Challenge Spirit is the DNA that flows in KAWASHIMA

Year 2021 has begun.
Everyone, I look forward to working with you again this year.
Early in the new year, emergency declarations were issued in three prefectures and one metropolitan area, including Saitama Prefecture where our head office is located, indicating that corona related chaos has not been eliminated and we are approaching a truly important moment. Even under such circumstances, I am now looking forward positively and brightly to rebuild the feelings as managers’ mission how to create services and work environments that our employees, suppliers, and everyone involved with us can be excited.

Now, we are reconfirming our history, which continues for more than 100 years in the process of book publication that we have been proceeding with since last year.

■ Old Catalog

100 years ago was the time when the First World War almost ended.
After that, there was also the World War II, experienced postwar reconstruction, and there were various events such as the bubble economy and its collapse, and the IT revolution.
At retail stores, where products packaged by our packaging machines are lined, are evolving daily, from shopping districts to supermarkets, convenience stores, and drugstores.
Under the dizzying changes, the reason why the KAWASHIMA’s packaging machines are still required is that we have been adapting to the periods and the environments.
The source is the “Challenge Spirit”.
I felt strongly that this is the most important thing.

And while we are moved by the challenges of our predecessors, the things that are most lacking for us today may also be the “Challenge Spirit”.
That thought also crossed my mind.

2021 will be the first step in the challenge of engraving the history of the new KAWASHIMA.

Now, KAWASHIMA has been the company that can figure out the products packaged our machines when walking around the town. If you walk in the town, you will find the products packaged by the KAWASHIMA’s machines

We are continuing the business as an existence that can be placed at a glance in the packaging machine industry thanks to the effort of these predecessors.
Products related to our packaging machines, such as foods and daily necessities, are indispensable to the lives of everyone.
We can find them at supermarkets, convenience stores, drug stores, and local souvenirs shops anywhere in Japan.

It is no exaggeration to say, “If you walk in the town, you will find the products packaged by the KAWASHIMA’s machines.”

It is impossible to introduce each product on this blog, but please visit the head office on occasions such as company orientation.
I can expect that you will be surprised, like “KAWASHIMA was wrapping that product!”

Masterpiece model leading the next generation. And into the future 100 years later

KAWASHIMA was not a packaging machine manufacturer from beginning. When it was founded, it was engaged in the manufactures and sales of confectionery and candy making machines. Then, in 1946, after World War II, when machinery manufacturers were requested to cooperate with the military industry, it began manufacturing confectionery machines such as Caramel, Candy, Chocolate ahead of competitors. From this year, we started research and development of automatic packaging machines and increased the percentage of packaging machines in our business.

As the company moves from a confectionery machine manufacturer to a packaging machine manufacturer, the “Caramel Automatic Packaging Machine (KH)”, which was the foundation of the KAWASHIMA, emerged in 1949.
KH had been delivered to confectionery manufacturers nationwide, and the total sales record has exceeded 3000 units (Packaging machines is a hit if 100 units are exceeded, and it is a big hit if 1000 units are exceeded).

Moreover, in 1964, we developed a GW-4K overwrapping machine that wraps Japanese sweets and other products.
On the materials at that time, there is a memo stating that “the most outstanding machine of KAWASHIMA born from the flexible concepts and thinking of the 22-year-old youth.”
Since then, we have continued to make innovative inventions of packaging in line with the times, such as vertical pillows, horizontal pillows, and overwrapping.

Packaging machine lineup (link to the product information page)

The company atmosphere in which willing young people can catch opportunities, like GW-4K episodes, is one of our attractions.
This tradition will not be changed in the future.
In addition, we believe that it should never be changed.
I am eagerly waiting for the encounter with people who are full of Challenge Spirit, saying, “I want to create a new packaging machine!”

Also, as mentioned in the previous CEO Blog, with a view to the next 100 years, I hope to turn ourselves into “the company that doesn’t fall within the framework of packaging machine manufacturers in a good meaning” in the future.
As a manufacturer of packaging machines, we will, of course, continue to challenge new packaging machines, but in addition, we are conscious of the challenge of evolving into “packaging” and “designing” companies.
The reform of personnel composition and the environment mentioned in the previous CEO blog is the first step.
Then, we would like to realize a solution for packaging and designing beyond the frame of the existing packaging machine.
We believe that becoming a “packaging manufacturer” instead of a “packaging machine manufacturer” is essential to survive the next 100 years.
The vision will also be touched upon in the CEO Blog from the next time onwards.

Short-term targets are “Commitment” and “Customer pleasure”

When we present such a large vision, it may be difficult for those who originally thought of working at a machine manufacturer to imagine what kind of work they should do at the KAWASHIMA.
Also, we ourselves are in the process of exploring what future packaging is.

That said, you don’t have to worry about it.
We will sincerely present what new employees should do.
That is also the job of our seniors (Of course, if you have the idea of “how to go beyond the framework of the packaging machine manufacturer,” please speak out).

As I mentioned last time, KAWASHIMA want people to join those who want to “change the world by manufacturing” and this is the long-term vision.
The correct shape is not visible at the moment.
On the other hand, there is a clear basis about what we want you to do on your day-to-day work at site.

That is to “thoroughly commit” and to “do work that makes our customers happy”.

Manufacturing requires thorough commitment.
Somehow irresponsible work is always exposed when the finished product is seen detailed.
It is not required for new employees to have the same level of skills as senior employees.
However, I would like you to put the commitment you can to your day-to-day work.

When I joined the company, I was just given the chance to think freely, and there was a time when I was making packaging machines at my own discretion (I was also a young man who was given the chance).
However, when I look back now, those packaging machines were just self-satisfactory.
Although there was my own fulfilling with the commitment, it was not a packaging machine that could satisfy our customers.

If it’s an art like contemporary art, there’s no problem with any commitment.
But, we are providing packaging machines to the manufacturer of confectionery, daily necessities, and other items.
Our machines cannot be chosen unless it is a packaging machine that helps customers’ manufacturing of their products.
Therefore, the direction in which commitment is directed should not be self-satisfaction or perfection as a “Art work”.
It is only when we create “products” that satisfy the needs of our customers, that our commitment will also create value.

I want you to experience the feeling of trembling emotions through your work.

I am convinced that these two are directly related to your own happiness.
This is because I myself felt a great emotion that I had never felt before when my customers were sincerely delighted with my thorough commitment.

I used to be a free employee with a commitment to only self-satisfaction, but for the first time I was deeply touched by the joy of working, when I was moved by a project with one customer, who told me, “I felt the future through KAWASHIMA’s Machinery. I definitely want to use it”.
In order to meet his expectations, I was drove into my work so far as forgetting to eat and to sleep. And in the end, I satisfied not only him but also those responsible for the project, which had initially opposed the KAWASHIMA’s packaging machine.
I can’t forget the “Enthusiastic handshake” I exchanged with them at that time until now.

I would like people to experience the joy and trembling emotions through their work who would join us to make packaging machines and engage in the business of “Packaging” and “Designing”.
For that, I will build the system that will push your back as CEO.

At first, I was also a young man who just liked making things.
But one work experience changed even the view of my life.
I wish that you could experience the excitement that can only be experienced at the manufacturing site.