JAPAN AUTOMOBILE RECYCLE NETWORK NEWSVol. 88
Recyclers
across thecountry

JUNE 2015

http://www.jara.co.jp

Imai Cars in Miyagi uses disaster as
springboard for stregthening operations

Newly build HQFour years and two months have passed
since the Great East Japan Earthquake struck
Japan in 2011, unleashing a devastating fourmeter-high tsunami on Imai Cars Co., inIwanuma City, Miyagi Prefecture. was stricken
by a 4-meter devastating tsunami. However,thanks to support by its employees and otherrecyclers, the company was able to make a fastrebound. Its recycling business is now on parwith pre-disaster levels.
The 2011 disaster destroyed Imai Cars’headquarters, which housed it plant. To getback on its feet as soon as possible, Yuji Imai,the company’s president, worked side by sidewith employees to clear away debris and carryout repairs. Immense support came from SPN
group, of which Imai Cars was a member, as
well as from other business partners. Thanks tothese efforts, within only one month of thedisaster, the company was already back todismantling automobiles. Reconstruction of theheadquarters was completed a year after thedisaster, with computer servers being placedon the third floor in an effort to keep them outof the way of harm from future tsunamis. The
new building features a temporary evacuation
shelter for employees.

parts production and as a warehouse. Opticalcables efficiently relay information between the
new plant and the headquarters plant on thewhole process from parts production toshipment. The company introduced Boschscanning tools for external fault diagnosis,
which is needed for production of engine andother functional parts. When engine parts areshipped, diagnostic results are printed out andattached, thus, raising the quality of the parts.
Imai the president assumed the post ofchairman of the JARA group in March 2014.
“We were really taken care of by all of you
after the disaster. Now we want to repay you be
contributing to the group,” Imai said inexpressing is eternal gratefulness. From his
experience of keeping up a fast pace fromimmediately after the disaster, as JARA
chairman, Imai can be severe with others attimes. “Doing things is more important thancomplaining about them without doing
anything,” he said.
With the generation of end-of-life-vehicles
in declining and putting recyclers in a toughbusiness environment, Imai foresees thecoming challenge. “We have to find the next
revenue sources, such as something that
contributes to customers or steel or non-ferrous
metals.”Further promotion of production
efficiency
Staffing is another challenge facing thePublished by JARA Corporation
Tokyo Head Office: Shinwa Bldg. 1-2-2-7F
Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN 103-0027
Phone: +81 3 3548 3010 / Fax: +81 3 3231 4690

CO2 Reduction Effect(based on Super-Line System)

The use of Reuse Parts saved

3,312 tons of CO2 emissions
in April 2015
The reference figure represents thedifference of carbon dioxide (CO2)emissions at the vehicle repair using
genuine (new) parts and recycled parts.**: Based on "Green Point System", which was
jointly developed by the Japan Automotive Parts
Recyclers Association and Waseda University
Environmental Research Institute using a life cycle
assessment (LCA) technique.

company. Work is progressing on building a
breakwater in the vicinity of Imai Cars, drawing
reconstruction workers from around the country,
as well as from local areas. This makes it moredifficult to recruit personnel than in other areas,
due to lack of available people, meaning thateven increasing its workforce for Imai Cars.
The company aims to improve operational
efficiency further by better sharing its
dismantling and parts production operations
between its headquarters plant and second plant.
By foreseeing the next challenge and throughdiligent study, Imai Cars is moving in a
direction that will further contribute to resource
recycling and promotion of the use of recycledparts. (Daily Automotive News, May 21 issue)

Tsunami came up to the level,by which the wall discolored.

Second plant built to expand JAPAN
operationsAUTOMOBILE RECYCLE NETWORK NEWSIn October 2013, the company started
http://www.spn-partner.com
Vol. 02
operations of its second plant, which was built MARCH 2008
on vacant land across from the company’s
headquarters. The new plant is used for reuse

2nd plant

Published by SPN Co., Ltd.
Tokyo Head Office: Shinwa Bldg. 1-2-2-7F
Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN 103-0027
Phone: +81 3 3548 3010 / Fax: +81 3 3231 4690

JAPAN AUTOMOBILE RECYCLE NETWORK NEWS No.88 JUNE 2015 < 2 >Signs of globalization in
auto recyclingPsrt 1. New wave
Japan’s automotive recycling industry isfacing a wave of globalization.
This year marks the 10th year since theintroduction of Japan’s Automobile Recycling
Law. The law, which governs a delicate systemdeveloped by both the government andindustry, has played an important role inbuilding a recycling society. On the other hand,
major recyclers and groups consider believe theJapanese market will taper in the future, andare seeking to develop their business overseas,
based on the advantages of their meticulous
management of parts and highly skilled
dismantling techniques.
Overseas business on the rise
Touting it as probably “the first attempt inthe world,” major recycler Kaiho Sangyo Co.
started auctioning recycled auto parts in
Sharjah of the United Arab Emirates lastEco-friendly vehicles takestage at Shanghai motor show

December. Now, approximately 70 percent of
the company’s sales come from overseas.
Although used vehicle auctions are wellestablished in Japan, auctions for used car parts
are rare anywhere in the world.
Japanese-made auto parts are highlyreliable. Japanese recycled parts are also very
popular in the Middle East, Caribbean, andCentral Asia. Many buyers still visit Japan toget such parts. Currently, the trade of such parts
between overseas buyers and Japanesedismantlers, however, is mostly done throughdirect negotiation. “It is a buyers’ market,”sighed Norihiko Kondo, president of Kaiho
Sangyo. In order to build a fair and open priced
market, Kondo decided to hold parts auctions.
Sharjah is a center of trade in auto parts, where
7,000 to 8,000 traders do business. From its
foothold in Sharjah, Kaiho Sangyo aims tofurther develop its business in other areas.
Eco R Co. of Ashikaga City, Tochigi
Prefecture, is engaged in auto parts trade with50 buyers from countries. Its sales fromoverseas trade have increased by a factor of 20
in a decade. The company currently sources
used engines from Japan and ships them toMalaysia for disassembly and sale. Showa
Metal Co. of Koshigaya City, Saitama
Prefecture, jointly with Toyota Tsusho
Corporation, is engaged in the operation of an
automobile recycling plant in Beijing, China,
which was built as a model plant.
Acceleration in recycling overseas seen as
opportunity
There is another reason recyclers arelooking overseas. Declining birth rates in Japan
mean new vehicle sales are falling, thus “thegeneration of ELVs will eventually decline,”according to a recycled parts sales group. On
the other hand, used vehicle exports in 2014

At the 16th Auto Shanghai (April 22-29,2015), major carmakers from Japan, the UnitedStates and Europe, as well as local Chinese
carmakers showcased their concept vehicles,
new models and latest technologies.

unveiled the “Lannia”, which was developed
exclusively for the Chinese market and the firstNissan vehicle for which Chinese designers
led development in an effort to attract younger
consumers. From its Infiniti luxury brand,
the “Q70 Bespoke Edition” was displayed.
Dongfeng Nissan Motor also unveiled its“Vow” concept, as the first crossover model of
its Venucia brand.

Nissan announces “Lannia” targeting
young consumers
Nissan has the largest market shareamong other Japanese carmakers in China. It

Toyota expands hybrid lineup
Toyota exhibited its “Corolla Hybrid” and“Levin Hybrid,” both which will be developed
and produced for the first time outside of Japanand are scheduled
to be released
this autumn.
The company isplanning to launcha nationwide
campaign topromote hybrid
vehicles and,thereby, strengthenincreased 10.3 percent from a year earlier to1,283,390 units, marking a record-high volume
after the 2008 global financial crisis andunderlines the flow away from Japan ofvehicles to overseas. Keeping an eye on such achange in their business environment, recyclers
began to make moves to secure customers fortheir parts.
Industry observers view the acceleratingt r e n d o f r e c y c l i n g o verseas to be good
opportunity. In line with this, Japan’s Ministryof Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), andthe Ministry of Environment have taken up for
the first time the subject of “internationaldevelopment of auto recycling” as part ofdiscussions from this summer for review of theAutomobile Recycling Law. METI’s
Automobile Bureau notes that, among membersof the Association of Southeast Asian Nations,“development of auto recycling-related laws ison the verge of moving forward in somecountries.” The need for law-making toward a
recycling society is highly expected even in
emerging economies.
Responding to calls from the industry, such
as Japan Automotive Recyclers Association’
Chairman Shigeru Tenmyo’s statement that
“We want to export Japan’s recycling system”,
the two ministries began to look overseas. “eneed to consider how we can contribute to othercountries based on our experience in Japan.”
JARA Corporation’s President Sosho
Kitajima said, “From now on, it is important tocommunicate our know-how to trainees fromoverseas and to distribute training materials tothem.”
The time has come to draw on experiencesand efforts taken uniformly by Japaneseindustry, government, and academia.
Globalization of auto recycling has begun toroll forward with big potential. (Daily
Automotive News, May 18 issue)
its hybrid vehicle sales in China. Honda
unveiled its “Concept D,” its top-end SUV
model, as China’s SUV market continues togrow. The company also showcased its “NSXConcept” super-sports car from its Acura brandfor the first time in China.
Meanwhile, to respond to a scheduled
tightening of environmental regulations in 2020
announced by the Chinese government, anarray of eco-friendly vehicles were displayed atthe motor show. Volkswagen, the market leader
in China, exhibited its plug-in hybrid vehicle“Coupe GTE”. Mitsubishi Motors displayed
its plug-in concepts “Mitsubishi Concept XRPREVII” and “Outlander PHV Concept-S”.
The company will introduce its plug-in hybrid
vehicles in the Chinese in limited numbers
to explore the possibility of the diffusion ofsuch cars. Electric vehicle maker Tesla Motors
also exhibited its products for the first time at
Chinese motor show. Local Chinese carmakers,as well, displayed electric vehicles and plug-inhybrid vehicles. (Daily Automotive News, Apr.
28 issue)

JAPAN AUTOMOBILE RECYCLE NETWORK NEWS No.88 JUNE 2015 < 3 >コベルコが提案する新しい考え方
1979年世界初の自動車解体機の発売以来、30年以上にわたって金属リサイクル分野で常にリードし、環境負荷の低減に貢献してきました。
マルチ解体機
使用済み自動車の解体以外にも廃家電などの金属製機器の解体およびさまざまな複合廃棄物の解体・分別作業が可能です。

New ideas comefrom KOBELCO
Since launching the world’s first car-dismantling machine in 1979,
KOBELCO has continued to take the lead in the metals recycling industry.
For over 30 years, we have contributed to reducing environmental impact.
Multi-Dismantling Machine

Car-Dismantling MachineIn addition to dismantling end-of-life cars,Multi-Dismantling Machine can break down
various metal products and equipment
such as used household appliances andcan separate and sort various composite
material wastes.

Car-Dismantling Machine efficiently
separates and sorts raw materials in
end-of-life cars and is able to recoverrare earth metals.

http://www.kobelco-europe.com/
http://www.kobelco-kenki.co.jp/

新构想源于神钢
1979年世界第一台汽车拆除机发售以来，
30多年来一直引领金属再生领域，
在降低对环境压力方面功不可没。

http://www.kobelco-usa.com/

새로운 발상은KOBELCO에서
1979년 세계 최초로 자동차 해체기를 출시한 이래,30여 년에 걸쳐 금속 재활용 분야에서 항상 앞장서서환경 부하 저감에 공헌해 왔습니다.

多功能拆除机

汽车拆除机멀티 해체기不仅可以拆除不再使用的汽车，还可以可快速进行报废汽车内素材的分类作业，용도 폐기된 자동차의 해체 외에도 폐가전제품 등 금속제 기기의拆除废家电等金属制机器以及各种复合

能够回收稀金属资源。

해체 및 다양한 복합 폐기물의 해체 • 분리작업이 가능합니다.

废弃物品的拆除、分类作业。

http://www.kobelco-jianji.com/

http://www.samjung-kenki.co.kr/

JAPAN AUTOMOBILE RECYCLE NETWORK NEWS No.88 JUNE 2015 < 4 >Go Go Japan Industry (M) Sdn Bhd
Lot 15, Jalan 4/32A,
Mukim Batu Industrial Area, 6½ Mile Off Jalan Kepong
52000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel : 03-62415258 Fax : 03-62415285

High Quality品质卓越Reasonable Price
价格合理Speedy Delivery
交货迅速Excellent After Sales Service
良好的售后服务For Enquiry, Please Contact / 询问洽购, 请联络 : 03-6241 5258

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