A joint venture between Japanese grease maker Kyodo Yushi and its American partner Lubrication Engineers began operating a new grease plant in Wichita, Kansas, last week, Kyodo Yushi announced.
The $35 million, 10,700 square meter plant manufactures greases for the automotive industry. In 2016, Japanese grease producer Kyodo Yushi and Wichita-based Lubrication Engineers Inc. formed a joint venture, Kyodo Yushi Manufacturing Americas LLC, in Maize, Kansas.
“Looking at the further growth of the automobile industry in the U.S., which has one of the most critical car markets, we have set up the plant and begun operation to fulfill our responsibility of providing products. At the same time, our production capability and system have been enhanced in the country,” the company said a press release.
Kyodo Yushi has imported products from Japan and contracted toll blenders to manufacture products for U.S. companies. The company has a sales office in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and the Wichita facility is its first manufacturing location in North America.
The company also has two plants western Japan – one in Mie prefecture and the other in Okayama prefecture. It also operates four overseas plants in China, South Korea, Singapore and Indonesia. It produces mill grease, roll bearing grease and other specialty greases.
In October, the company also set up a European technical center in Dardilly, France. One of its responsibilities is to take an active role in the enhancement of the quality levels of products designed for the European market, the company said in a separate press release.
Lubrication Engineers manufactures grease, industrial oils, gear oils, food-grade lubricants and other products.