Sojitz Corporation

CLOSE

Entry into the Business of Sheet Metal Light Processing and Paint toRepair Car Scratches and Dents

Apr. 27, 2003

TOKYO(April 27, 2003)--Nissho Iwai Corporation will enter into the sheet metal light processing and paint business through its group company NISSHO IWAI PETROLEUM CORP. (Head office: Chuo-ku, Osaka; President: Kan Baba) and EBISTRADE, Inc. (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Yoshiharu Terai).

NISSHO IWAI PETROLEUM CORP., which undertakes petroleum product sales, has acquired a majority of the shares of Sun Techno Inc. (Head office: Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi; President: Kazumi Horiuchi), which carries out epoch-making technology and device development regarding sheet metal light processing and paint. SUN Techno developed its own sheet metal light processing/paint system 'SUN Paint Repair System', and has excellent technology, with which even inexperienced people can easily carry out sheet metal work and paint repair after undergoing short-term training and practical training. Such excellent technology enables the provision of services in about half the traditional time and at about half the traditional cost.

With Hitachi Mobile Co., Ltd. (Head office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President: Yoshiteru Miki) and I-Zen Corporation Ltd. (Head office: Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi; President: Kazuo Aoki) acting as agencies, the SUN Techno sheet metal light processing/paint 'SUN Paint Repair System' is being introduced, mainly in western Japan, at about 300 locations such as gas stations, car maintenance facilities and used car dealerships, and is evaluated highly.

Upon undertaking a nationwide expansion of the use of the sheet metal light processing/paint system, the Nissho Iwai group, with the cooperation of EBISTRADE, a start-up fostering company which operates the 'Mantannet Dot. Com' management support website, plan to boost the number of locations to which the system is introduced, with a target of over 1,000 across the country within two years. In addition, in order to provide installation sites with technical and sales support, the group will strengthen its support system by increasing the number of training facilities to six from the current two facilities in Tokyo and Fukuoka, and will accelerate the expansion of system installation.

The business is considered to have a high potential demand, as many people want to have small scratches repaired, but often such scratches are not serious enough or it is too time consuming to take the vehicle to a repair shop. Gas stations are provided with occasions for finding scratches when washing vehicles after refueling. Locations with high visit frequencies and car wash facilities are in an advantageous position to perform sheet metal light processing/paint operations. Also, many people would be inclined to have scratches repaired when they have occasion to stop at gas stations, if such repairs could be done quickly and at low cost. Thus, the Nissho Iwai group has decided to undertake this 'sheet metal light processing and paint business' as a new service that gas stations can provide. 

Page top