Elastomix opens a plant in Irapuato

With the objective of serving the needs of its customers from the automotive sector installed in the country, the company Elastomix Mexico opened its plant at the Castro del Rio Industrial Park in Irapuato, Guanajuato.

This Japanese company invested 17.14 million dollars and dedicates to carbon masterbatch rubber production, which is an intermediate material that has the primary processing for the manufacture of molded rubber products such as fascia, fenders and vehicle sludger.

The factory has a property land of more than 5,000 m² and has an annual production capability of 7,000 tons of product per year.

At the opening ceremony Kimhiko Matsuura, president of Elastomix Mexico, said that this company has 20 years operation outside Japan and it is the first plant they install in North America, with which they have the objective of benefiting the community and the industry located in the area.

This Japanese company emerged in 1964 as subsidiary of JSR Japan to promote synthetic rubber that this company produces; and for 1990 Elastomix started to install plants in emerging countries such as China, Thailand and Indonesia, achieving expanding their business to Asia.

Kawasaki Koichi, director of JRS Japan, explained that they were convinced of arriving to Mexico because it is within the main production markets and of car exports.

“According with these movements we started to analyze the feasibility of being installed in Mexico.  And finally in October 2016 we made the decision of opening a plant in Guanajuato,” he said.

This company has planned to generate 70 new jobs in this stage, but they anticipate reaching an approximate of 200 collaborators.

Carlos Gomez Castillo, production manager of Elastomix Mexico, said that the material is composed of a mixture of carbon, reinforcements and additives in raw rubber (synthetic or natural;) which will be for its customers: Kinugawa Mexico, Kurashiki Kako Mexicana, Molten Automotive de Mexico, Nishikawa Gomu and Toyoda Gosei.  Having as suppliers: JSR Trading, S.K. Materials Mexicana and Shiraishi Calcium Kaisha.

“We have arrived to provide raw material to Tier 1 and Tier 2 manufacturers which supply the automotive industry.  We have good quality rubber, our Japanese experience with Mexican skills they will achieve a good dumbbell,” he said.

He noted that with the arrival of this company are helping covering the needs that the industry requires, by mainly reducing the import of materials.

He underlined that they have future plans in Mexico, creating a stronger production of their product; as well as expanding their plant in Guanajuato.

“We want to stomp in the Bajio, we are taking safe steps, we are confident in growing in this region.  Yes, we have an expansion planned because we are entering in a place that has a lot of growth projection,” he ended.