【Thailand/Grinding wheels】Selling grinding wheels in Thailand for a quarter century! Increase customer satisfaction by being devoted to working together with the sole sales agent.

13/08/2019

Samurai Editorial Department

“Mitsui Grinding Wheel Co., Ltd.” is a well-established company with a history of over 100 years in grinding wheels with Mitsui Mining & Smelting as its parent company. Its Thai corporation, “MITSUI GRINDING TECHNOLOGY (THAILAND) CO., Ltd. (hereafter referred to as MGT)” was established a quarter century ago.

One of the major reasons for the long-term success is the presence of “MITSUYA LIMITED” (Mitsuya), the sole sales agent in Thailand. Mr. Jyo Kimura, the current president, is a former Sales Manager of Mitsui Mining & Smelting and a director of the Thai corporation.

We did an interview with Mr. Kimura and with Mr. Masakazu Sato, Assistant General Manager of MGT, on the progress and efforts of the two companies in Thailand.

MITSUI and MITSUYA

MITSUI GRINDING TECHNOLOGY (THAILAND) CO., LTD. Masakazu Sato (Left) MITSUYA LIMITED Yuzuru Kimura (Right)

“Let’s introduce good quality and reasonably priced grinding wheels in Thailand!” It was 25 years ago when we were working hard to establish the Thai corporation.

Mr. Kimura : Not only for industrial parts such as automobiles, home appliances, bearings, springs and blades, every product around us, such as daily necessities and medical equipment, uses a grinding wheel for finishing work. Mitsui Grinding Wheel Co., Ltd. has a proven achievement in manufacturing and selling such whetstones. More than 30 years ago, I was in charge of export sales from Japan to Southeast Asia for the company. The demand in the Thai market was high and many whetstones were being shipped to Thailand at that time. However, the Thai tariff at that time was 40% (currently 3%). Even though labor costs are cheap. This is almost never profitable. Moreover, we can’t compete with cheap products from local or foreign companies. It was 25 years ago that we decided to establish a Thai local corporation.

Mr. Sato : Although Mr. Kimura’s days with the company was before my appointment, I hear that he really put all his effort into the company. It was before the rush of Japanese companies advancement into Thailand. We thank Mr. Kimura for the present success of the Thai corporation. He was with the company for about 10 years before moving to Mitsuya, and we have maintained a good relationship ever since.

Three arrows are the origin of the company name! Mitsuya sales staff know every need for grinding wheels in Thailand.

Mr. Kimura : Mitsuya has three investors, two Thai and one Japanese, and was named “Mitsuya” from the meaning of “three arrows” in Japanese. During good times or bad times, the three people are united together like a single strong arrow and overcome the difficulties. I heard that sort of thought is put into the name.

Mr. Sato : MGT grinding wheels are 100% made to order. There are a variety of sizes and specifications, so we need to understand customers’ needs and deliver the best products. To realize that, we must have hearty sales by consulting properly with customers. In that respect, the sales staff of Mitsuya is full of reliable members. They have accurate understanding of whatever difficulties or problems customers may have. “Leave the Thai market matters to Mitsuya.” Every customer stationed in Thailand gives such a message to their successors upon leaving.

To nurture first-class sales staff in Thailand

Mr. Kimura : Success or failure of sales activities depends on employee education. Grinding wheels are not something that anyone can sell by going to visit customers with pamphlets. First, let the sales staff know and understand the whetstones they handle. Second, let them touch and teach “the actual thing”. This takes a considerable amount of time, but because of this, first-class sales staff are nurtured. It is also important to create an organization to clarify responsibilities. There are currently four team leaders under the Thai sales manager. A regional responsibility system is in place, which makes the location of responsibility clear. It is important to have a system of competition but in a good sense, keeping tension.

For anything concerning grinding wheels in Thailand, leave it to the powerful tag team of Mitsuya and us!

Mr. Sato : With various economic ups and downs, we have been collaborating and supporting each other with Mitsuya always being a really reliable partner. As a manufacturer, we can devote ourselves to manufacturing, research and development, as much as we can rely on sales from them.

Mr. Kimura : Although it has been a quarter century, it seems to have gone so fast. Within that time, I recall the currency crisis of July 1997. All work was gone at once. The 2011 flood is also a memorable event in a way. We were able to continue sales activities even in such situations because of colleagues who worked hard together, and there were members of MGT who trusted us.

Mr. Sato : If you have a problem with grinding wheels in Thailand, leave it to Mitsuya and us! We will meet customers’ expectations with hearty consulting and quality products.

MITSUI and MITSUYA

【Main products】
■ Whetstone for Surface Grinding
■ Whetstone for Cylindrical Grinding
■ Whetstone for Centerless Grinding
■ Other whetstones for grinding

For inquiries about products, please contact us using the form below.

Inquiry Form

Please feel free to contact us from the form as below.

We accept by phone and email.

Name Required

Company Name

Phone number

Email Required

Message Required

KOA-SHA (THAILAND) (hereinafter referred to as the "Company" or "We"), in the variety of services provided by the Company (hereinafter referred to as the "Services"), established the following privacy policy (hereinafter referred to as the "Policy").

Definition of Personal Information: The term "Personal Information" as used in this Policy, means information about a living individual which can identify the specific individual, including name, date of birth, and other descriptions (including other information that can be easily matched to identify a specific individual).

Acquisition of Personal Information: We acquire personal information by legally fair means.

Use of Personal Information

The Company shall use personal information for the purpose of business as necessary within the scope of the following.

To deliver optimized information to the individual user of the Service.
To help improve the quality of the Service by statistical analysis.
In response to inquiry in regard to the Service.
To conduct questionnaires regarding the Service.
To send information regarding campaigns and new products by the Company.
Other purposes associated with the abovementioned purposes of use.

About cookies: The Company makes use of cookies on the Service website. In addition, cookies may be used in a portion of the advertising system. A cookie is a small amount of data regarding usage history that is sent to your browser from a website’s server and is stored on the user’s hard drive. If the user prefers the Company not to make use of cookies, the user can set their browser to reject cookies. However, if the cookies are rejected, there is a possibility that the use of the Service on the website will be affected.

Provision of Information to Third Parties

The Company will not provide personal information to any third party without obtaining prior consent by the individual concerned, except as required by applicable laws and regulations.

In addition, the Company may access personal information and disclose it to third parties in the following cases.

Under Prior Consent of the Individual User Concerned
When the disclosure of personal information is required by law or judicial court, judicial orders, decisions and instructions based on laws and regulations of government agencies.
When reasonable measures are necessary to defend the rights or property of the Company.
When the disclosure of personal information is necessary to protect the lives, bodies or property of the Company, user(s), or public, and it is difficult to obtain the individual’s consent at the time.
When cooperation is necessary with a national or local government organization, or a business operator entrusted by such an organization in executing affairs under laws and regulations, and in which obtaining the consent of the user(s) is likely to impede the execution of the affairs.
In statistical data in which the disclosure or provision does not identify the user’s identity.

Management of Personal Information

The Company will maintain the accuracy of personal information and manage it safely.
The Company will take appropriate security measures to prevent the loss, destruction, tampering or leakage of personal information.
The Company will take precautionary measures against the loss, destruction, tampering, and leakage of personal information through appropriate system maintenance of the operating system and education of employees.

Request for Notification, Disclosure, Correction, Suspension of Use of Personal Information

In the case the Company receives request from the individual user regarding the disclosure, correction, addition, deletion, suspension of use, or erasure of personal information, stoppage of use by a third party or notification of use, after confirmation that the requester is the individual user, the Company will respond without delay in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Act.

Note that in the case that the request does not meet the requirements stipulated by the Personal Data Protection Act, or the reason to reject such request is permitted by the Personal Data Protection Act or other laws and regulations, the request may not be fulfilled.

In addition, there is no payment required or fees associated with the request for disclosure by the individual user. However, the cost of communication from the individual user to the Company, transportation expenses, and expenses associated with the preparation of materials for the purposes of individual identification will be the responsibility of the individual user.

Revision of Privacy Policy: The Company will review the operational status of the handling of personal information and make efforts for continuous improvement, and may change the Policy as necessary. After such changes to the Policy, the Policy will be published on the Company’s website.