I would like to provide a briefing about Sumiden Wire Products Corp. (SWPC), the venue of the North American Top Executives’ Conference.

　SWPC was established in 1979 as our first U.S. manufacturing subsidiary. Featuring plants in California and Tennessee, the company currently manufactures and sells prestressed concrete steel materials for buildings, bridges and other structures, as well as stainless steel wire for springs used in automobiles and other items.

　SWPC’s prestressed concrete steel materials are being used as reinforcement for the new Bay Bridge, which is now under construction to connect San Francisco and Oakland, and for the new bypass over Hoover Dam, which is located near Las Vegas and well-known even in Japan. The company’s stainless steel materials, on the other hand, are used for strengthening all river banks along the Mississippi River. Thus, the company’s products support U.S. infrastructure.

　Consisting of approximately 100 staff members, SWPC is a medium-sized company. SWPC’s two young American general managers have been working for the company since graduating from university. They participated in Action Learning, a management executive seminar held by SEI University. It seems that they firmly follow the Sumitomo Spirit and greatly contribute to the establishment of relationships of trust with customers. Also, there are many staff members who have been working for SWPC since its foundation. These members are called “79er’s,” making me realize again that such members with high loyalty serve as the cornerstone of the Sumitomo Electric Group.

　During this business trip, I stayed in Nashville, which you may probably know as the city of country music. One of the city’s major industries is guitar production. SWPC also sells nickel steel wire, which is used as guitar strings. This indicates that the company plays an important role in promoting U.S. culture. SWPC gave me a cowboy hat as a gift to commemorate my visit to the company.

I would like to conclude today’s blog by expressing my appreciation to Mr. Yuichi Sano, SWPC President, and other SWPC executives for giving careful consideration to the organization of the conference. As the company in charge of arranging the conference, SWPC certainly extended some fine Southern Hospitality (U.S. southern style of warm hospitality to visitors). I wish you all continued good health and prosperity.