Concentration of R&D centers enhances our capabilities
The Flavor Development, Fragrance R&D Department and Flavor System & Technology Laboratory and Research Laboratory of Health Materials were formerly located separately. They are now all together, at the Maihama Research Center, which is only 30 minutes away from the Tokyo metropolitan area. The establishment of this new research center offers two major advantages.
Firstly, the collaboration among the four R&D functions expands the capability of our development activities. We believe the strength of Ogawa's flavors and fragrances business is in the collaboration among these four R&D functions. With this new establishment, internal information traffic, especially reseachers' know-how, can come and go freely and efficiently between the different R&D functions. This means that materials developed for the Flavor Development can be shared by the Fragrance R&D Department, for example, which allows us to quickly respond to the current demand for "flavor-like fragrances." This gives us frequent chances to conduct development of totally new flavors and fragrances.
Secondly, the Maihama Research Center plays an important role in promoting our principle of "creating in collaboration with our customers". For example, the test plant on the first floor is designed as a place for such collaborative activities, to discuss and clarify the focal point of each entrusted task with customers or to jointly develop products. On the upper floors, there are rooms in which we can introduce the results of our research to customers. The main conference room there is equipped with a large-screen projector on which illustrations and numerical data of our research can be shown.
The importance of a comfortable research space for good product development
The Maihama Research Center is also a "comfortable workplace." An expansive view of Tokyo Bay can be enjoyed from the cafeteria and the company restaurant, where researchers can come together to relax and communicate with those from different functions.
The view of Tokyo Bay from the cafeteria is breathtaking, especially at sunset, making us forget that we are in a research facility. On clear days, Mount Fuji can be seen in the distance before us. Also, all the staff rooms facing toward the sea help the staff work comfortably at their desks.
The nearest train station from the center is JR Maihama Station. We provide transportation for our customers from the station to the research center in company cars, as well as to and from the Head Office in Nihonbashi. Our staff members also commute from the station, using the regular bus services operated by the center.
