Centro mfg partners with Japanese firm

MANILA, Philippines -  Centro Manufacturing Corp. has partnered with Japan’s Nippon Fruehauf Co. Ltd. to locally manufacture and assemble wing vans.

The company recently inaugurated its new manufacturing and assembling facility in Marilao, Bulacan with a rated capacity of 25 wing vans a month on a single shift.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the project would generate business opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that comprise the majority of Centro’s suppliers.

“Furthermore, new jobs will be generated not only in the new plant but in both upstream and downstream support industries. This is on top of the fresh investments that will be infused into the project. It will also make moving materials and goods across the country easier and less expensive. This is important in supporting the growth of our economy in general and our logistics industry in particular,” Lopez said.

According to Centro, Lopez was instrumental in putting together the project as he arranged the Centro-Nippon Fruehauf agreement which was signed during President Duterte’s state visit to Japan in October last year.

According to Centro president Raffy Juan, the wing van is a new product that will revolutionize the way transportation of goods across Philippines are made, as the logistics industry can now move more cargoes at a lesser cost.

“For our company, we will benefit from the ensuing transfer of new technology and our learning from the best manufacturing practices of our Japanese partner. We are deeply honored to having partnered with the best and the biggest wing van manufacturer in Japan and in the world,” Juan said.