Summary:
An environmentally conscious Japanese company is looking for distributors and agents for its pipe fittings to enter the EU market.
The company is offering high-end fittings with a pipe enlargement system that is new for the EU market, although already on the market for over 40 years in Japan. A distribution agreement will be agreed with relevant partners able to support the company expansion in the EU, with a focus on Germany and the Netherlands.
Description:
The Japanese company devotes itself in manufacturing stainless steel products friendly to global environment and 100% recyclable as well as conserving natural resources and achieve reduction of waste substances through its business activities.
Entering the EU market for the first time, the company’s pipe fittings feature a very specific connecting method, the so-called “pipe enlargement system”, that is completely new in the European market. However, it has more than 40 years of sales history in their Japanese domestic market. Outside of the EU the company has partners in South East Asia.
Possible applications for the pipe fittings they manufacture are water, hot water, compressed air, and steam up to 20 bar and 100 degrees Celsius.
In order to introduce this new product to their focus end user's targets, namely food, chemical and pharmaceutical factories, they already exhibited at three trade shows in Germany from 2018 to 2019. The company also makes regular visits to the EU when the situation allows, and has local stock in the Netherlands since December 2021.
The company is looking for partners to help them increase their presence in the EU, in the form of distribution services or commercial agency agreements. An exclusive agreement with one distributor cannot be accepted at the beginning, but could be considered for the future. Ideally, the company would like to cooperate with a German or Dutch partner (key focus of their strategy) but they would be interested and pleased to be contacted by any other potential EU partner.
Type (e.g. company, R&D institution…), field of industry and Role of Partner Sought:
The potential partner should be familiar with food and chemical industries and keep some stock volume for customers. The length of the partners’ industry experience is not an issue. However, the Japanese manufacturer would like to be proactively involved in the decision-making process, and visit the customers of the potential partner together before the partner establishes a contract. This is so that the Japanese manufacturer can have a voice in the decision whether or not to establish a contract. The Japanese manufacturer prefers to build a long-term relationship and create new markets altogether.
External code:
BOJP20201201001
