Japan firm inaugurates expanded facility in Laguna

The local unit of Japan’s Tokai Rika Co. Ltd., a leading global manufacturer of automotive switches, has inaugurated its billion-yen phase four expansion project in Sta. Rosa, Laguna on Tuesday—a move that will not only boost the facility’s production capacity but will also generate more job opportunities in the area.

On the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony yesterday, TRP Inc. president Tsuyoshi Hyodo said that, because of the expansion project, production would be hiked by more than 50 percent from the current capacity, making its Sta. Rosa plant roughly the third or fourth biggest among the parent company’s production facilities globally.

From 6.7 million pieces of switches, total capacity will now reach 10.9 million pieces, which are then exported to global carmakers in North America, Europe, Thailand Indonesia and Japan. This expansion is also expected to employ an additional 300 employees on top of the company’s existing 1,200-strong workforce.

“This year, TRP is turning 20 years old. Over the past two decades, we are able to complete three expansions. Now, we are on the fourth. With this expansion, our total building area increased to 21,000 square meters, by adding 7,000 sqm to existing area. In relation to this, our employee number is growing, exceeding 1,200 members. We are not only expanding in terms of number but in responsibility as well,” Hyodo said.

Michinobu Sugata, president of Toyota Motor Philippines, noted that TRP was one of the companies that never wavered in its trust in the Philippine economy, even as it opened shortly before the Asian crisis in the 90s.

Sugata added that this new investment would further strengthen the position of TRP as one of global Toyota’s most reliable suppliers.

Export receipts for the automotive switches produced from the TRP facility in Laguna reached $64 million.

Parent firm Tokai Rika of Japan currently serves, among others, Toyota Motor Corp., Hino Motors Ltd., Suzuki Motor Corp., Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Mazda Motor Corp., Isuzu Motors Ltd., Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., Denso Corp., Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co.

For the year ending March 2014, Tokao Rika posted 437.8 billion yen in net sales and had 16,721 employees globally.