Yokohama has announced that it is to move its company headquarters from Tokyo to its production facility in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, 35 miles southwest of the capital.
A spokesperson for Yokohama explained that the move will allow the company to “facilitate speedier decision-making” by having management, planning, production, sales, research and development and logistics staff all in the same area, enabling Yokohama to “respond more flexibly to the dynamic changes in our operating environment.” It also said that the move will achieve more efficient use of management resources and secure financial flexibility.
The proceeds of the sale, in conjunction with the recent sale of its Hamatite sealing and adhesive materials business, will, it says, be used to support “aggressive investment in strategic domains.”
Yokohama announced on April 28 that the Hamatite business, generating around US$185m annually from sites in Japan, China, Thailand and the USA, would be sold to Swiss-based chemicals specialist Sika Group.
