In the recent decades, several Japanese companies have been aggressively expanding and opening overseas operations and offices in the United States, most notably in California where Japanese expat concentration is the largest.
Founded in 1985, Uyemura International Corporation had its share of starts and stops in its attempt to expand outside Japan. It was not until the early 1990s that the company experienced consistent growth in the United States because of the boom in the demand for computer discs. When the disc industry slumped in the United States, the company
went into developing printed circuit boards.
“When I joined, we had to figure out how to restart the company and build a strong foundation. At that time, a big part of my decision to join was the very strong dedication in the R&D department. With that, I saw that we would have the products we need for the future,” CEO Anthony Revier recalled.
Today, Uyemura International retains global leadership in its industry, thanks to its decision to keep its technical center and facilities in North America. This has allowed the company to conduct its own research and development in the country and more readily cater to customers in the region.
“In order to compete in the United States, we need the ability to do our own analysis, in-depth technical studies and development work. The technical center gave us solid footing in the U.S. We are also able to invite customers for seminars there,” Revier said.
To gain additional competitive advantage, the company provides the needed chemicals for PCBs and advises its customers on how to better handle their equipment and their products. Instead of focusing on large corporate clients, Uyemura focused on SMEs, which are mostly ignored by the competition. The move has also given them the chance to build relationships with local businesses.
“Our secret to continued growth has been the commitment from Japan to increase worldwide presence, our technological capabilities, our continued efforts to improve technical abilities, and keeping our company culture,” Revier said.
