Toyoda Gosei to enlarge automotive parts plant

Kiyosu, Japan – Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. is investing around Yen7 billion (€50 million) to enlarge its Seto plant, located near its main customer Toyota in Japan.

The project is intended to strengthen Toyoda Gosei’s competitiveness through more efficient manufacturing in interior and exterior products, the company announced 22 April.

Due on-stream in December 2023, the upgrade will include optimisation of the production layout and the introduction of “highly efficient” large moulding machines and painting booths.

Other features will include the use of collaborative robots, automated inspection machines, automated product carriers, and IoT systems that consolidate management of production lines.

The planned enhancements of the Seto site also encompass “further reductions” in CO2 emissions, to be achieved via electrification of facilities.

The expansion will increase the area of the site to 27,000 m2, from the current 12,000 m2.

The automotive industry, noted Toyoda Gosei, is moving toward concurrent manufacturing of different types of vehicles, including hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and battery electric vehicles (BEV).

For large painted products, such as front grilles and back door garnishes, “this demands higher functionality with simple appearance [and more] variations to meet design needs,” the company explained.