Pacific Industrial - Business Report FY2006

Business Highlights

Financial Overview
(in
million JPY)
FY2006 FY2005 Rate of Change
(%)
Factors
Overall
Sales 82,641 68,277 21.0 The Company posted record-high sales, thanks to favorable business at its stamping and resin products division, and the valve segment. 
Ordinary income 4,475 3,439 30.1 Ordinary income marked a record-high figure, supported by increased sales at the Company and its North American subsidiary making stamping products. 
Current net income 3,144 1,147 174.0 -
Stamping/resin product business
Sales 60,308 51,392 17.3 Japan:
Sales at the stamping and resin products business increased year-on-year, thanks to greater production volume at its major customers, and changes in the vehicle-model mix. 

Overseas: 
Although car production volume declined in Taiwan, overall sales rose due to the launch of resin parts production operations and increased business at the Company's U.S. subsidiary. 
Operating income 1,918 1,660 15.5 -
Valve product business
Sales 21,629 16,246 33.1 Sales rose year-on-year, thanks to increased sales of  tire valves and valve cores. Sales of TPMSs (tire pressure monitoring systems) were also greater than those of last year, following a capital investment project, which allowed the Company to support more vehicle models. 
Operating income 1,906 1,390 37.1 -

Domestic business
- In June 2006, the Company announced that it will build a new plant in Kyushu in order to supply more products to Toyota Motor Corporation and other automakers, which are increasing car production in the area. 
- In October 2006, the Company decided to augment production of TPMSs (tire pressure monitoring systems).  

>>> See Capital Investment for more details


Overseas business

The Company announced that it will consolidate two of its wholly-owned subsidiaries in the United States, Pacific Manufacturing OHIO, INC. (PMO) and Pacific Industries Air Controls, INC.(PIA) Both companies are located in Ohio; PMO manufactures stamping products for automotive use while PIA produces a variety of tire valves. The Company intends to integrate its operational management structures in North America for an upgraded efficiency. Two subsidiaries, PMO being a remaining company, will be merged and PIA will consequently be dissolved. (From a press release on Mar. 22, 2006)

R&D

R&D activities (FY2006)
Segment R&D expenses (million yen) Major activities
Overall 1,012
-
Stamping/resin products business 179

<Engineering Dept., Operating Division No. 1>
The department launched mass-production of light-weight resin materials with advanced noise insulation and vibration controlling properties, by integrating nano-technology high-polymer materials, and noise- and vibration-proof silencers made through foam molding technology. The department also developed new products that incorporate ventilation technology, and coating-free decorating technology, which minimize environmental impact. 

<Production Engineering Dept., Operating Division No.1>
-The department developed an optimum technique for constructing joints used for aluminum sheet materials, and turned this technology into a practical business solution. Engineers at the section designed and introduced general-purpose welding equipment, which withstand different load levels while providing a high level of productivity while making efficient use of space. They also placed emphasis on developing water-based paint in an effort to reduce volatile organic compound emissions. 

Valve products business 651 <Engineering Dept., Operating Division No. 2>
The department worked on developing technology to reduce both environmental impact and also the weight of tire valve parts. In the area of control equipment products, it  developed new products for air-conditioners that use CO2 as a cooling medium; and fuel-efficient products to meet new energy savings laws. It also developed compact and light-weight micro computer equipment for leisure use.  

<Production Engineering Dept., Operating Division No.2>
- The department established engineering methods designed to reduce costs when producing automotive control equipment, shifting from cutting operations to cold-forging operations. It already started preparations to turn the technology into practical business solutions. The department also developed stamping methods to produce drivetrain parts for automotive engines, and began making products using the new techniques.

<Engineering Dept, TPMS Division>
- The department worked on developing next-generation TPMS transmitters for passenger cars, and other related products that reduce environmental impact. 
Common 170 - The Company's Technical Center conducted joint research and development activities with industries and academia on basic technology. These development activities included studies to determine the source of sounds in cooling medium circuit and seal mechanisms. The Company is now trying to turn the knowledge obtained through these studies into practical business solutions. Development was also focused on engineering elemental technology for the next-generation TPMSs, resin forming methods that are environmentally friendly, new resin products, and junction technology.  

Investment Activities

Capital Investment:

 

Amount
(in million
JPY)
Details
Overall 13,486 -
Stamping/resin products business 11,488

Japan: 7,730 million yen
The Company focused its capital spending on building a new plant in Kyushu and the No.3 Plant at Higashi Ogaki Plant, and preparing dies for making products for new car models. 

Overseas: 3,758 million yen
The focus of the spending was on preparing production lines to produce new products; and increasing the production volume of stamping parts in Tianjin, and resin products in North America. 

Valve products business 1,950 The Company focused its investment activities on increasing production of TPMSs, and on launching new products. 

Domestic Investments
The Company announced a plan to construct new plants in Kurate county, Fukuoka prefecture. Responding to the increasing automobile production in Kyushu area, by automakers including Toyota, the Company intends to meet the needs for quality products and shorter delivery time as well as to reduce logistics cost by building the plants in the area. The manufacturer of pressed body parts and plastic parts for automotive applications supplies its products to the automakers in Kyushu area from its plants in Ogaki area, Gifu prefecture. In the first-phase construction, the company will build a 2,160 sq.m. large plant for plastic parts manufacturing and pressed parts welding to start a full-fledged operation early in 2007. In the second-phase construction to complete by the end of 2007, it will add a 10,000 sq.m. plant for pressed body parts. Pacific Industries expects to generate yearly sales of approximately three billion yen at the new Kyushu base after the completion of the second-phase construction. (From a story in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on Jun. 06, 2006)

The Company will enhance production capacity of the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Following the introduction of the 4th production line producing TPMS at its Kita-ogaki plant in Anpachi-gun, Gifu prefecture, in August, 2006, the Company will establish the 5th line in 2007. This is in response to a mandatory requirement for installation of tire pressure monitoring systems in the USA, as well as an increasing demand for the product from luxury cars in the domestic market. The Company aims to increase the share of TPMS in the US market from the current 10% to 25% in the medium and long term. (From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on Oct. 04, 2006)

Newly added facilities :
Facility
(Location)
 Business segment Purpose Planned total investment
(million yen)
Starting month
Production Capacity after completion
Planned completion
Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd.
Nishi Ogaki Plant
(Gifu, Japan)
Stamped and
resin products
New products 5,079 Jun. 2006 Production capacity to be increased by 10%.
Sep. 2008
Maintenance and renewal etc. 856 Sep. 2006
Mar. 2009
Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd.
Higashi Ogaki Plant
(Gifu, Japan)
Stamped and resin products New products 1,813 Jul. 2006 Production capacity to be increased by 20%.
Sep. 2008
Automation  1,790 Jun. 2006
Sep. 2008
Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd.
Yoro Plant
(Gifu, Japan)
Stamped and resin products Production increase,
etc
805 Dec. 2006 Production capacity to be increased by 5%.
Aug. 2008
Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd.
Kyushu Plant
(Fukuoka, Japan)
Stamped and resin products New products,
etc.
2,671 Aug. 2006 Some operations started in January 2007.
Apr. 2008
Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd.
Kita Ogaki Plant
(Gifu, Japan)
Valve
products
New products 1,187 Sep. 2006 Production capacity to be increased by 15%.
Aug. 2008
Production increase 901 Feb. 2006
Nov. 2008
Rationalization,
etc.
592 Jan. 2006
Jun. 2008
Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd.
Mino Plant
(Gifu, Japan)
Valve
products
Rationalization,
etc.
155 Nov. 2006 -
May. 2008
Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd. Headquarters, and others - Employee-services facilities 897 Feb. 2007 -
Sep. 2008
Pacific Industries USA Inc.
(Ohio, USA)
Stamped and resin products, and Valve products New products,
etc.
1,678 Jan. 2007 Production capacity to be increased by 10%.
Dec. 2007
Pacific Valve (Taiwan) Co., Ltd.
(Taichung, Taiwan)
Stamped and resin products, and Valve products New products,
etc.
167 Jan. 2007 Production capacity to be increased by 15%.
Dec. 2007
Pacific Valve Industrial Co., Ltd.
(Yangsan, Korea)
Valve
products
New products,
etc.
20 Jan. 2007 -
Dec. 2007
Pacigic Industries (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
(Chachoengsao, Thailand)
Valve
products
New products,
etc.
29 Jan. 2007 -
Dec. 2007
Quingdao Pacific Hongfeng Industrial Co., Ltd.
(Quingdao, China)
Valve
products
New products,
etc.
50 Jan. 2007 Production capacity to be increased by 30%.
Dec. 2007
Tianjin Pacific Auto Parts Co., Ltd.
(Tianjin, China)
Stamped and resin products New products,
etc.
2,315 Jan. 2007 Operations started partly in April, 2007.
Dec. 2007