Interview about KURATECA’s initiatives
We spoke with Mizukawa Hiroshi, Managing Director of Kurashiki Kako, and Ota Katsutoshi, Head of the Business Strategy Planning Office, about the ideas behind the new KURATECA brand.
Their titles are as of the time of the interview.
Please tell us about Kurashiki Kako’s business.
Mizukawa (titles omitted)
Centered on vibration-control technology, we provide products for fields including automobiles, industrial machinery, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and construction. One of our strengths is our ability to handle everything from minute vibrations at the nanometer level to large-scale shaking such as earthquakes.
We also handle nearly every rubber component used in cars, other than tires, in-house—from materials development, design, and manufacturing to sales.
What principles do you value in manufacturing?
Ota (titles omitted)
We continually ask ourselves, “How can we reduce vibrations that people find unpleasant?”
For example, if you look closely at playground equipment installed in parks, you may find a small component engraved with the name “Kurashiki.”
Our products absorb and reduce vibrations so that children playing on the equipment do not get injured by strong impacts or feel frightened. They go unnoticed, but they reliably serve a purpose. That is the kind of manufacturing we strive for.
What ideas are behind the KURATECA brand?
Mizukawa
We wanted to preserve the company name “Kurashiki Kako” while making it known to more people. However, much of our technology is still not widely known, and the name “Kako” is not easily associated with vibration control.
That is why we need to communicate our work around the world in a more accessible way.
To do that, we considered a shorter, easier-to-say name than “KURASHIKI KAKO.”
The name “KURATECA” embodies our determination to continue leading the way through technology.
It comes from “KURA,” from Kurashiki Kako; “TEC,” representing our expertise in vibration-control technology; and “A,” the first letter of the alphabet, representing the spirit of a pioneer who drives innovation.
We would be delighted if people in the community also came to know us affectionately as “KURATECA.”
How would you like to engage with the community going forward?
Ota
We believe that growing as a company ultimately contributes to the community.
Our management policy is based on a shared commitment to “working together to solve local challenges while growing our own company.”
We want to build the future together with the community through efforts such as creating an environment where younger generations can continue working locally, and initiatives related to health and the environment.
Do you have a message for our readers?
Mizukawa
Our products are used in places that are usually out of sight. Yet each and every one of them contributes to the safety and comfort of everyday life.
We would be happy if you found yourself thinking, “KURATECA might be used somewhere close to me.”
“Kurashiki Kako in everyday life.” We hope to continue delivering our technology from Kurashiki to the world.
From the Writer
What struck me during the interview was that “everyday life as we know it” is never something to take for granted. Like peace, a life free from vibrations and the ability to go about our days feeling safe may be difficult to notice precisely because they are protected.
Kurashiki Kako’s technology supports precisely this “unnoticed value.”
Manufacturing that continues to protect everyday life behind the scenes.
Why not take a moment to consider this kind of “unnoticed value”?
In the seamless flow of everyday life, KURATECA continues quietly supporting our lives today.
Kurashiki Kako Co., Ltd. Information
| Organization name | Kurashiki Kako Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacture and sale of automotive rubber components and industrial vibration-isolation, soundproofing, and cushioning equipment; consulting, engineering, development and sale of other technologies |
| Representative | Nishii Ikuya |
| Established | March 25, 1964 |
| Address | 4630 Yagara, Tsurajima-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-465-1111 |
| Website | KURATECA | Kurashiki Kako Co., Ltd. |
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