Sapporo Precision Opens U.S. Office

Sapporo Precision Inc. (Japan) has opened its first U.S. operation, SPB-USA LLC, a direct sales and marketing office in Sarasota, Florida. Sapporo Precision is the export marketing arm of Kitanihon Seiki Co. Ltd. (Japan), representing the SPB and EZO brand bearings manufactured by other Kitanihon divisions. Kitanihon has four bearing factories in Japan and two in China: Shanghai Precision Bearing Co., Ltd., founded in 1993. With 450 employees in its 104,000 square foot plant, the company produces over 3 million bearings each month. Shanghai Daio Steel Ball Co., a joint venture with Daio Steel Ball Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (Japan), manufacturing bearing balls in China with Daio production technology. Zhejiang Zhuji Xiaoling Precision Seals Co. Ltd., is another joint venture manufacturing integral seals, washers and dust covers for their own bearing divisions and other bearing manufacturers. Shanghai Kitanihon Seiki Co. Ltd., the Kitanihon Seiki division in China, has just opened a new USD $8 million, 150,000 square foot factory in Shanghai's Third Improvement Area, Songjiang Industrial Area. Fully operational, the plant will boost output of EZO brand bearings to over 30 million bearings per month. Reportedly populating the plant floor in Shanghai are 38 multi-spindle lathes, 8 heat-treat batch furnaces, 171 various grinders, 17 washers, and 15 automated assembly and noise inspection stations. The U.S. sales operation of Sapporo Precision is particularly significant because it is SPB's first direct sales channel. Until now, all SPB and EZO brand bearings were available only to distributors who bought direct from the various factories.