91³Ô¹Ï

The Sumitomo Electric Group's businesses have developed from copper-related technologies such as electric wires and cable products. By contrast, the Special Steel Wire Division is the sole business based on iron, and we have three main product categories. The first is prestressed concrete (PC) strand. This is a high-performance tensioning material that is used in PC and is utilized across a wide range of fields, including expressways, bridges, and buildings. The second is thin steel wire used for valve springs and drive components in automobile engines. The third is steel cord used to reinforce tires.

As head of this business, I emphasize "inheritance and transformation" as key themes. While we must ensure the reliable transfer of cherished values like customer trust and technology to the next generation, there are also numerous areas where we must create new value and drive transformation, adapting to changing times.

In Japan's civil engineering and construction market, which primarily focuses on repair and reinforcement needs, construction methods are shifting. For expressways, with the aim of shortening project timelines, precast concrete slabs incorporating PC strands are manufactured at factories and then assembled at the construction site. New business opportunities are emerging, and we are challenging ourselves to transform into a comprehensive solution provider that includes construction. Furthermore, leveraging the comprehensive strength of the Sumitomo Electric Group, which boasts outstanding material technologies such as high-strength and high-durability steel wires, as well as high corrosion resistance achieved through coating processes, we aim to contribute to infrastructure maintenance and reduced construction burdens. 

Looking overseas, we are deploying our bridge construction technologies in countries and regions that lack adequate infrastructure, particularly in ASEAN and emerging nations, in official development assistance and other projects. Through inheritance and transformation, we are advancing our global business.

Steel cord is also a product that is undergoing transformation. As electric vehicles become heavier due to their batteries, there is a need for larger and thicker tires to ensure load-bearing capacity and wear resistance. In response, we are developing high-strength steel cord that is thinner yet stronger, allowing conventional-sized tires to support the vehicle body. Through collaboration among the Advanced Materials Laboratory and the Energy & Electronics Materials Laboratory of our R & D Unit, as well as Sumitomo Rubber Industries, we are accelerating the development of new tire businesses.

I believe that sustainable growth is difficult to achieve if any business does not align social contributions with its operations. For example, as expectations grow for the utilization of infrastructure monitoring for the repair and reinforcement of bridges and highways, we can contribute to disaster prevention and mitigation by integrating optical fibers into PC steel strands to detect ground movement via sensors. This technology extends beyond infrastructure to high-rise condominiums and buildings. By leveraging the diverse technologies of the Sumitomo Electric Group, including optical fibers, we must continue businesses that are necessary for society and are trusted, ensuring that every employee can take pride in their work.

The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake prompted me to consider creating businesses that society truly needs. After joining Sumitomo Electric, I was working at its Itami Works. My transfer to Tokyo had been decided, and on the morning of January 17, 1995, I intended to go to Itami Works to say goodbye, as I was scheduled to leave that same afternoon for a flight. All my belongings, except for the TV, were already packed.

At 5:46 a.m., my house in Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture, shook violently. Fortunately, my family was unharmed. I immediately drove to check on my wife's parents' house near Itami Works. Attempting to cross the river, I found the bridge had completely collapsed and was impassable. After trying about five bridges, I cautiously crossed one and reached my in-laws' house. The house was nearly destroyed, but I found my in-laws safe, trapped between leaning chests of drawers. Then I headed for Itami Works.

Upon arrival, the building's windows were shattered, desks and cabinets were overturned inside, and water gushed from the sprinklers—it was in a state of complete disarray. The factory had also sustained significant damage.

Starting the next day, I went to evacuation centers with a list of employees who were missing or unreachable. I toured shelters around Itami City from morning until evening, returning to the company to share information. Throughout the day, all I saw were destroyed buildings. I helped with recovery efforts as much as I could at the time, and three weeks after the earthquake, I transferred to Tokyo.

When natural disasters or incidents occur, it's only natural to worry about how our products are faring at our clients' sites. However, what I tell my subordinates is to suppress the words "Is our line okay?" If you must reach out first, simply express your concern. Say only this: "Are you injured? Is there anything we can do to assist you?"

Put yourself in their shoes: how would you feel receiving a call that immediately asks, "Is our production line okay?" Imagine that some people are dealing with far more pressing matters. Acting with this initial mindset and approach to our work builds trust with stakeholders and aligns with the Sumitomo Electric Group's concept of “Goho-Yoshi" (Five-Way Win).

The Sumitomo Electric Group operates across a wide range of business fields—Environment & Energy, Automotive, Industrial Materials & Others, Infocommunications, and Electronics—as well as in areas where these converge. Therefore, when I’m asked what products does the Sumitomo Electric Group make, it's difficult to answer immediately. However, for professionals in each industry, we can introduce products beloved within their sectors and help them understand that many of our products are created through the integration of our business divisions. We will continue to build our business foundation to provide products, technologies, and services that are loved and trusted by everyone.

Having worked in sales in Tokyo and Osaka, and then being seconded to a subsidiary with 150 Chinese employees without speaking Chinese, I truly understand the importance of communication. It's common to say "communication is important," but it is never easy. I often tell my subordinates, "Even if we say we should improve communication at work, it's difficult to do right away. The key is how well you can engage in lighthearted conversation." Talking only about work can make the atmosphere tense and the conversation stall, but starting with everyday topics allows the conversation to naturally branch out into various subjects.

"I went to watch a rugby match," or "this meal was delicious." To share such lighthearted stories, it's important to broaden my range of conversation topics. I enjoy not just classroom learning, but meeting all kinds of people and going anywhere. In addition to work connections, at this age I also frequently dine with friends from my student days.

I'm perfectly happy taking overnight trips to Shanghai or Hong Kong to reconnect with people who helped me during my posting in China. I want to stay nimble and keep meeting lots of people.

Kazuhiko Saiga

1989
Joined 91³Ô¹Ï 
Assigned to the Special Steel Wire Division

2015
General Manager, Procurement Department, Special Steel Wire Division

2019
General Manager, Headquarters Operations Department, Special Steel Wire Division

2021
General Manager, Special Steel Wire Division

2023
Executive Officer

2024
Managing Executive Officer