As foreign manufacturers troop to fast-growing Panama to set up the headquarters for their Latin American operations, NTN Sudamericana has been enjoying early adapter benefits. One of the largest makers of bearing products, the Japanese company has been in the country for 41 years, taking advantage of its strategic geographical location, stable currency and superior logistical infrastructure.
“You can go on the Pacific and Caribbean side, depending on where the demand is within Latin America. Geographically, Panama has a wonderful strategic location to act as a logistical base,” NTN Sudamericana President Kensaku Hata pointed out.
In conjunction with the “NTN100” initiative to expand the aftermarket business, the company is further strengthening its presence in Latin America, as seen in the construction of a regional distribution center, which will act as a key piece in delivering NTN’s wide range of automotive and industrial bearings to customers in the region’s major markets.
Quick response time — starting with the receipt of orders through the delivery of the product — is vital to the success in the aftermarket business. So, NTN plans to improve its
product availability with a new regional distribution center in Panama.
And with the expansion of the Panama Canal, NTN will also improve its logistics to and from Panama and, consequently, improve its customer satisfaction.
To further improve its business and customer service across Latin America, NTN has also invested in the technical training of its sales and engineering force in Panama and deployed satellite engineers to key markets outside the country.
“We are committed to becoming the premium and preferred bearing brand in Latin American and will continually strive to improve on our service level, and on the delivery of world class NTN technologies and solutions to our customers across Latin America,” said Hata.
