JABM
Chairman Hideki
Harada
A Happy New Year! I think all our JABM members have got very nice pleasant time in the New Year holidays with your family. This year in Japan in New Year holidays, it was warm and fine weather same as ordinary year, we were able to do visiting shrines and playing pleasant sports. We have been sufficiently cultivated with our spirits. We can prepare to act now aggressively.
Last year in December, we had International Symposium, same as previous years. The subject was “ How to survive Japanese manufacturers with developing new technology and products.” Last year we had SARS trouble and Japanese making reconstruction. Therefore the subject fit the timing. Mr. W. Benecki, IMA and Mr. J. West, motor engineer, told Europe and America situation. In Europe and America, magnets manufacturers are decreasing tremendously, only remain several companies with special technologies and very short delivery. In Japan almost same situation, 6 presentations from Japanese manufacturers explained Japanese manufacturers survive method.
The plant tour in last year, we have visited JFE iron oxide factory and steel production lines. We have received very polite guide and thought eagerness of new birth JFE. The iron oxide production process also has applied improvement.
The regular meeting in May 2003, we had “ Large revolution machines with magnets”. The regular meeting in September, we had “ Small motors with bonded magnets”. We recognized again magnets are so important to support energy saving and miniaturization.
The market of bonded magnets in Japan and world would be more accurately calculated by market discussion in last December. The invasion of Chinese magnets in the world market, the factories transfer to China, South East Asia and Mexico, these are going in the western countries. In these situations, the production in Japan in 2003, was almost same level by weight, but by value 91%, 217 hundred million yen, compared with last 2002. Especially rigid ferrite and rare earth bonded magnets weight was much increased. This is the result of tremendous price down, thorough cost down, development new products and technologies. The production of Japanese manufacturers in the world in 2003 was about 390M$. There is the tendency of price down through the world, Japanese manufacturers market share did not much change. The most important point is how to quick to manage to select getting most profitable optimum developing site and production site.
Mr. Takeo Tada, Senior Managing Director of the Association, has worked very hard, day and night including Saturday and Sunday, doing very difficult jobs, keeping smallest office. Thank you very much indeed. The Association will work more and more useful for the members effectively and timely.
There are many anxious factors still remained in world economy. I believe it is the only way for us to develop ourselves with quick revolutionary action. We must look around the world, act positively with bright hope, and making thorough efforts.