WADERN-BUSCHFELD, Germany—SaarGummi Group is expanding its cooperation with Japanese sealing systems supplier Tokai Kogyo Co. Ltd.
The two companies have signed a "wide-reaching" technical agreement that builds on a relationship that began in 2018 and strengthens both companies' global technical and operational capabilities, SaarGummi said in a news release. The partnership also gives both companies a more strategic presence in key automotive markets worldwide.
"Tokai Kogyo is a perfect matching partner for our company because of their existing business in Asia Pacific region," SaarGummi CEO Larry Johnson said. "We are sure that the technical agreement will help us to establish the SaarGummi Automotive innovations on the increasing Japanese automotive market."
A particular focus of the cooperation is on the exchange of technology.
Aichi, Japan-based Tokai Kogyo manufactures at locations in Japan, the U.S., Thailand, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Mexico and India, while SaarGummi has plants in Europe, China, Russia, the U.S. and Mexico.
The joint product portfolio of Tokai Kogyo and SaarGummi includes complex door seals, trunk seals and roof molding as well as glass run channels.
Tokai Kogyo customers include Japanese car manufacturers such as Toyota, Honda, Suzuki, Nissan and Daihatsu. It has around 5,800 employees, while SaarGummi employs around 7,000 people worldwide.