Having last financial year celebrated its 50th anniversary, the Japan Glove Manufacturers Association (JGMA) now sets out to establish its path for the next 50 years. Kiyohiko Moko, president of Sanko Kagaku Co. Ltd. and chairman of JGMA, recently sat down with Japan Rubber Weekly to discuss the association’s current endeavors, as well as its selling situation and forecast in...
Towa Corp. Ltd. hit the 7-billion-yen ($61.73 million) sales plateau for the first time ever in 2014. The company’s tried-and-true strategy is to differentiate itself from competitors, stressing the development and launch of functional products that offer users never-before-seen value. Like clockwork, Towa Corp. continues to release products that fulfill its long-held role of being quick to market with new...
Showa Inc., Japan’s top rubber and plastic glove maker, is pursuing a strategy to increase its brand value. To this end, the company has standardized brand logos across global markets and introduced its tagline “Always Innovating. Never Imitating.” In the work gloves market, differentiation is difficult and just adding to product lines would result in greater price competition. So Showa’s...
The rubber and vinyl glove industry, excluding medical application products, enjoyed a strong performance in 2015, with sales of ultra-thin gloves reaching 3 billion pairs, up 24 percent over 2014. Greater glove functionality and a higher awareness of sanitation contributed to the surge. Glove companies are focusing on developing and launching products with new value. To avoid getting caught up...
