Japanese company Toyobo opens its first European production facility at Industrie Center Obernburg

Sep 06, 2013
Zeil: "Toyobo is a real asset for Lower Franconia"
OBERNBURG   The Japanese company Toyobo, headquartered in Osaka, is opening its first European production facility in Obernburg. With over 10,000 staff, the company is a leading developer and manufacturer of special films, synthetic fibres, industrial materials and biomaterials in the chemicals industry. The Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs, Martin Zeil, welcomed the company warmly at the opening ceremony at the Obernburg site. "In this anniversary year of Bavarian-Japanese friendship, we are proud that Toyobo has chosen Obernburg after considering locations all over Europe. Its long tradition of textile production makes Obernburg the ideal choice of location. And in turn, Toyobo is a real asset for the town and the entire region," declared Zeil.

It was strategic considerations that led Ryuzo Sakamoto, CEO of Toyobo, to choose to open a production facility at ICO – Industrie Center Obernburg. "The highly qualified staff, good infrastructure and support from business promotion services on the ground in Obernburg, Lower Franconia, were crucial factors in choosing this location.  I believe that Obernburg has all the conditions we need to continue to develop in Europe," emphasised Sakamoto. Sakamoto also stated his gratitude for the outstanding support received from the Bavarian representative office in Japan and from Invest in Bavaria, the Business Promotion Agency of the Free State of Bavaria.

Bavaria is now home to around 330 branches of Japanese companies and a large community currently numbering around 6,500 Japanese citizens. This makes the state a real centre for Japanese people in Germany. The first foreign representative office of Bavaria in Japan is celebrating its 25-year anniversary in 2013.