“Our ‘user first’ approach ensures we collaborate closely with teachers and schools, and that we adapt our products for the French curriculum,” explained Minoru Takahashi, president of Casio France.

“This year we are launching the G90+E calculator, which complies with the new curriculum in high school, and our FX-92 scientific calculator includes SCRATCH — a basic programming software,” said Takahashi. “This allows students to learn the fundamentals of programming and create small programs.”

Casio’s globally recognized watches such as the G-SH OCK include the GMW B5000 (a revamp of the iconic G-Shock that debuted 35 years ago) that boasts a full-metal shock resistant structure and smartphone link functions via Bluetooth.

With over six decades of providing customers with socially innovative products that have enhanced people’s lives and almost two decades in France working closely with various sectors through its diverse range of products, Takahashi concluded: “France is our No. 1 market in Europe and as a commercial company, we are not simply chasing profit. It is important for us to continue contributing to French society through our products, creativity and ‘user first’ campaign.”

www.casio.fr

“Our ‘Honda Next Door’ campaign featured Honda car owners and we transformed their garages into pop-up dealerships to promote our line-ups,” explained Takeharu Aoki, president, Honda France.

Honda is committed to an “electrical future” in Europe and later this year a major sales initiative will be launched focusing on the hybrid version of the fifth generation CR-V compact SUV.

Honda France is also active in power equipment covering gardening and marine markets. The company’s only power equipment manufacturing facility in Europe, Honda France Manufacturing S.A.S., produces lawnmowers, generators and tillers, supplying 200,000 units a year to markets across Europe.

Established in Japan 70 years ago, Honda began its journey as a motorcycle manufacturer. Honda motorcycles remain one of the leading bike brands in France with the American-made Honda Gold Wing GL1800 as one of Honda’s most popular bikes on French roads.

“We are active in the FIM Endurance World Championship,” said Aoki. “Our F.C.C. TSR Honda France team, a partnership between Honda France and one of the top Japanese teams, is currently in first place and a serious contender for the world title with one race to go at the end of July, the Suzuka 8 Hours in Japan. With these initiatives in place, we plan to strengthen our motorcycle business and continue to increase our market share,” said Aoki.

“I want Honda to be loved by our customers in France as we strengthen our company and our brand to better serve our growing fan base.”

www.honda.fr

“Having spent five years on product development, we are excited about the launch of this revolutionary service that will dramatically change the ‘workplace of the future’ for our 80,000 customers across France,” explained Cornillet. “This sends a strong message regarding the importance we place on our commitment to France and the rest of our markets in Europe.”

With 1,740 employees, a turnover of €517 million and philanthropic activities such as the Konica Minolta Green Marathon in Rennes and the company’s ongoing support of persons with disabilities in sport, Konica Minolta’s strong commitment to France is assured.

“Our strategy is to grow through acquisitions and professional printing, and provide new technologies and innovations,” said Cornillet. “Our goal is to become a full-service provider and expand into other sectors such as health care and security.”

www.konicaminolta.fr

“Our role as an original equipment manufacturer to Renault and Groupe PSA represents 70 percent of our sales in France. We are also active in the aftermarket and spare parts segments and encourage customers to use our high-quality products to enhance their vehicle’s performance and fuel consumption.”

NGK Spark Plugs France supplies the French market with spark plugs, glow plugs, coils, ignition beams, lambda probes and temperature sensors. The company also markets technical ceramic products under the NTK brand for the telecommunications and industrial production sectors.

“We are not limiting ourselves to the automotive sector and promote our full range of products in Europe through our NTK brand,” said Sanoi.

The company’s other main function and a vital part of the group’s European supply chain is their production facility located in Meung-sur-Loire.

“France is the only production base in Europe where we manufacture spark plugs for the region,” said Sanoi. “The spark plugs are exported to our German office and distributed across Europe.”
While sales of NGK’s glow plugs used in diesel engines were recently affected by Volkswagen’s “dieselgate” scandal, the company is focusing on sales of other high-quality products and strengthening its position in France.

“We are a Japanese company and we are proud to contribute to France’s economic growth,” said Sanoi. “I also want to increase our corporate social responsibility activities while continuing to play a role in the dynamic French automotive industry.”

www.ngkntk.fr

“Our customers are at the very heart of what we do, and setting up in France proved to be the right decision for us as a company due to the sizeable market, our ability to be close to our established partners and the country’s advantageous geographic location within Europe.”

VESSEL’s products are manufactured in Japan and meet all European compliance and specification requirements. The company’s best-selling products in Europe include railway track maintenance impact wrenches, precision-fastening products and cutting tools for robotics used in the automotive and material handling industries.

Some of VESSEL’s local customers include national, state-owned railway company, SNCF, automobile manufacturer Renault and automotive parts manufacturers Valeo and Schneider Electric.

“Considering a single screwdriver can be used to tighten tens of thousands of screws, our customers demand quality products that can do the job,” said Tokuoka. In order to be close to customers, the company’s distributor network consists of 140 dealers in Europe, eight of which are in France.

As France and Japan celebrate 160 years of diplomatic ties this year, Tokuoka is keen to assert that VESSEL will continue to play a part in bringing France and Japan closer together.

“I hope our success, in a small way, triggers a more heartfelt partnership between both of our countries as we continue to strengthen our partnerships with French industrial players and all of our European customers.”

www.vessel-europe.com

Symbolic of the group’s commitment to the Asian region, the company renovated a four-story multipurpose building in Tokyo dedicated to industrial innovation and the further development of the group’s regional activities in April.

“The four floors of our building serve different functions,” said Riviere. “One area is for our administrative headquarters, the second is a “French Fab” that promotes technologies, industrial knowhow and temporary exhibits open to the public. The third one is a “French Tech” incubator for niche startups and the rooftop area symbolizes that there is no limit to our relationship and what we can achieve together.”

The remarkable growth of the company in such a short period of time is testament to the strength of family-owned small and medium-sized enterprises with the right approach to doing business.

“Japan is a complex market, which is why we need to be there,” said Riviere. “Tokyo is similar to Paris’ role in Europe in that if you are truly committed to developing your business in Asia, it is necessary to be in Tokyo. Our vision is to create a long-term global footprint and perhaps, in the future, develop our business in North America once we have successfully affirmed our position in the dynamic Japanese market.”

www.weare-aerospace.com
www.weare-pacific.com

CFE’s other facility produces and sells Torayca ® carbon fiber-branded products, composites and prepregs used in various applications, including sport and leisure, industry and aerospace.
“In addition to our production capabilities, we have a research and development technical center,” said Guilhempey. “This allows us to support our customers by offering tailor-made, innovative solutions while guiding them through the manufacturing process.”

The company’s 5,200-ton capacity facility is meeting the demands of its customers in Europe, a region that has the highest demand for carbon fiber in the world, accounting for 44 percent of the global market.

The automotive and industrial sectors represent most of CFE’s sales in volume, while the aeronautic sector is being developed and sports and leisure remains stable.

“While we are experiencing an upward trend in the aeronautics industry anchored by our close relations with leading aircraft manufacturers, our strategy has been to strengthen our activities with our core customer base and to develop the energy, rail, civil engineering and space sectors,” said Guilhempey.

With France as the driver for growth, Guilhempey is committed to developing its markets and promoting Toray Carbon Fibers Europe as an integrated global carbon fiber leader. “We’ve strengthened our marketing efforts recently and our aim is to establish a more structured approach toward innovation and technical support for our customers in Europe,” he said.

www.toray-cfe.com

“France has historically been a very important market for us,” said Komatsu. “We are performing well across Europe and will ensure our success in France by strengthening our position and brand image. We currently have 28 official dealers here and customers who understand the concept of our machines is increasing. We have a long-term approach here and will continue to deliver high-quality products designed to benefit our customers.”

www.takeuchi-france.com

The company’s component-parts business represents 50 percent of sales with the other half centered on customization solutions. “Globally, we have six factories and design centers to assist all our customers with their optics and in opto-mechanics customized requirements,” said Ear.

As OptoSigma Europe celebrates its fifth anniversary next year, Ear wants to become Europe’s supplier of choice for optical and optomechanical components. “Most of our products were created for Japanese researchers, and to achieve our targets in Europe, we need to establish a research and development center in France,” said Ear.

“To help our customers accelerate their work, we also want the ability to assemble ‘sub-systems’ as an added -value service. I am happy Sigma Koki entrusted me to establish the business here as we have successfully contributed to the expansion of our group’s global business. With demand in Europe and the United States increasing, our facilities in Japan are operating at close to 100 percent capacity and we look forward to further developing our capabilities, global sales and reputation as an industry leader.”

europe.optosigma.com

A year earlier, Mr. Atsushi Horiba purchased ABX SA (today, HORIBA ABX SAS), a hematology analyzer manufacturer specialist and one of the leading in vitro diagnostic devices and reagent manufacturers.

These acquisitions are the pillars on which HORIBA’s expansion into medical diagnostics instruments, systems and scientific instruments are founded.

“ABX was a French niche company manufacturing high-end products, and Mr. Horiba wanted to complement the original offer with these products to customers,” said Thepot. “These two investments were his French dream and led to further investments in the country.”

In 2012, Mr. Horiba continued to invest in our country and the 7,500-square-meter HORIBA Europe Research Center was established in Palaiseau. The facility hosts the company’s scientific engineering team and is part of the Saclay Plateau Research and Innovation Cluster.

The Saclay facility was also selected to host HORIBA’s Automotive Test Systems’ activity in France, a great location for vehicle innovation, so close to key car and equipment manufacturers established in the region,” said Thepot. “We have seen the Paris-Saclay cluster develop since then and are proud of its reputation.”

Supplying over 200 types of scientific instruments to universities, research institutes, governments and manufacturers, HORIBA France SAS has a global market share of 30 percent.
Thepot concludes, “The investments we made in France in the ‘90s led to the group’s expansion and remain the foundations on which we will grow our business in the future.”

Interestingly, HORIBA will celebrate the 200th anniversary of JOBIN YVON next year, the year after celebrating the 160th anniversary of Japan-France diplomatic relations.

www.horiba.com
www.paris-saclay.com