protect the environment, it succeeded in establishing
manufacturing processes and developing products that do not contain
environmentally controlled substances. In particular, the Company
focused on mass-processing techniques and further developing technology
on hexavalent chromium-free surface treatment and non-chrome surface
treatment.
Technology imports with royalty payment (as of March 2007)
Partner | Country | Commodity | Contract Details | Term |
CONTI Fasteners AG | Switzerland | Taptite | -Setting right to
use trademark -Granting manufacturing or selling license -Provision of technical information |
Sep. 1, 2006 - Aug. 31, 2009 |
Comcar Division of Textron Inc. | U.S.A. | Torx-plus | -Setting right to
use trademark -Granting manufacturing or selling license -Provision of technical information |
Jan. 15, 1994 - Dec. 31, 2011 |
Investment Activities
Plans for construction of new facilities (as of March 2007)
Company/Office Name | Location | Expected Investment
(millions of yen) |
Started | Complete |
Topura Co., Ltd. Hadano Plant | Kanagawa Pref., Japan | 764 | Apr. 2007 | Mar. 2008 |
Topura Co., Ltd. Tokai Plant | Shizuoka Pref., Japan | 905 | Apr. 2007 | Mar. 2008 |
Topura Co., Ltd. Osaka Plant | Osaka, Japan | 101 | Apr. 2007 | Mar. 2008 |
Alps Screw Co.,
Ltd. and other two companies |
Nagano Pref., Japan | 307 | Apr. 2007 | Mar. 2008 |