法人別リリース

IRIS OHYAMA Inc. and SoftBank Robotics Group Corp. Ink Capital Alliance, Aiming to Create Demand

IRIS OHYAMA — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 16:00:00 +0900

SENDAI, Japan, Feb. 15, 2022 /Kyodo JBN/ --
IRIS OHYAMA Inc.
IRIS OHYAMA Inc. and SoftBank Robotics Group Corp. have entered into the “Business Alliance Agreement” seeking to create medium- to long-term demand in the robotics market and solve social issues. In addition, IRIS OHYAMA, based in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, has agreed to accept the “Third-Party Allotment of Shares” implemented by Tokyo-based SoftBank Robotics Group, totaling 10 billion yen.

In Japan, the labor shortage is becoming a serious issue due to the declining birthrate, aging population, and the effects of the spread and prolonged infection of the novel coronavirus. Furthermore, DX (digital transformation) has progressed in various fields of socioeconomic activities, and new demand creation is required in the post-coronavirus era. Therefore, IRIS OHYAMA and SoftBank Robotics Group established a joint venture, "Iris Robotics Co., Ltd.," in February 2021 in order to make a full-scale entry into the market for corporate services and robotics. The company provides a total solution for business robotization, such as consultation and establishment support for corporate services and robots in business settings.

In this way, the two companies have built an excellent relationship through the robotic business. With this business alliance and the implementation of the “Third-Party Allotment of Shares,” the management resources and know-how of each company will be integrated to further strengthen the cooperation. The two companies will together contribute to the realization of long-term improvements of corporate values and solutions to social issues. In order to respond to the developing DX and accomplish a sustainable society, the duo will make efforts to “solve the labor shortage and shift to DX,” “accomplish a carbon-free society and contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions,” and "develop and improve new solutions."

Business Alliance Overview
1. Efforts to solve labor shortage and shift to DX
Given the DX shift acceleration due to the serious labor shortage and coronavirus pandemic, the two companies regard the service robotics field as a growing sector and are expanding the field through the development of new models and introduction to companies, medical facilities and educational institutions.

2. Accomplishing carbon-free society and contributing to CO2 cuts
To address environmental issues such as accomplishing a carbon-free society and reducing CO2 emissions, the pair will reduce fuel consumption and solve environmental issues by connecting the wireless control system "LiCONEX" to IRIS OHYAMA's service robots to improve operational efficiency.

3. Development and improvement of new solutions
By implementing DX, saving labor and improving efficiency, the two companies will promote research and development of robots that respond to social changes. Through the synergistic efforts of IRIS OHYAMA's product development capabilities and the great knowledge and technology in the field of AI robot OS possessed by SoftBank Robotics Group, the duo will seek to create a new market.

IRIS OHYAMA Inc.
Headquarters: 2-12-1 Itsutsubashi, Aoba-ku Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, JAPAN
Established: April, 1971
Description of business: Planning, manufacturing and sales of housewares
Representative: Akihiro Ohyama, Executive President

SoftBank Robotics Group Corp.
Headquarters: 1-7-1 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN
Established: January, 2012
Description of business:
As a holding company that oversees the robotics business in the SoftBank Group, the Company is engaged in management activities with the objective of investing in and growing subsidiaries. In this fiscal year, the Company also started to engage in research and development activities of robot products.
Representative: Fumihide Tomizawa, President & CEO

Website (TAIWAN): https://www.irisohyamatw.com/
Website (THAILAND): https://www.irisohyama-thailand.com/

IRIS OHYAMA Leader Kentaro Ohyama Receives National Order of Merit Chevalier from France

IRIS OHYAMA — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 16:00:00 +0900

SENDAI, Japan, Feb. 10, 2022 /Kyodo JBN/ --
IRIS OHYAMA Inc.
IRIS OHYAMA Inc. Representative Director Kentaro Ohyama has received the National Order of Merit Chevalier from the government of the French Republic. The order, founded in 1963, is awarded to French nationals or foreigners who have made "distinguished contributions to France in the areas of cultural and economic activities." The medal was awarded by French Ambassador to Japan Philippe Setton at a ceremony held in Tokyo on Wednesday, February 2, at the residence of the French envoy.

Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202202077077-O1-VFp9ThFp

Photo1: Representative Director Kentaro Ohyama (left) and French Ambassador to Japan Philippe Setton
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M104427/202202077077/_prw_PI2fl_MO0m9Sib.jpg

Photo2: Representative Director Kentaro Ohyama delivering acceptance speech
https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M104427/202202077077/_prw_PI3fl_l3nqtUU8.jpg

IRIS OHYAMA, based in Sendai, Japan, established a factory in the Netherlands in 1998 and another in France in 2019 as its second base in Europe. In France, the company has since been actively making capital investments and hiring personnel as a manufacturer and distributor of household products. In 2020, it began local production of face masks and built a stable supply system of the products in Europe amid the coronavirus pandemic. The order was awarded in appreciation of these contributions to the economic development and job creation in France.

From Kentaro Ohyama
"I am truly honored to receive this honorable award. I would like to further contribute to the economic and cultural exchange between Japan and France while working together with the French government and the people of France. The face masks appraised this time are just one example, but we will continue to make efforts to expand the production and supply system in France in response to the ongoing instability of the global sourcing. We will not only continue to contribute to the economic and corporate practices in France worthy of this award, but also actively support activities in terms of culture and art, such as excellent food, music and content of both countries and strive to assist with the exchange between France and Japan."

About IRIS OHYAMA Inc.
IRIS OHYAMA is a Japanese family group created in 1958 by Morisuke Ohyama, with recognized expertise in the manufacture of everyday products. The activity integrates the home storage equipment and item markets, small furniture, lighting, hygiene, pet accessories, etc. The group, originally specialized in plastic products, is the creator of the first transparent plastic storage box. IRIS OHYAMA has greatly diversified since. The key objective: to combine functionality and design for products with a competitive price and quality ratio. The group is operating in Japan, China, South Korea, the USA and Europe with sites dedicated to production and distribution.

Website (French): https://www.irisohyama.fr/

IRIS KOREA to Establish Manufacturing Facility for Home Appliances in South Korea

IRIS OHYAMA — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 11:00:28 +0900

GUNPO, South Korea, and SENDAI, Japan, June 2, 2017 /Kyodo JBN/ --
IRIS OHYAMA Inc.
IRIS KOREA to Establish Manufacturing Facility
for Home Appliances in South Korea
IRIS KOREA Co., Ltd., belonging to the IRIS group led by IRIS OHYAMA Inc., decided to establish a manufacturing facility for home appliances, called "Matsushima Facility" (Songdo Facility in Korean), in Inchon city, South Korea, and held a signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding about the new facility on June 1.

The purpose to establish "Matsushima Facility"
1. Strengthen home appliance production and supply system in Korea:
IRIS KOREA, established in May 1988, is located in Gunpo city, Korea. In 2003, its distribution center was established there and IRIS KOREA has undertaken the role of a logistic base for some products, including wooden furniture, interior supplies (plastic containers and mattresses), manufactured in Dalian Facility in China.

In recent years, our sales via e-commerce have been growing. Especially, home appliances such as circulator fans are selling well in Korea and we are expecting to expand those sales continuously. Establishing a new manufacturing facility for home appliances, which has the most up-to-date automation equipment, enables us to strengthen its production and supply system in order to deal with expansion of home appliance business in Korea.

2. Aggressive approach to Korean e-commerce market:
In Internet shopping, a physical distribution cost will be high because customers spread over the whole land (Korea). However, having two bases in Korea can make an e-commerce distribution system more and more efficient. Furthermore, we can expand a lineup of e-commerce merchandise by building an automated warehouse with space for 24,920 pallets. It also can help us establish a supply system to satisfy various customer needs.

Information on IRIS KOREA Co., Ltd.:
Established: May 1988
Chairman: Akihiro Ohyama
President: Sungon Song
Headquarters: Gunpo city, Kyeonggi province, Korea
Base: Distribution center
Number of employees: 41 (as of January 2017)

Information on "Matsushima Facility":
Location: Incheon city, Yeonsu-gu, Songdo-dong 215-1
Land area: 27,619 m2
Floor space: 44,794 m2
Automated warehouse: 24,920 pallets
Overhead investments: About 7,500 million yen (land: about 2,000 mil. yen; building: about 5,500 mil. yen)
Produced items: Home appliances (circulator fans, mattress dryers and air purifiers)
Sales plan: 5,000 million yen
Number of employees to be hired: 100
Opening: October 2018

(Image: http://prw.kyodonews.jp/prwfile/release/M104427/201705312286/_prw_PI1fl_X3mAJ90P.png)