'We're working to become the world's largest--and best--specialty manufacturer of small motors," declares Toshio Nagara, president of Asmo Co., Ltd. "And we are well on the way."
Asmo is our division for developing and manufacturing small motors. It essentially is a fifth product group, operating in step with our powertrain control, electrical, electronic, and thermal systems groups.
Nagara and his people celebrated the 20th anniversary of their company's founding in 1999. They really are well on the way to industry leadership.
"We already are the world leader in three of our core products: windshield washer systems, power window motors, and blower motors," exclaims Nagara. "And we are the world's second-largest supplier in our two other core products: electric fan motors and windshield wiper systems. Our share of the world market is about 20% in each of these five product categories."
Modular motoring
Windshield wiper and power window products, like lots of other DENSO products, are part of the trend toward modular manufacturing. We are working to create and maximize value in those systems by integrating motors, linkages, and control units into easy-to-install systems.
We also are working to accommodate automakersﾕ demands for ever-faster turnaround times in product development. Computer simulations are streamlining development work at Asmo, as in our other product groups. And Asmo has put in place an engineering data management system to coordinate wide-ranging, concurrent activity in development programs.
Global motoring
Asmo manufactures its small motors, windshield wiper systems, and other products at three plants in Japan, three in the United States, and one each in China and Indonesia. In addition, Asmo management participates in coordinating operations at the small-motor manufacturing operations that we acquired in 1999 from Magnetti Marelli.
Manufacturing motors remains a more labor-intensive business than most of the other manufacturing that takes place at DENSO. That has driven some manufacturers of small motors to low-wage nations. At Asmo, innovative production technology and compelling economies of scale help keep our factories in every region internationally cost-competitive. Local production in our largest markets helps us respond promptly to local needs and satisfy our customers.
High-tech motoring
"A big theme in power window systems," comments Nagara," is enhancing safety. People around the world are rightfully concerned with preventing injury to fingers and arms and to children who might get caught in a closing window. We at Asmo have developed various safety technologies to maximize window safety."
Asmo uses sensors to monitor the position of the window pane and the speed of the motor. A control unit reverses the motor instantly if signals from the sensors indicate a possible obstruction. Asmo's systems earn high marks from automakers because they detect obstructions anywhere across the full width of a window.
Safety has become big business for Asmo. The company produced more than four million sensor-equipped motors in the past fiscal year. That output will increase as automakers adopt the safety features in a steadily growing portion of their vehicles.
In windshield wiper systems, Asmo's strong market position is attributable largely to a distinct technological edge. Asmo wiper systems operate more quietly and consume less power than competing products. |
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A power window motor assembly equipped with an antitrap feature
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