Japan’s Kyodo Yushi to partner with Lubrication Engineers in Wichita, Kan., U.S.A.

Kyodo Yushi Co. Ltd., through its American sales office, Kyodo Yushi USA Inc., announced that it will form a joint venture called Kyodo Yushi Manufacturing Americas, with Lubrication Engineers, Inc. to build an advanced manufacturing plant in Wichita, Kan., U.S.A.

Investment in the plant is estimated at USD35 million. The joint venture will start construction next year. A 115,000-square-foot building on 29th Street North and Mead, which was Cargill’s innovation and research center before it moved to downtown Wichita several years ago, will be renovated. The city has granted the company a 76.5% tax abatement on the property tax on the buildings for five years, with the likely renewal for a second five-year term.

The new company will create five jobs and 30 contract jobs.

“We are excited about this planned partnership and venture. We look forward to getting to know Wichita and the community better, and in the planning process, the people we have met through the Greater Wichita Partnership, the city and others have been very welcoming,” said Hitoshi Samejima, president of Kyodo Yushi USA Inc. Kyodo Yushi USA is based in Rolling Meadows, Ill.

“We are excited to announce these plans for our company and for Wichita,” said Scott Schwindaman, president and CEO of Lubrication Engineers Inc. “The more we talked, the more we realized our two companies share a similar culture of quality and innovation. We look forward to being part of this new venture, and we’re excited about it for the community too because of the growth, diversification and potential for advanced research.”

Kyodo Yushi is a manufacturer of lubricants, especially greases, metal and machine oils. Founded in 1936, Kyodo Yushi is one of the largest grease manufacturers in the world. The company is headquartered in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It has two domestic and four overseas production bases.