ジェムコ・コーオペレーションズ Product Lineup

Recently, there are words that I often hear in the manufacturing industry. "Materials are not coming in," "Delivery dates are uncertain," "Estimates cannot be provided." The background to this is the "naphtha shortage." The term naphtha may not be familiar to the general public. However, it is actually an extremely important raw material that supports Japan's manufacturing industry, including plastics, rubber, paints, adhesives, and packaging films. Recently, I have been speaking with many people in manufacturing, and what is happening on the ground is not simply a "raw material shortage." *For more details on the column, you can view the PDF document. Please feel free to contact us for more information.*

When it comes to the shortage of naphtha, many may think, "Isn't this about the lack of plastic raw materials?" However, what is actually happening in manufacturing sites is much more serious. The reason factories are shutting down is not due to a shortage of the main materials, but rather a lack of "supporting" materials. For example, paints. Thinners and organic solvents used for painting products are almost entirely derived from naphtha. Currently, many paint manufacturers have started to impose shipping restrictions, and prices are rising significantly. *For more details on the column, you can view the PDF document. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

Currently, there are changes occurring in many manufacturing industries. The traditional mindset of "making according to the drawings" is beginning to break down. In the past, if the specified materials were not available, it would result in "waiting for delivery." However, now that would halt the company. As a result, many companies are starting to switch to designs that assume "alternative materials." Particularly increasing is the shift to materials with lower dependence on petroleum. *For more details, you can view the PDF document. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

The rise in costs due to the shortage of naphtha is not just about material costs. There are logistics costs, prototyping costs, setup changes, and adjustment labor by craftsmen. In the field, invisible costs are quietly accumulating. The question is, who will bear those costs? In the past, many small and medium-sized enterprises found it difficult to express a desire to raise prices. However, the situation is beginning to change significantly now. *For more details, you can view the PDF document. Please feel free to contact us for more information.*