International trade showcased at Amada Solution Center

Figure 1. Shinsuke J. Sugiyama, Japan’s ambassador to the U.S., and Bruce Rauner, the governor of Illinois, check out a laser welded part at Amada’s Schaumburg (Ill.) Solution Center. Both leaders were part of a trade caravan visiting companies in Illinois and promoting international trade.

A lot of political posturing has taken place on the international stage in recent months. In moments like this, manufacturers try to read the tea leaves to get an idea of what might be ahead, but they also know a majority of their time is best spent on what they do best: building things. As a result, it’s no wonder that representatives of Japan and the U.S. have committed themselves to building stronger relationships following some discussions that took at place the G7 meeting in Canada in April.

Those talks led to a caravan of Japanese dignitaries—including Japan’s ambassador to the U.S., Shinsuke J. Sugiyama, and Consul-General of Japan Naoki Ito of Chicago—and Illinois political and trade officials visiting several communities in Illinois in July. After working their way through Mount Vernon, Marion, Peoria, and Rochelle, the caravan reached the Amada Solution Center in Schaumburg, Ill., where they were joined by Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Following a private meeting with the governor and the Japanese officials, everyone had the opportunity to view the latest in metal fabricating technology, including a fiber laser cutting machine, an automated press brake cell, a laser/punch combination machine, and a laser welding cell (see Figure 1). Visitors also had the chance to see sample parts that ultimately go into end products, allowing them to visualize where metal fabricating fits into the overall manufacturing puzzle.

During lunch, Rauner described how the connection with Japanese manufacturers is “personal.” His dad, a Motorola employee from the 1950s to the 1980s, worked in Schaumburg and traveled to Japan frequently during those years.

The connection also is financially important, he reminded the luncheon audience.

“We are having investor meetings in every point of this state,” Rauner said. “We’re hoping this results in more trade, more investments, and more economic opportunities.”

During remarks from other speakers, the importance of two-way trade between Illinois and Japan was highlighted. It was stated that 630 Japanese companies employee 47,000 Illinoisans. In fact, Illinois’ eighth congressional district is said to have the highest concentration of Japanese-owned companies of any of the congressional districts. Meanwhile, hundreds of Illinois companies are employing thousands in Japan.

Amada is an example of a Japanese company that has made significant investments in the U.S. in recent years. It opened an 180,000-sq.ft. laser cutting machine manufacturing facility in Brea, Calif., in February 2013, and broke ground on its future Carolina Technical Center and Manufacturing Center in High Point, N.C., this June.