Wichita-based Lubrication Engineers announced it is partnering with Kyodo Yushi to form a joint venture that will operate a lubricant manufacturing plant in Wichita.
Lubrication Engineers, which makes a variety of industrial lubricants, and Kyodo Yushi USA are creating a new company, Kyodo Yushi Manufacturing Americas. Founded 80 years ago, Japan's Kyodo Yushi is one of the leading grease manufacturers in the world. The new joint venture companys headquarters and manufacturing plant will be in Wichita.
Planning for the KyodoYushi Manufacturing Americas manufacturing facility is underway. The plant at 29th North and Mead was Cargills innovation and research center before it moved downtown several years ago.
The more we talked, the more we realized our two companies share a similar culture of quality and innovation, Scott Schwindaman, president and CEO of Lubrication Engineers, said in a statement. We look forward to being part of this new venture, and were excited about it for the community too because of the growth, diversification and potential for advanced research.
This announcement demonstrates how foreign direct investment partners can bring new opportunity to our community, Karyn Page, CEO and president of Kansas Global Trade Services, said in a statement. It shows the foresight of investment in our Export Ecosystem and the Foreign Direct Investment planning initiative, which help Kansas businesses compete in the global marketplace.
Kyodos Yushi specializes in greases such as automotive wheel bearing greases and mill greases and produces metalworking fluids and machine oils such as rolling oils forging oils and cutting and grinding lubricants. The company was founded in 1936 by Soshiro Kofune, as Obune Shokai and in 1946, the firm was renamed Kyodo Yushi Co., Ltd. There are 390 employees in Japan as of the end of March 2015.
Headquartered in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, Kyodo Yushi has production facilities in Japan, in Kameyama and in Kasaoka. The company also has manufacturing facilities in South Korea, Singapore, China and Indonesia and sales offices throughout the world. According to its website, Kyodo Yushi has Group companies in the United States, Netherlands, France, China, Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and India, and sales partners in China, Taiwan, Korea, India, Indonesia and Thailand.
