|
2003
Announcing the Introduction of a Managing Officer System
During the December 24 meeting of the board
of directors, a resolution was passed with
regard to the introduction of a new operating
officer system to come to effect as of January
1, 2004.
Details are as follows.
December 24, 2003
| 1. |
The goal of the introduction of this system
|
|
In order to realize increased efficiency
in our management, the resolution is designed
to clarify decision-making functions and
the execution of business affairs.
|
| 2. |
Official announcement
|
|
January 1, 2004
|
| 3. |
Managing officers
|
|
This time, the resolution is to be carried
out in the Development
Division and in the
Manufacturing Division.
[New Appointments]
| New Post |
Name |
Previous Position |
| Managing officer in charge of Logistics /
President, Mitsuba Logistics Corporation (Logistics Dept.) |
Kenichi Mita |
Officer assistant |
| Managing officer in charge of Product Development (Development
Dept. No.1 / No. 2 / No. 3) |
Yoshikazu Takahashi |
Officer assistant |
| Managing officer in charge of Technological Development (Research
and Development Dept., Technical Development Dept, Developmental Planning Dept.) |
Hiroyuki Otaki |
Officer assistant |
| Managing officer in charge of Production Engineering (Production
Engineering Dept., Process Development Dept.) |
Masayuki Oyama |
Officer assistant |
* Terms in parentheses ( ) refer to the division
names under the current organization. |
* For inquiries concerning this
subject, please contact Mr Noriyoshi Tabata
of the General Affairs Department, Public
Relations Section
Email:koho@mitsuba.co.jp
page top
Mitsuba Takes Home the TPM Special Award,
the Continuity Award and the Grand Prize
We are pleased to announce that the Japan
Institute of Plant Maintenance, in its 2003
TPM Awards, has bestowed the TPM Special
Award on our Niisato Plant, the Class 1 TPM
Award for Continued Excellence on our Tone
Plant, and the Class 2 TPM Award for Excellence
on our affiliate Mitsuba Walbro, Inc. (MWI).
The outlines of these awards are as follows:
November 21, 2003
| 1. |
Ceremony
|
|
| Date: |
14:30 Tuesday, December 9, 2003 |
| Place: |
Pacifico Yokohama
1-1-1 Minato-mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa |
|
| 2. |
Awards Received
| 1) |
Awards and Granted Plants |
|
Niisato Plant |
TPM Special Award |
|
Tone Plant |
Class 1 TPM Award for Continued Excellence |
|
MWI
|
Class 2 TPM Award for Excellence
|
| 2) |
Activities and Points of Evaluation |
|
 |
Niisato Plant |
|
|
By combining management innovation activities
(MNP) and TPM
activities, the Niisato Plant
has created
5 virtual companies and implemented
increases in
the speed of improvements and
the development
of SCM through real time
management
using PCs.
| MNP |
Mitsuba Niisato Pulsate Production System
(An ever-active
production system of the
Niisato
Plant)
|
| Virtual companies |
Fictitious companies created in the Niisato
Plant
|
| SCM |
Supply Chain Management
(Optimization of a chain of trans-corporate
activities from receiving orders to sales) |
|
|
 |
Tone Plant |
|
|
Guided by the motto of "an ever-evolving
plant,"
the Tone Plant has developed
from partial
optimization (improvement of
operations
and processes) to overall optimization
(improvement
of systems) by adding production
innovation
to its 8 pillars, and it has carried
out activities
that are combined with the
MTR systems
(Mitsuba Tone Ripple Production
System and
strategy development system) which
is based on
self-supply, self-support, kindness
and visibility.
|
|
 |
MWI |
|
|
Mitsuba Walbro, Inc., has implemented the
8 pillars of
TPM activities based on the
self-maintenance
activities to provide self-protection
for its own
equipment. It has also implemented
a promotion
of the worker autonomy by improving
knowledge and
skills, through the improvement
of quality
backed by improved capability,
and through
the establishment of a production
base with improved
machining and production
techniques.
|
| 3. |
Achievements brought by the activities
|
|
 |
Niisato Plant |
|
|
Real sales gain in
comparison with BM |
|
35% increase |
| Inventory turnover period in comparison with
BM |
|
75% reduction |
| Delivery of poor quality in comparison with
BM |
|
94% reduction |
Innovative activities with the participation
of entire staff were expanded to the "development
of people" and development of culture."
|
"Differentiation" was advanced
due to
dodgy improvements by using production
techniques.
|
|
|
 |
Tone Plant |
|
|
| Reduction of one third of gross loss (2 years) |
Delivery of poor quality
in comparison with BM |
|
1/10 |
| Overall equipment effectiveness |
|
Over 90% |
| Reduction of stock by half |
|
|
 |
MWI |
|
|
|
Labor productivity
in comparison with BM |
|
120% |
| Overall equipment effectiveness |
|
Over 85% |
94% of the concerned workers are qualified
machine
maintenance technicians.
Grade 1 technicians: 18 workers (56%)
Grade
2 technicians: 12 workers (38%)
* BM = Bench Mark |
|
| 4. |
MITSUBA TPM Particulars
|
|
| 1986 |
TPM activities initiated (Mitsuba) |
| 1996, Nov. |
The Niisato Plant begins activities designed
to achieve the TPM Award for Excellence |
| 1998, Sep. |
The Niisato Plant receives the Class 1 TPM
Award
for Excellence |
| 1999, Jun. |
MWI begins activities designed to achieve
the TPM Award for Excellence |
| 1999, Sep. |
The Tone Plant begins activities designed
to achieve the TPM Award for Excellence |
| 2001, Nov. |
The Niisato Plant receives the Class 1 TPM
Award
for Continued Excellence and The Tone
Plant
receives the Class 1 TPM Award for
Excellence
|
| 2003, Nov. |
The Niisato Plant receives the TPM Special
Award,
the Tone Plant the Class 1 TPM Award
for Continued
Excellence, and MWI the Class
2 TPM
Award for Excellence.
|
|
| 5. |
Future Activities
|
|
With regard to the Niisato, Tone Plants and
MWI, plans call for further activities and
enthusiastic expansions to be carried out
in the future. Other plants and affiliated
companies are to follow in our footsteps
as we continue in our pursuit to improve
our facilities and generate changes in the
environment through the establishment of
a predisposition towards strong management.
|
|
* For inquiries concerning this
subject, please contact Mr Noriyoshi Tabata
of the General Affairs Department, Public
Relations Section
Email:koho@mitsuba.co.jp
page top
By winning the Final Round of the 2003 WEMGP,
the "World EV Challenge in Sugo",
Mitsuba wins the 2003 WEMGP Grand Championship
We are extremely pleased to announce that
with its victory in the recent "World
EV Challenge in Sugo", the Final Round
of the 2003 World Econo Move Grand Prix (WEMGP),
held on Saturday, November 2 and Sunday,
November 3 in Sugo in Miyagi Prefecture,
our team won the overall 2003 WEMGP Grand
Prix Championship for the second year in
a row.
Details of the race are as follows.
November 10, 2003
| 1. |
The Contest
|
|
Name: |
2003 World Econo Move (Sixth Round of the
WEMGP in Sugo)
|
|
Promoters: |
The Japanese Association of Financial Econometrics
& Engineering (JAFEE)
|
|
Venue: |
Sports Land Sugo (Sugo Circuit in Miyagi
Prefecture)
|
|
Categories: |
The competition was for total distance in
a 2-hour race on
the Sugo Circuit using equal
condition batteries
supplied by the contest
officials.
|
|
*The World Econo Move Grand Prix (WEMGP)
and the various races
that make up this
competition
are being held throughout
Japan in order
to encourage the
further development
of electric
vehicles through
competition in various
venues
across the country.
This year there were
6 rounds in all.
The 2003 WEMGP Races include the following:
|
Place |
Race Name |
Date |
| 1st Round |
Osaka |
WEM in Maishima 2003 |
21-23 Mar. 2003 |
| 2nd Round |
Ogata |
WEM 2003 |
3-4 May 2003 |
| 3rd Round |
Tsukuba |
WEM in Tsukuba |
16 Aug. 2003 |
| 4th Round |
Toyota |
WEM Toyota |
6-7 Sep. 2003 |
| 5th Round |
Shirahama |
7th EV Enjoy Trial in Shirahama |
25-26 Oct. 2003 |
| 6th Round |
Sugo |
2003 WEV Challenge in Sugo |
2-3 Nov. 2003 |
|
| 2. |
The MITSUBA Team
|
|
Team Name: |
Team "Yoishoto!" Mitsuba
|
|
Members: |
13 (led by Saito Katsuhiko)
|
|
Vehicle name:
|
Hyper USO 800
|
|
The Car: |
Length: 300 cm,
width: 65 cm,
height: 51 cm,
weight: 20 kg,
frame: semi-monocock (employing carbon fiber
+ alamido honeycomb), three wheels.
Improved reliability and reduced loss with
the use of computer-controlled semiconductors
for primary-side switching (batteries and
condensers).
rear tires: low-resistance, 14-inch National
tires (previously Michelin or IRC 20-inch
tires).
Loaded with an original "in-wheel D-D"
(direct drive) motor that employs an amorphous
core for 14 inch tires.
Body modified to match the 14-inch tires
(aerodynamic and turning performances improved).
Utiilized a regeneration/constant
electric
discharge system
using a high-performance
electric double-layer
capacitor.
|
| 3. |
Race Results |
|
| Rank |
Team |
Car name |
Record (laps) |
| 1st place |
Team "Yoishoto!" Mitsuba |
Hyper USO800 |
24 |
| 2nd place |
Honda Engineering EVER |
Orca |
23 |
| 3rd place |
Nakayoshi ZDP |
Super Denchi-kun |
23 |
| 4th place |
First Step AISHIN AW |
Tsubasa 52 |
19 |
| 5th place |
Team ENDLESS |
Black Bird |
15 |
|
| 4. |
Team "Yoishoto!" Mitsuba performance
for 2003 |
|
|
Race |
Date |
Result |
| 1st Round |
WEM in Maishima |
21-23 Mar. 2003 |
1st place |
| 2nd Round |
WEM in 2003 |
3-4 May 2003 |
6th place |
| 3rd Round |
WEM in Tsukuba |
16 Aug. 2003 |
8th place |
| 4th Round |
WEM Toyota |
6-7 Sep. 2003 |
24th place |
| 5th Round |
7th EV Enjoy Trial in Shirahama |
25-26 Oct. 2003 |
Did not participate |
| 6th Round |
2003 WEV Challenge in Sugo |
2-3 Nov. 2003 |
1st place |
|
| 5. |
Final Standings in the WEMGP |
|
| Rank |
Team |
Points |
| 1st place |
Team "Yoishoto!" Mitsuba |
76 |
| 2nd place |
Kimura Laboratory, Tokai University |
71 |
| 3rd place |
Team Unyanyan Kamekichi (Hiratsuka High School
of Science and Technology teachers) |
64 |
| 4th place |
Nakayoshi ZDP |
57 |
| 5th place |
AISHIN AW |
55 |
|
| 6. |
Comments from MITSUBA regarding the race |
|
After not having not participated in the
5th round, we found ourselves ranked in 4th
place for GP points. Wining this final round
in Sugo was inevitable for us if we were
to win the overall Grand Prix championship
again this year.
With all the rest of the vehicles one lap
behind us, it appeared that we would be in
a dead heat with the Honda car until Mitsuba
finally managed to eke out a narrow victory
margin in this final round.
Our team began the season with an excellent
performance winning the first round, but
we went through a series of troubles and
fought tough battles over the course of the
races. Fortunately, we were able to record
a victory the final round just like we did
the last year. This was the key to our second
consecutive Grand Prix championship this
year. Of course we are all determined to
win our third consecutive championship next
year. We thank you very much for your warm
support over this past year.
|
| * |
Further information regarding this race is
available at:
The World Econo Move Grand Prix 2003 official
website
http://www2.ogata.or.jp/wem/wemgp/03wemgp/03wemgp.htm
2003 World Econo Move website
http://www2.ogata.or.jp/wem/03wem/03wem.htm
Team "Yoishoto" Mitsuba website
http://yoishot.hp.infoseek.co.jp/
|
* For inquiries concerning this
subject, please contact Mr Noriyoshi Tabata
of the General Affairs Department, Public
Relations Section
Email:koho@mitsuba.co.jp
page top
Acquisition of International Certificates by Overseas Affiliates
We are pleased to announce that our overseas affiliates, Mitsuba Automotive Systems of Europe (MASE) in Hungary and Mitsuba Sical India Ltd. (MSIL) in India, have acquired ISO certificates.
Details are as follows:
October 24, 2003
| 1. |
Hungary |
|
1) |
Acquired certificates: |
|
|
ISO/TS16949:2002 and ISO14001
|
|
2) |
Background: |
|
|
ISO/TS16949:2002 is the latest international
quality control standard that has been developed
for the automotive industry. Based upon ISO9001:2000,
this standard was developed by European and
American automotive industry organizations
including the Big Three auto makers of the
US, major European auto makers, and the Japan
Automotive Manufacturers Association,Inc.
In as much as plans call for QS-9000, the
currently prevailing standard in the industry,
to be discontinued in December 2006, ISO/TS16949
is to become the globally recognized standard
for the automotive industry.
ISO14001, an International
Organization for
Standardization standard,
is now a prerequisite
for corporations
as environmental preservation
is an essential part
of business operations.
|
|
3) |
Certified company |
|
|
| Name: |
Mitsuba Automotive Systems of Europe Kft. |
| Address: |
H-3104 Salgotarjan, Patak ut. 3-4, Hungary
| Telephone: |
(32) 521-420 |
| Fax: |
(32) 521-435 |
|
|
|
4) |
Certified and registered operations: |
|
|
The assembly of automotive electrical components
and systems
|
|
5) |
Certifying and registering organization: |
|
|
AIB - VINCOTTE International (Brussels, Belgium)
|
|
6) |
Process for acquisition |
|
|
| May 2001 |
Founding of the company |
| July 2002 |
Production and activities for certificate
acquisition initiated |
| Jul.-Sep. 2003 |
Inspection for certification |
| Aug. 2003 |
Acquisition of ISO/TS16949:2002 certificate |
| Oct. 6, 2003 |
Acquisition of ISO14001 |
|
|
7) |
Further developments: |
|
|
We will strive to make thorough contributions
to each and every Mitsuba customer by providing
high quality products.
|
| * |
Company outline
|
|
MASE is a Mitsuba affiliate.
|
|
|
Foundation: |
May 2001 |
|
|
Capital: |
1,660 million Hungarian Forints (approx.
860 million JPY) |
|
|
President: |
Okabe Harutaka |
|
|
Eemployees: |
103 |
|
|
Major products: |
wiper motors, power window motors, etc. |
|
|
|
|
| 2. |
India |
|
1) |
Acquired certificate: |
|
|
ISO/TS16949:2002
|
|
2) |
Background: |
|
|
Same as MASE.
|
|
3) |
Certified company |
|
|
| Name: |
Mitsuba Sical India Ltd. |
| Address: |
No. 78, C.P. Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet, Chennai-600
018, India
| Telephone: |
(44) 2499-6259 |
| Fax: |
(44) 2498-3170 |
|
|
|
4) |
Certified and registered operations: |
|
|
Designing and manufacturing of wiper motors,
fan motors and washers for four-wheel vehicles,
and manufacturing of AC generators and starter
motors for two-wheel vehicles
|
|
5) |
Certifying and registering organization: |
|
|
AQSR International Inc.
|
|
6) |
Process for acquisition |
|
|
| Mar. 2001 |
Founding of the company |
| Apr. 2002 |
Activities for certificate acquisition initiated |
| Jun. 2003 |
Inspection for certification |
| Sep. 2003 |
Acquisition of ISO/TS16949:2002 certificate |
|
|
7) |
Further development: |
|
|
The acquisition of this certificate will
serve as a turning point enabling us to continue
to improve the quality of our products.
|
| * |
Company outline
|
|
MSIL is a Mitsuba affiliate.
|
|
|
Foundation: |
March 2001 |
|
|
Capital: |
60 million Indian Rupees (approx. 150 million
yen) |
|
|
President: |
Kobayashi Toshiaki |
|
|
No. of employees: |
211 |
|
|
Major products: |
Wipers, fan motors, window washers, starters,
and ACGs |
* For inquiries concerning this
subject, please contact Mr Noriyoshi Tabata
of the General Affairs Department, Public
Relations Section
Email:koho@mitsuba.co.jp
page top
Mitsuba to Carry Out Vicarious Execution Returns of the Employee Pension Fund to the National Government
We would like to take this opportunity to
announce that the MITSUBA
Corporation application
requesting the vicarious
execution returns
of our employee pension
fund to the national
government has been approved.
Details are as follows:
September 4, 2003
| 1. |
Approval date
|
September 1, 2003
|
| 2. |
Return objectives |
These returns are to be carried out with
regard to the vicarious execution returns
of future pension funds.Specifically, the
returns are to cover reserve funds generated
from the anticipated periods of service with
the company for our employees from the present
time to the future.
|
| 3. |
Future plans: |
We plan to initiate modifications with regard
to changes in the
previous amounts.
* The term "previous amounts" corresponds
to the fixed continuous service reserve fund
amounts.
|
| * Mitsuba Employee Pension Fund |
|
|
1) |
Established: |
April 1, 1969 |
|
2) |
Location: |
2-14, 2-chome, Nishiki-cho Kiryu,Gunma |
|
3) |
Representative: |
Masasuke Yanagishita, chairman |
|
* For inquiries concerning this
subject, please contact Mr Noriyoshi Tabata
of the General Affairs Department, Public
Relations Section
Email:koho@mitsuba.co.jp
page top
Publication of The Environmental Report (1st Edition)
After giving the matter our serious consideration,
the MITSUBA Corporation
is proud to announce
the publication of the
MITSUBA ENVIRONMENTAL
REPORT 2003.
Details are as follows:
August 28, 2003
| 1. Objectives |
|
This report has been published to serve as
a statement of the
conditions of progress
with regard to MITSUBA's
environmental preservation
activities with respect
to overall company
operations, and in
order for the public to
gain a firm understanding
of our efforts
in this field. |
| 2. |
Format: |
A4 size, 24 pages in full color (four-color) |
| 3. |
Materials: |
100% recycled paper |
| 4. |
Ink: |
aroma-free soy ink |
| 5. |
Execution
period: |
from April to July, 2003 |
| 6. |
Period
covered: |
April 1, 2002 to March 31, 2003 (including
more recent data) |
| 7. |
Volumes: |
1,500 |
| 8. |
Distribution: |
customers, suppliers, administrative offices,
financial Institutions, automotive parts
manufacturers, local residents, industrial
environmental representatives, mass media,
employees (available as well on our in house
Intranet) |
| 9. |
Future
plans: |
In order to further substantiate the contents,
plans call for annual
publications of this
report, and we are
also planning to make
it available in PDF
file format on our company's
website. Furthermore,
in order for as many
people as possible
to understand just what
we are doing, we
also plan to produce a digest
of the report in
English (to be published
in September). |
* For inquiries concerning this
subject, please contact Mr Noriyoshi Tabata
of the General Affairs Department, Public
Relations Section
Email:koho@mitsuba.co.jp
page top
Acquisition of Stock in an Overseas Affiliate
We are pleased to announce that the MITSUBA
Corporation has decided to increase its acquisition
of stocks in Mitsuba Sical India Ltd. (MSIL),
a joint venture company located in India.
Details are as follows:
August 28, 2003
| 1. Objectives |
|
In anticipation of the expansion of the market
for automobiles and 2-wheeled vehicles in
India, and as an effort to increase the management
mobility of MSIL, our company has reached
an agreement with South India Corporation
(Agencies) Ltd. (SICAL), our joint venture
partner in that country in which MITSUBA
has determined to increase its rate of investment.
|
| 2. Contents of the Acquisition |
|
[Original Condition]
Number of stocks issued: 6,000,000 (Mitsuba/60%,
SICAL/40%)
[Stocks acquired]
Stocks acquired: 2.1 million shares
Acquisition value:
USD1,100,000
Thereby, the equity holdings of our company
became 95%.
|
| 3. Date of the Agreement: |
|
Both parties signed the contract on August
26, 2003.
MISL outline
| 1) |
Co. Name: |
Mitsuba Sical India Ltd. |
| 2) |
Location: |
No.78, C.P. Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet,
Chennai 600 018, India |
| 3) |
Established: |
March 26, 2001 |
| 4) |
Capital
Investment: |
Rs60,000,000 (USD1,250,000) |
| 5) |
Employees: |
211 (as of 12, 2002) |
| 6) |
Representative: |
Toshiaki Kobayashi, president |
| 7) |
Products: |
windshield wiper motors & links, fan
motors,
washer pump & tanks, electric equipment for
2-wheeled vehicles |
| 8) |
major customers: |
Maruti Udyog Ltd., Honda Siel Cars India
Ltd.,Telco, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
, Hero Honda Motors Ltd., et. al |
| 9) |
sales: |
Rs 239,000,000 (for 2002) |
|
* For inquiries concerning this
subject, please contact Mr Noriyoshi Tabata
of the General Affairs Department, Public
Relations Section
Email:koho@mitsuba.co.jp
page top
In-company organization and link-up
We are pleased to announce that, in a move
designed to unify and strengthen the distribution
activities of our company, we have decided
to establish a link-up between the Mitsuba
Trading Co.,Ltd. an affiliate involved in
our distribution activities, and the Logistics
Department of MITSUBA Corporation.
Details are as follows:
May 29, 2003
|
| 1.The Aims of the Link-up |
|
By unifying the distribution activities of the entire Mitsuba group, we feel that we should be able to broaden the field of our distribution efforts and to strengthen them at the same time. |
|
| 2. Corporate Name Change |
|
In light of this link-up, the corporate name
of Mitsuba Trading Co.,Ltd. has been changed
to the Mitsuba Logistics Corporation. Employees
of our company who have been involved with
distribution activities are being sent, on
loan, to this company. |
|
| 3. An Outline of the New Company |
|
1) Corporate name: |
Mitsuba Logistics Corporation |
|
2) Location: |
19-161, Yoriai Oaza, Yabuzuka-Honmachi, Nitta-gun,
Gunma Pref., Japan |
|
3) Date of unification: |
June 1, 2003 |
|
4) Capital investment: |
70,000,000JPY (unchanged, 100% ownership
from the MITSUBA Corporation) |
|
5) Employees: |
148 |
|
6) Representative: |
Kenichi Mita, president (determined at the
May 28 General Shareholders' Meeting) |
|
7) Business activities: |
sales, purchases and production distribution
activities, transport & warehousing |
|
8) Major customers: |
members of the Mitsuba Group |
|
9) Projected sales: |
3,700,000,000JPY for FY2003 |
|
| * An Outline of Mitsuba Trading Co.,Ltd. |
|
1) Established: |
September 1967 |
|
2) Location: |
19-161, Yoriai Oaza, Yabuzuka-Honmachi, Nitta-gun,
Gunma Pref., Japan |
|
3) Representative: |
Nobuo Shindo, president (assumed
office in June 2000, to retire May 29)
|
|
4) Capital investment: |
70,000,000JPY (100% ownership from the MITSUBA
Corporation) |
|
5) Employees: |
65 |
|
6) Sales: |
878,000, 000JPY for FY2002 |
|
7) Business activities: |
transport & warehousing |
* For inquiries concerning this
subject, please contact Mr Noriyoshi Tabata
of the General Affairs Department, Public
Relations Section
Email:koho@mitsuba.co.jp
page top
Mitsuba Wins Fuel-cell Race in Akita!
We are proud to announce that the MITSUBA
Team carried out another outstanding performance
in the second round of the WEM-GP, the World
Econo Movement in Ogata, held on Saturday,
May 3, and Sunday, May 4 in the village of
Ogata in Akita Prefecture. Our team won first
prize in the Fuel-cell division and came
in 6th in the Lead Acid Storage Battery division.
Details of the race are as follows:
May 9, 2003
|
| 1. The Contest |
|
Name: |
2003 World Econo Movement (WEM-GP, 2nd Round,
WEM-GP in Ogata, Akita) |
|
Promoters: |
World Econo Movement Executive Committee,
Clean Energy Alliance |
|
Cosponsors: |
World Econo Move Executive Committee |
|
Venue: |
Solar Sports Line, Ogata Vil., Akita Prefecture |
|
Races: |
1. Fuel-cell Division
2.Lead Acid Storage Battery Division (2003
WEM-GP, 2nd Round) |
|
| 2. Fuel-cell Division |
|
Competition: |
Hydrogen storing alloy cylinders distributed
by the Econo Move Headquarters were installed
to guarantee equal conditions for all competitors
as they competed for total distance (in kilometers)
covered on a flat circuit within a 2-hour
time limit. |
|
Competitors: |
12 vehicles |
|
| 3. Lead Acid Storage Battery Division |
|
Competition: |
Cars used batteries distributed by the Econo
Move Headquarters were installed to guarantee
equal conditions for all competitors as they
competed for total distance (in kilometers)
covered on a flat circuit within a 2-hour
time limit. |
|
Competitors: |
77 vehicles |
* World Econo Move Grand Prix
The World Econo Move Grand
Prix is a series
of closely coordinated
events and competitions
held throughout Japan over
the course of
the year. The objective
of the movement is
to advance the pursuit
of efficient energy
utilization in electrically
powered automobiles
and to promote further
technological developments
in this particular field.
This year, a total
of 6 major events are to
be held. The following
is a list of the 2003 WEM-GP
competitions
being held.
|
Location |
Event |
Date |
1st
Round |
Osaka |
WEM in Maishima 2003 |
Mar.21-23 |
2nd
Round |
Ogata |
WEM in Ogata |
May.3-4 |
3rd
Round |
Tsukuba |
WEM in Tsukuba |
Aug.16 |
4th
Round |
Sugo |
2003 E.V. Ecorun in SUGO |
Aug.23-24 |
5th
Round |
Shirahama |
7th EV Enjoy Trial in Shirahama |
Oct.25-26 |
6th
Round |
Toyota |
WEM in Toyota |
Nov.1-2 |
| 4. The Mitsuba Team |
|
Team Name: |
Team "Yoishoto!" Mitsuba (composed
of company employees) |
|
Members: |
13 (led by Saito Katsuhiko) |
|
Vehicle name: |
[Fuel Cell Division]
* USO 800 predecessor
* The Car: Length: 284 cm, width: 79 cm,
height: 55 cm, weight: 16 kg, frame: ROHACELL
+ carbon fiber monocock, with three wheels.
* Loaded with a proton-exchange membrane
fuel cell (PEFC) manufactured by the Daido
Metal Co., Ltd.
* Achieves the utilization of heat generated
from endothermal reaction measures of hydrogen
storing alloy cylinders in fuel cells.
* Employs electric double layer capacitor
with extra low resistance that complements
the special qualities of the generation of
electricity.
|
|
Vehicle name: |
[Lead Acid Storage Battery Division]
* Hyper USO 800
* The Car: Length: 300 cm, width: 65 cm,
height: 51 cm,
weight: 20 kg, frame: semi- monocock + alamido
honeycomb,
with three wheels.
* Utilizes an amorphous core Loaded with
an original
"in-wheel D-D" (direct drive motor)
* The first stage (battery capacitor) switch-over
is controlled by a computer semiconductor
for additional reliability and reduced loss.
|
5. Race results
[Fuel Cell Division]
| Order |
team name |
car name |
distance
covered(m) |
1st
place: |
Team "Yoishoto!" Mitsuba |
USO 800 predecessor |
55,005.15 |
2nd
place: |
Nagano Industrial H.S. |
S.P. evolution ver. 4 |
41,629.72 |
3rd
place: |
Utsunomiya Industrial H.S., Scientific Research
Technology Div. |
UK-hope 2003 |
39,460.18 |
4th
place: |
Team DDW |
DDW 030 |
36,126.20 |
5th
place: |
Scuderia Takayama Industrial H.S. |
TK-R FC |
35,415.43 |
6th
place: |
Waseda University Nagata Laboratory |
Zephyranthes |
29,612.20 |
[Lead Acid Storage Battery
Division] (2003 WEM-GP, 2nd Round)
| Order |
team name |
car name |
class |
distance covered(m) |
1st
place: |
Nakyoshi ZDP |
Miracle Denchi-kun |
O |
78,550.40 |
2nd
place: |
Honda Engineering EVER-BLUE |
Aqua |
O |
77,160.40 |
3rd
place: |
Tokai University, Kimura Laboratory |
Faraday Magic |
O |
76,949.32 |
4th
place: |
Nakyoshi ZDP |
Super Mothra |
O |
76.580.72 |
5th
place: |
Team Unyanyan Kamekichi |
Econo Kamekichi 2.5 |
O |
76,138.00 |
6th
place: |
Team "Yoishoto!" Mitsuba |
Hyper USO 800 |
O |
75,571.80 |
*Regarding the class designation
O / Open Class / participants must be 18
or over on the day of the event / a class
for drivers over 18 years old
J / Junior Class / This is a class for teams
of drivers and members who are between the
ages of 15 and 17 on the day of the event.
This is also a team class for entries from
schools in which the driver and over half
of the members are students.
| 6. Comments from Mitsuba team regarding the
race |
|
This was the first time for a Fuel Cell Division
race to be held, and with no experience in
this particular division, it proved to be
a continuous learning experience for our
team. Since one of our members was a professional
chemist, much time for the preparation for
the race was spent inside the laboratory.
While this was the first race of its kind
ever to be held, we feel that our team's
victory was due to the members taking full
advantage of their previous experience.
Thanks to advances in the performance of
our motor and controller, our team was able
to respond sufficiently in the qualifying
rounds of the Lead Acid Storage Battery Division.
Unfortunately, in the very first lap of the
final race, they experienced some electrical
problems with leads and contact points that
led to an insurmountable 10-minute delay.
When the car got back on the track, our driver
made a valiant high-speed effort that enabled
the team to achieve a respectable 6th place
finish.
The next competition will be the WEM in Tsukuba,
held at the Tsukuba Circuit on August 16.
This is a circuit race that demands the more
basic automobile performance areas of speed,
turns and stopping. We can count on the members
of Team "Yoishoto!" Mitsuba to
do their very best, as always. |
|

The victorious USO
800 predecessor |

A scene of the Lead Acid Storage Battery
Division |
For further information regarding this race
is available on the World Econo Move Grand
Prix 2003 Official website.
http://www2.ogata.or.jp/wem/wemgp/03wemgp/03wemgp.htm
World Econo Move Official website.
http://www2.ogata.or.jp/wem/03wem/03wem.htm
Team "Yoishoto" Mitsuba website
http://yoishot.hp.infoseek.co.jp/
* For inquiries concerning this subject,
please contact Mr Noriyoshi
Tabata of the
General Affairs Department,
Public Relations
Section
Email:koho@mitsuba.co.jp
page top
The Establishment of the Atsugi Office
The Mitsuba Corporation is proud to announce
the opening of a new office in the city of
Atsugi in Kanagawa Prefecture. This office
will serve as a local Mitsuba sales office.
Details are as follows.
April 1, 2003
|
| 1. Objective |
|
1) Strengthening of our sales services for
our customers |
|
2) Pioneering new markets through increased
marketing activities. |
|
| 2. An Outline of the Atsugi Sales Office
Base |
|
Name: |
Atsugi sales Office, Tokyo Office, Mitsuba
Corporation |
|
Location: |
Totasu Bldg. 2F
5-43-16 Asahi-Cho, Atsugi City, Kanazawa
Pref.
243-0014 |
|
Office Manager: |
Tozaki Tsutomu (concurrently Tokyo Office
general manager) |
|
Employees: |
10 |
|
| 3. Dates |
|
Opening: April 12, 2003 |
|
Operations: April 14, 2003 |
* For inquiries concerning this
subject, please contact Mr Noriyoshi Tabata
of the General Affairs Department, Public
Relations Section
Email:koho@mitsuba.co.jp
page top
Mitsuba Scores a Double Victory in Eco Run
and Eco Car Competitions!
The Mitsuba Corporation team participated
in the recent Eco Car Festa 2003 held in
the Konohana Ward, Osaka, from Friday, March
21 through Sunday, March 23. Among the variety
of eco car classes in which competitions
were held, we are extremely pleased to announce
that our team won first place in the first
round of this year's World Econo Move Grand
Prix (WEM-GP), the "World Econo Move
in Maishima Osaka 2003", and in the
"First Twin Trial Maishima 2003 for
Non-engine Non-motor Cars". Details
of the races are as follows.
March 31, 2003
| 1. The Contest |
|
Name: |
Eco Car Festa 2003 |
|
Promoters: |
Eco Car Festa 2003 Executive Committee |
|
Cosponsors: |
World Econo Move in Maishima Osaka 2003 Executive
Committee,Kansai Econo Power Competition
Executive Committee |
|
Categories |
1. Various events for Eco Cars |
|
|
|
a. World Econo Move in Maishima Osaka 2003 |
|
|
|
b. First Twin Trial Maishima 2003 for Non-engine
Non-motor Cars |
|
|
|
c. Others |
|
|
2.Miniature Fuel cell Battery Car Radio Control
Race, etc. |
|
| 2. World Econo Move in Maishima Osaka 2003 |
|
Competition: |
Cars were outfitted with small batteries
provided by the promoters
and competitions
for total distances
covered in 1 hour and
in 2 hours. |
|
Competitors: |
42 cars |
|
*World Econo Move Grand Prix
The World Econo Move Grand Prix and the various
races that make up this competition are being
held throughout Japan in order to encourage
the further development of electric vehicle
technology through competition in various
venues across the country. Last year, 5 events
were held over the course of the year. With
the addition of this Maishima Osaka event,
there will be a total of 6 major events held
in 2003. The 2003 World Econo Move Grand
Prix Races include the following: |
|
|
| 3. First Twin Trial Maishima 2003 for Non-engine
Non-motor Cars |
|
Competition: |
Cars run over a 500 m straight course. Two cars start
simultaneously and run over a predetermined hilly course. The first car to
reach the control line 200 m from the starting line wins the competition.
(Participating cars can also run in the World Econo Move Grand Prix events.)
Competition is in the form of a tournament with winners proceeding onto the
next round.
|
|
Competitors: |
9 cars |
| 4. The Mitsuba Team |
|
Team Name: |
Team "Yoishoto!" Mitsuba |
|
Members: |
13 (led by Saito Katsuhiko) |
|
Vehicle Name: |
Hyper USO 800 |
|
The Car: |
Length: 300 cm,
width: 65 cm,
height: 51 cm,
weight: 20 kg, |
|
frame: |
semi- monocock (employing carbon fiber +
alamido honeycomb),three wheels. |
|
Loaded with an original "in-wheel D-D"
(direct drive motor) with an amorphous core. |
| 5. Race results |
|
*World Econo Move in Maishima Osaka 2003 |
|
| Order |
team name |
car name |
class |
distance covered
(km) |
| 1st place: |
Team "Yoishoto!" Mitsuba |
Hyper USO 800 |
O |
63.382 |
| 2nd place: |
Team Unyanyan Kamekichi |
Econo Kamekichi |
O |
63.213 |
| 3rd place: |
Tokai University Kimura Laboratory |
Faraday Magic |
O |
62.114 |
| 4th place: |
Kihoku Industrial H. S. Manufacturing Technology
Club |
Spirit of Kihoku |
J |
60.441 |
| 5th place: |
Ahiru Ecopa Racing |
PURSUITER |
O |
59.716 |
|
|
|
|
*First Twin Trial Maishima 2003 for Non-engine
Non-motor Cars |
|
| 1st place: |
Team "Yoishoto!" Mitsuba |
TT-7 |
| 2nd place: |
Team TGMY Ashida |
details not available due to late entry |
| 3rd place: |
Honda Gakuen Kansai School |
details not available due to late entry |
|
| 6. Comments from MITSUBA regarding the race |
|
This was the first WEM-GP event of the year,
as well as the first time for our team to
run on these particular courses. Our team
members examined the course layouts and determined
the unique characteristics of the course
prior to the start. Once the events had begun,
they were confronted with a number of unforeseen
circumstances, but they were able to pass
through the elimination rounds and the final
rounds successfully. We are especially pleased
that they were able to earn GP points in
the first competition of the year, and we
are all looking forward to another successful
season for our team. Currently improvements
are being carried out in anticipation of
the 2nd event that will be held on May 3
and 4 in Akita, the home of the World Eco
Movement. As the defending champion, we are
all anticipating a valiant effort by the
members of our team as they try for a repeat
of last year's victory.
|
For further information regarding this race
is available on the World Econo Move Grand
Prix 2002 Official website.
http://www2.ogata.or.jp/wem/wemgp/03wemgp/03wemgp
Eco Car Festa 2003 website
http://www.2and4.co.jp/eco_car_festa/Eco_Car_Festa.html
Team "Yoishoto" Mitsuba website
http://yoishot.hp.infoseek.co.jp/
* For inquiries concerning this
subject, please contact Mr Noriyoshi Tabata
of the General Affairs Department, Public
Relations Section
Email:koho@mitsuba.co.jp
page top
The accomplishment of "Zero Emissions"
MITSUBA continues to direct its attentions
toward the realization of an abundant and
safe environment as we strive for a continuous
coexistence with our natural environment
through technological developments that are
concerned with maintaining our society and
our environment. Since 2000, and as a link
in this chain of our environmental concerns,
MITSUBA has continued to aim towards the
total elimination of useless waste materials
generated in our plants and offices in our
company-wide full-scale confrontation with
the concept of "Zero Emissions".
We are pleased to announce at this time,
we have been able to achieve our goal of
zero emissions. Details of our efforts are
as follows.
February 27, 2003
| 1. The sphere of our activities |
|
All MITSUBA sites
(Headquarters building, Research and Development
Center, Niisato plant,Akagi plant, Onishi
plant, Tone plant, and the Logistics Division) |
2. Mathematical objectives of Zero Emissions |
|
"The achievement of a company-wide recycle
rate of over 99% for a period of three consecutive
months." This is the goal that we have
set for ourselves in order to claim that
we have indeed achieved "Zero Emissions"
in our company.
<for reference>
Past achievements (based on yearly figures)
are shown below.
1998: 94.2%
1999: 93.9%
2000: 95.4%
2001: 96.9% |
3. Monthly figures for the past fiscal year |
|
| April |
/ |
98.7% |
| May |
/ |
98.7% |
| June |
/ |
99.8% |
| July |
/ |
99.4% |
| August |
/ |
97.3% |
| September |
/ |
99% |
| October |
/ |
100% |
| November |
/ |
99.6% |
| December |
/ |
99.5% |
| January |
/ |
99.9% |
*Total figures up to the month of January
(99.16%) indicate that we have cleared the
99.00% barrier.
|
4. Monthly figures for the past fiscal year |
|
Major activity achievements
1) Sludge |
|
|
The extraction of iron and lead particles
from sludge |
|
2) Waste plastics |
|
1 |
.Used as a plastic base for stretch film,
and to make garbage bags. |
|
2 |
.Powdered paints undergo thermal recycling. |
|
3 |
.Packing materials (soft plastics) are recycled
and used as raw materials, and as RPF. |
|
4 |
.Copper is retrieved and plastic is thermally
recycled from printed circuit boards. |
|
5 |
.Certain parts of waste plastics undergo
thermal recycling.
*thermal recycling = retrieving heat energy
from waste materials |
|
3) Waste oil |
|
1 |
.Oil-based waste oil is recycled into crude
petroleum, part of which is recycled for
use within the company. |
|
2 |
.Oil is retrieved from oil/water mixtures
and used as furnace fuel. |
|
3 |
.Waste oils that boil at low temperatures
(liquid detergents, gasoline, etc.) are recycled
and used as detergents within the company,
while gasoline is recycled for use as a furnace
fuel. |
|
4) Waste glass and ceramics |
|
1 |
.Grinding stones, fire-resistant tiles, etc.,
are used as a foundation material in pavement
and building foundations. |
|
2 |
.Glass and mercury are retrieved from fluorescent
tubes and recycled. |
|
5) Waste acid and alkali |
|
1 |
.Sludge retrieved after neutralization is
used as a raw material in cement. |
|
6) Other |
|
1 |
.Lead is retrieved from dry cell batteries
and recycled. |
5. The direction of our future efforts |
|
In the future, we hope to be able to further
elevate our recycling efforts and, at the
same time, to promote the reduction of the
volume of waste materials. Also, it is our
intention to promote the development of MITSUBA
products that are recyclable. |
* For inquiries concerning this
subject, please contact Mr Noriyoshi Tabata
of the General Affairs Department, Public
Relations Section
Email:koho@mitsuba.co.jp
page top
|