The 44th MOTOR SHOW 2015 RUD - Goingoads the Extra Mile since 1935

Discover UD Trucks’ booth! Quon Vision Going the Extra Mile for Envisioning the future UD Electric Demonstrator Smart Logistics! Emission-free. Silent running. Endless possibilities. The 44th 2015 Dear friends,

It is my great pleasure to welcome 04 Discover UD Trucks’ booth! you to the Tokyo Motor Show 2015 with this special issue of Roads! 06 Going the Extra Mile since 1935… UD Trucks’ 80th anniversary - milestones If you are holding this issue in your hands, I may happily suppose that you are visiting the UD Trucks booth. 08 …for Smart Logistics! A new era for unequaled drivability, efficiency The year 2015 is a very important one for UD Trucks, as we and uptime celebrate the 80th anniversary of the company, while, as importantly, we prepare for the future! 10 Quon Vision Envisioning the future The future for UD lies in providing the best trucks and services to our customers, following the company’s founding vision: To make the the world needs today.

That’s why we conceived Smart Logistics, a vision for how to support our customers to meet with today’s challenges in road transportation, from drivability to safety, reducing running costs while increasing uptime and productivity. At UD Trucks we believe that meeting the world’s needs today, can only come entirely into play if we fully address the needs of the logistics industry, in terms of operations 14 UDIS & Smart uptime support control, maintenance, expense limitation and so on. Proactive and responsive extra mile support To make it happen, UD Trucks designers have created their vision of the future in the Quon Vision, a futuristic concept, prefiguring the truck of the next generation. 16 UD Electric Demonstrator Quon Vision is a step ahead in terms of fuel efficiency and Emission-free. Silent running. environmental performance, in terms of drivability and Endless possibilities. safety, in terms of uptime and productivity. Quon Vision is a laboratory of future technologies, meeting future 18 Extra Mile Stories environmental restrictions, and using the most advanced Four reasons why Quon is perfect technologies to assist the driver on the road, coupled with driving pleasure, comfort and safety, while also focusing on reducing running costs and maximizing uptime.

As UD explores possible future paths for road transportation, “UD Electric Demonstrator” is an experimental truck exploring the future of electric propulsion in the medium- duty segment, integrating the performance of an internal Customer story combustion-engined vehicle in a silent zero emission 20 Aiming for perfection: Maruwn Corporation package.

Building on our Japanese heritage, and now as a part of the Group, UD Trucks keep on going the extra mile to stay a step ahead, remaining by your side as a valuable partner as you develop your activities, and providing you with optimal solutions to meet your every need.

Roads is published by UD Trucks Corporation We wish you a pleasant visit at the UD Trucks’ booth, discovering, in the company of our UD team, the trucks the world needs today! www.udtrucks.com

Publisher Kenneth Hagas Yoshihiro Murakami [email protected] President UD Trucks Corporation Tokyo Motor Show 2015 - UD Trucks’ booth

Volvo Group Discover our booth! Quon Vision The cutting-edge technology We are pleased to introduce the state- (Reference Exhibit) of-the-art technologies developed by the Volvo Group. UD became a part of the Going the Extra Mile ...for Smart Logistics The Quon Vision embodies UD Trucks’ future vision for Volvo Group, a global leader in heavy-duty smart logistics. Drawing on our Japanese heritage and global commercial vehicles, in 2007. since 1935... Learn the details about knowledge, it aims to deliver outstandingly on our customers’ UD Trucks' vision to core needs of fuel efficiency, uptime and drivability. In 1935, our founder, Kenzo Adachi, had a vision “to make the support Smart Logistics. truck the world needs today”. Since that time, we have pursued this vision by going the extra mile to listen to our customers and Volvo FH to respond to new challenges in the transportation industry. Best solution for long distance transport We hope you will enjoy learning about the milestones of our 80-year history. Take the quiz and have fun! Volvo FH, the flagship model of , has been designed with drivers - key contributors to a succesful business - in mind. With its top class innovations on technology, safety and comfort, it is the best solution Smart uptime support for an efficient business operation. Proactive and responsive extra mile support

At UD Trucks our aim is clear: to be an uptime company. This means that we will do our outmost to keep our customers’ trucks on the road. Our vision is to create an ultimate uptime center that proactively detects and fixes problems before they even happen, and to offer immediate and dependable UD Road Support to solve issues when they arise.

UD Electric Demonstrator ESCOT-V (Reference Exhibit) and GH11 Emission-free. Silent running. Taking the lead in smart drivelines Endless possibilities. The ESCOT-V is the cutting-edge automated manual electric transmission that has the largest The UD Electric Demonstrator is a fully electric market share in Japan. It delivers unrivalled medium-duty truck. It is emission-free and silent drivability and fuel efficiency by choosing the with a full-sized medium-duty body for high- optimal gear automatically at all times. With productivity low-impact transportations. Learn Escot-V and the new GH11 engine - delivering how it works and open up your imagination to maximum torque on an even wider range - UD Quon its endless possibilities. Trucks now provides outstanding fuel efficiency Efficiency moving you forward and drivability. UD Trucks’ heavy-duty flagship truck “Quon” offers the best combination of excellent fuel efficiency, uptime, productivity, safety and drivability. UD Trucks is committed to go the extra mile to maximize uptime and productivity of our customers' trucks with UD's comprehensive extra mile support after-sales service 04 together with the Quon’s excellent vehicle performance. 05 UD Trucks’ 80th anniversary - milestones 2010 - Name change to UD Trucks Corporation

UD Information Service 2011 2010 Japan’s first remote Going the Extra Mile diagnostic service 2011 - Launch of the new Condor 2010 2010 - Innovative since 1935... GH engine series and ESCOT-V Kenzo Adachi standing with the LD1 1935 2013 1935 – Founding of the 2007 2007 - UD Trucks Join company by Kenzo Adachi Volvo Group (Nihon Diesel Industries, Ltd.) Quon World’s first truck with 2004 the urea SCR system It all started with his vision “to make the truck 2013 - Launch of Quester the world needs today”. Quon 2004 for global growth markets World’s first truck with knee airbag and knee protector World’s first 1939 (for medium & heavy 2014 - Renewal of Quon duty trucks) 1939 – The LD1 completed The new heavy-duty flagship takes fuel efficiency, Japan’s first the legendary test drive uptime, safety, payload and drivability to new (for medium & 2004 heavy duty trucks) Completed the 13 day and 3000 km test levels. By combining Quon’s advanced technology drive without a single fault or breakdown. 2004 - The with the unique UD Extra Mile support, customers flagship Quon significantly decrease their costs.

Designed to be the new reference in its segment, 1955 Quon addressed concerns CNG Big Capacitor such as running costs, Thumb Hybrid Truck 2002 2002 environmental concerns, 2014 Japan’s first World’s first capacitator handling, comfort & safety. heavy-duty CNG hybrid truck truck UD6 engine 1955 GE13 engine 1955 – The birth of the 1998 Japan’s first engine in the EBS 200-horsepower class Japan’s first engine with original UD Engines 1997 electronically controlled Japan’s first Electric Braking unit injectors First appearance of UD’s logo - symbol System for heavy-duty trucks. of a high-performing engine CNG Condor 6TW 1996 1958 ESCOT-AT Japan’s first medium duty Japan’s first 10-ton truck 1995 CNG truck Japan’s first electrically controlled automated manual transmission 2015 – Start of UD Road Support, 1990 - The 2015 in-house call 1960 – Name change to 1975 - Debut of revolutionary Diesel Co., Ltd. mid-size Condor center and road 1958 - The popular 6TW Traffic Eye Big Thumb support service 1989 1990 6TW was put to use in tough conditions World’s first commercialized such as the construction of the Kurobe VNT PD6T engine radar laser collision 1989 dam in addition to long-distance 1971 prevention system World’s first Going the Extra Mile for transportation to boost the country’s 1960 1975 continuously controlled Japan’s first turbocharged variable nozzle infrastructure development. diesel engine with direct turbocharger Smart Logistics injection

06 07 CONNECTIVITY

Going the Extra Mile for Smart Logistics Our vision for Smart Uptime and Productivity Taking the lead in To constantly monitor every UD truck on the road CONNECTIVITY through smart telematics and provide remote diagnostics and repair. Smart “Connectivity” is a key concept which enables us To create the ultimate Uptime Center that proactively to support smart logistics. Smart Fuel Efficiency, detects and fixes any potential faults before they cause Drivability & downtime. Smart Drivability and Safety, and Smart Uptime To offer ultimate UD Road Support for immediate and Productivity are tightly “connected” both Safety response to our customers whenever and wherever conceptually and technologically. The UD they need it. Information Services (UDIS) provides integrated To excel in lifetime productivity by improved benefits for the entire truck operation. The intra- payload and UD extra mile support over the connectivity between the engine, the ESCOT-V truck’s lifecycle. AMT and all vehicle systems are enhanced by the Smart Fuel Smart Uptime connectivity between the truck and the uptime Our vision for Smart center, dealerships, and customers. There is Efficiency Drivability and Safety & Productivity a technical connection utilizing wireless, GPS, Our vision for satellite and telematics, as well as the human Smart Fuel Efficiency To deliver an AMT (Automated Manual connection between fleet managers, drivers, Transmission) with best in class man- and UD experts and mechanics. UD Trucks To create the smartest on-board driver machine interface and higher torque engine and the Volvo Group are at the forefront of coaching system available. for ultimate drivability. “connectivity”. To deliver an ultimately clean and efficient To create an ultimately safe truck with improved engine, and an even smarter ESCOT AMT. AEBS (Advanced Emergency Braking System), LDWS (Lane Departure Warning System) and innovative To make highly aerodynamic trucks that save fuel driver support systems. by adapting to the road ahead, using our ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System). CONNECTIVITY To make every driver world-class through total drive CONNECTIVITY support and comfort. Our vision Going the Extra Mile for Smart Logistics

In 1935, our founder, Kenzo Adachi, had caring for the environment. For 80 a truck that is highly reliable Going the Extra Mile delivering aerodynamic trucks, with a We are confident that we can turn our a vision “to make the truck the world years, UD Trucks has taken the lead with clean, efficient engine, smart on-board vision into our reality. As a part of the needs today”. Since this moment, we developments that our customers and and productive that comes for Smart Logistics driver coaching system and ADAS. Volvo Group, we have access to the have pursued this vision by going the their businesses needed most. with smart and modern world’s leading technological innovations. extra mile to listen to our customers and aftermarket and uptime In today’s world, our vision is to go the We want to produce safe and highly Adding to this our rich heritage of UD to respond to developing societies. extra mile to support our customers, drivable trucks with a total drive Trucks craftsmanship, our engineering Today, the world needs more support. so they can deliver smart needs in the support, innovative driver support skills and gemba spirit that means we In the late 1950s and 1960s, we created than just a truck. Today, the transportation industry. systems and a smart AMT. always go the extra mile, in everything the UD engines and 6TW, Japan’s first world needs a fuel-efficient We summarize what the world we do. 10-ton truck, which helped to build the needs today as “smart logistics”. We For our customers, smart logistics means We want to deliver ultimately infrastructure you see in Japan today. truck that delivers sustainable see that our society needs safe and providing sustainable, safe and profitable dependable and productive trucks with In 1935, Kenzo Adachi was clear on the In the 1990s, we reacted to growing and profitable transport. environmentally friendly transport. transport. At UD Trucks, our role is to a smart uptime support for the lifetime truck that the world needed. Today, at environmental and safety concerns, Our vision is to connect the latest support our customers in their efforts to of the vehicle. UD Trucks, we continue to be clear on with innovations such as the ESCOT-AT, Today, the world needs an technologies to support our customers deliver smart logistics. To achieve this, we the needs of today’s world and equally Traffic Eye and GE13 engine. In 2004, ultimately safe truck that so that they deliver safe, productive and have identified the three essential areas We want to excel in these three essential determined to support these needs. This we delivered the Quon, which took the efficient logistics every single day. Our in all of our customers’ businesses: areas of our customers' business, and we is why, at the Tokyo Motor Show 2015, lead with the world’s first SCR system, is easy and comfortable to vision, is to go the extra mile to support call this going the extra mile for smart we want to show you how we are going delivering first class fuel efficiency and drive. Today, the world needs smart logistics. We want to excel in fuel efficiency by logistics. the extra mile for smart logistics.

08 09 Quon Vision

Envisioning the future

10 11 Quon Vision

The Quon Vision is the symbol of UD Trucks’ future vision for Smart Logistics.

Smart Smart Innovative solutions to Fuel Uptime & maximize fuel efficiency, Efficiency Productivity drivability, safety and uptime

Smart Drivability & Safety

The Hexagon concept— “Dependable Tools with a Soul” A modern design concept which incorporates the The front grill of trucks made by UD Trucks have traditionally been designed essence of traditional Japanese design in the shape of an hexagon. The hexagon represents an aspect of UD Trucks’ product design philosophy, “Dependable Tools with a Soul”. Each of the six corners expresses the ideas of Tough, Smart, Distinctive, Harmonized, Caring and Supportive, which embody the areas that UD Trucks focuses on in the production

of its vehicles. TC80G The multi-disciplinary team behind the development of the Quon Vision (from left to right): Tough Smart Ryousuke Kishimoto (Designer), Takayuki Iuchi (Designer), Takayuki Asaoka (Physical Modeler), Mitsuyasu Ebe (Physical Modeler), Kouichi Naitou (Chief Designer), Toshio Shiratori Distinctive Harmonized The hexagon design theme is (Design Director) inherited from UD Trucks’s first cab-over truck, the TC80G, in the 1960s Caring Supportive

12 13 Uptime support

Dealership A UD dealer expert will analyze the data and call Innovative solutions the customer to recommend a vehicle inspection to minimize downtime. UDIS Workshop to maximize uptime A potential issue with a The customer drives the truck truck will be detected and to the workshop, where all the highlighted by remote necessary tools and mechanics will diagnostic, an important be ready to fix the issue at hand. UDIS—UD Information Service feature of UDIS.

In your business, it is important and necessary to have the peace of mind needed to run a smooth operation. However, every business meets unavoidable problems at some stage, and some breakdowns can not be predicted. As your trusted business partner, UD Trucks offers solutions to maximize the uptime of your trucks. With PROACTIVE SUPPORT the launch of the UD Information Service, which now enables us to detect remotely potential problems, and to quickly respond to arising issues, UD is engaged in treating proactively and responsively any Smart uptime support unexpected event your truck may Proactive and responsive extra mile support encounter. At UD Trucks, we are always striving to be an uptime company. This means that we do our best to keep our customers’ trucks on Proactive support By utilizing the remote diagnostic system, one Alerts sent to the of the features of the UD Information Service, information center when the road. Building on our company vision, we created the ultimate UD Trucks can proactively analyze customers’ your vehicle warning light uptime center that proactively detects and fixes problems before vehicle conditions. is activated.

they happen, and offers UD Road Support immediate response to As a feature of the remote diagnosis, a warning For important alerts, an solve issues when they do arise. lamp is lit on the vehicle’s dashboard informing inspection of the truck the driver, while the information is automatically might be suggested, transmitted to UD Trucks. For particularly to prevent any risk of important alerts, a vehicle inspection from breakdown. UD Trucks is recommended to customers, to prevent any eventual breakdown, contributing RESPONSIVE SUPPORT to improved uptime.

Responsive support In the event of a breakdown, the UD A rapid response is possible Information Services coordinators at the call as your vehicle position center are informed of the position of your allows the system to match vehicle, and can locate the nearest UD Trucks it to the nearest UD dealer. dealer instantly.

Call center Service van Using the vehicle condition information that has Depending on the If a customer finds a When required, our call center been detected by the remote diagnosis, we will condition of the vehicle, a problem or receives an will contact a nearby dealer be able to narrow down the potential problem professional mechanic will alert on the truck, they and send out a UD service van carry out maintenance for areas before the truck arrives at the workshop. are able to call our 24/7 with all the correct tools to fix optimal uptime. in-house call center for the issue. Rapid response and tight communication assistance between the coordinator and the mechanics UDIS allow for improved efficiency and quick The coordinator will check the vehicle condition and resolution of the problem, at the benefit of where the truck is located through UDIS. uptime.

14 15 UD Electric Demonstrator Electric propulsion 2-Speed AMT Three-phase Both batteries provide DC electric power to permanent magnet ELECTRIC • Vital component of the junction box synchronous motor. MOTOR the Volvo Group’s new Acting as a generator full electric driveline, The junction box combines the power from during deceleration. developed in-house and both batteries and provides it to the electric based on many years of motor driver advanced engineering The electric motor driver converts DC electric experience. power to AC and provides it to the electric • UD Electric Demonstrator Recharging is simple: motor has used the same just plug in! technology structure The electric motor provides propulsion and optimized this for a power to the wheels via the unique 2-speed medium-duty truck. High- AMT speed electric compact motor with 2-speed AMT 600V lithium ion battery. BATTERIES enables it to deliver Braking regeneration efficiently the necessary power and torque for Braking power is generated by the electric medium-duty truck. motor The power is converted to DC electric power by the electric motor driver Step down the voltage of lithium ion battery and DC/DC The electric power is provided to the supply the electricity to auxiliary components. CONVERTER junction box The electric power is split and charged to both batteries High capacity batteries are mounted on both sides of the vehicle Distribute electric power between the JUNCTION lithium ion batteries and each component. BOX The truck communicates through WiFi with a mobile tablet and informs the driver about the charging status and battery levels in real time

Inverter to drive the electric motor. MOTOR DRIVER

ON-BOARD Unit for charging lithium ion battery from external power supply . CHARGING UNIT Developed by an international team charging system, UD Electric with staff drawn from Japan, Sweden Demonstrator can accommodate and France, UD Electric Demonstrator various customers’ needs, such as is a driving laboratory that showcases charging during deliveries, for example. what potential electric trucks can bring to future transportation. Designed with latest UD Trucks’ technologies, UD Electric Demonstrator Emission-Free The diesel powertrain is replaced by highlights traditional UD qualities such Zones where noise is limited are a light-weight and compact electrical as road handling and comfort. The becoming more and more common, as are zero emission zone. UD Electric Endless usage driveline. Combining a high-speed electrical driveline and the lithium-ion possibilities Demonstrator can cross all zones and electric compact motor and a 2-speed batteries are positioned in the central even go where conventional trucks UD Electric can’t. AMT, it constantly delivers maximum part of the vehicle, to allow better torque over a wide rev range. weight balance, and reduced vibrations at the benefit of the driver’s comfort. Silent Running Demonstrator To spare batteries and limit electrical Because of its fully electric consumption, many modifications In the past years, transportation needs technology, UD Electric Demonstrator makes for extremely silent running and a have been applied to this special truck. have evolved considerably. Population comfortable experience for the driver. Emission-free. Silent running. The brakes are designed to benefit concentration in urban areas, and the from an energy regeneration system: rapid development of e-commerce Large Cargo Space when braking, an electric motor driver have increased the number of UD Electric Demonstrator is a Endless possibilities. transforms the kinetic energy into deliveries anytime of the day, including fully functioning medium duty truck. electricity, contributing to extending early morning and late evening. This promises great flexibility and ability the range. The steering is now Besides, environmental issues have to carry large loads as well as adapting to a huge range of uses. powered by an electro-hydraulic pump, become a major concern. UD Electric As UD continues to explore all possible future while auxiliaries are moved through Demonstrator is a people-friendly and energy-saving electric air compressors. environment-friendly zero-emission and paths of transportation, Electric Demonstrator, Xenon headlamps are replaced by silent vehicle. As a result, as well as UD’s electric medium-duty concept-truck, shows low-consumption LED lamps, while addressing the need for early morning Adapted to urban transportation needs rear lights are composed of a mix of and late night deliveries, it can help to of the future, UD Electric Demonstrator the way to zero emission transportation. energy-efficient lighting technologies. solve specific issues, such as garbage is a tangible example of the continuous collection. Moreover, it increases the research that UD carries out to Equipped with a widely spread possibilities for deliveries in closed provide Smart Logistics solutions to its CHAdeMO system, and a quick- spaces, or emission-restricted areas. customers.

16 17 Extra Mile Stories - Quon

ESCOT-V: Fuel-efficient and Anyone can achieve Quon can be comfortable driving the same fuel the fuel-efficient, delivers strong efficiency. comfortable and safe trusted with peace of mind. 1 2 automated gearbox tough, long revolution Improved Fuel Efficiency distances. Safe, User-friendly Operation Traditionally, fuel ESCOT-V was developed to address the For long-distance consumption needs of customers. Delivering smoother driving at night, varied greatly driving than ever before, it assures safety is our enhanced fuel efficiency. It also features depending on top concern. clutch-free operation that allows drivers the driver’s The ESCOT- to concentrate on the road. ESCOT-V thus experience provides greater safety while significantly V-equipped and skill. After reducing driver fatigue. Quon frees adopting Quon, the driver from veterans and the stress of rookies alike have working the clutch attained fuel-efficient driving. Because pedal, so they can safely concentrate ESCOT-V reduces demands on the driver, on driving. All the while, Quon it makes for safer driving. Since a single automatically selects the optimal gear trip tops 1,000km at our company, setting, so fuel efficiency is achieved the benefits relative to cost improved naturally. The smooth and powerful substantially on a per-truck basis. It also performance is reassuring and it reduces contributes in terms of environmental fatigue. Since a driver spends more protection. time in their truck’s cab than they do at Akira Maruyama home, it’s important that they can relax. Yamato Multi Charter Co., Ltd. Director Powerful support for fuel-efficient The user-friendly cockpit is comfortable, driving in all situations too. ESCOT-V’s biggest feature is its automatic transmission with instantaneous Takashi Wakuda auto-shifting to the optimal gear Yamato Multi Charter Co., Ltd. Group Leader The one truck that ratio. It means anyone can minimize completely satisfies fuel consumption like a veteran driver. the needs of our The adoption of other innovations to heighten combustion efficiency on the customers. GH11 engine also leads to better fuel Four reasons why Easy cargo handling 4 savings. for more efficient transportation. Economy E-D Mode for fuel-saving Improved Transportation Quality performance by anyone Quon is perfect 3 ESCOT-V’s Economy E-D Mode activates Trucks are the an acceleration limiter to bring about most important Superior Cargo Handling both superior fuel efficiency and smooth Extra Mile Stories. tools for our driving. To maximize fuel efficiency, Loading and customers acceleration is kept below a certain level These are real stories from UD Trucks customers. unloading are to conduct even if the accelerator is floored. jobs that business. To This Extra Mile Story explains how the transportation company, Soft cruise control for relaxed driving require enable them While using ESCOT-V’s auto cruise Yamato Multi Charter, is making efforts to deal with its challenges, sophisticated to do their system, the Economy E-D Mode can be skills, just like everyday work and how Quon goes the extra mile to support them. turned on with the press of a button driving ability. without concern, we to achieve both comfortable driving Quon’s cargo repeatedly subjected Quon to thorough and reduced fuel usage. ESCOT-V will bed is easy to get development testing to attain the automatically regulate gear-change on and off, facilitating highest level of quality using a highly timing and uphill acceleration for Trucks used for ferrying goods between distribution centers routinely drive routes topping 1,000 km. To ensure on-time operation efficient handling of cargo. It’s also advanced manufacturing system. We optimum fuel efficiency. while keeping safety first, I personally test drove a Quon – and that was it! The ESCOT-V automatic transmission assures both been made lighter, giving it greater have also sharply reduced the likelihood stable driving and fuel economy regardless of the driver’s skill. Better fuel economy makes a big difference in long-distance driving. ESCOT Roll suppresses fuel capacity—something that has earned us of trouble resulting from wear and tear. Because it’s a safe and reliable truck, we look on it as a savior that will attract more drivers and revitalize our industry. UD Trucks’ consumption when coasting the appreciation of our customers. Quon Quon’s sure quality translates to less after-sales servicing—which responds to trouble quickly anywhere nationwide—is reassuring, too. Our drivers are full of vim and ESCOT-V is equipped with ESCOT Roll has allowed us to surely fulfill our duty of downtime and better transportation vigor, and so are our Quon trucks. They provide strong support for our business, which requires us to be always on the road for our which disengages the engine brake transporting goods between distribution results. To drive our customers to greater when coasting. Rather than burning customers. centers quickly and on time, nationwide. success, Quon will continually evolve. fuel, the truck’s own mass is used to

Akira Maruyama Takashi Wakuda Tetsushi Iwasaka prevent speed loss while suppressing fuel Yamato Multi Charter Co., Ltd. Director Yamato Multi Charter Co., Ltd. Group Leader UD Trucks Co., Ltd. Product Planner consumption.

18 19 Customer story

apan boasts some 63,000 truck Maruwn is currently facing challenges; transporters, of which one de-industrialization and a shrinking company, Maruwn [pronounced Japanese population is bad news for Maru-un], has managed to secure petroleum products and raw materials. aJ significant share of a very specific This translates into a drop in demand market. coupled with difficulties hiring from a dwindling workforce. “Of Japan’s domestic oil transport market - including trucking and maritime “In order to hire people we need to pay Aiming for cargo - Maruwn has six to seven per cent more and improve work conditions. To market share,” says company president do that, our productivity has to go up but Yutaka Ichihara. how can we do that?” Ichihara asks. “If we could automate our business processes “Since we specialize in trucking and we would. But the fact is, we carry heavy not shipping, you could say that we’re goods. Although we try to automate as among the top trucking companies in much as possible in our storage facilities, this market.” it is our willingness to meet the specific perfection demands of our customers that makes a Petroleum, lubricant and other chemical difference to our service.” Text: Kenta Tanimich Photos: Nicolas Datiche products account for 36% of Maruwn’s consolidated annual turnover of 49 Akio Tanaka, group manager of billion yen or about 400 million U.S. procurement, explains how it is done. “A dollars. The company employs around truck company that carries merchandize 2,100 people, including affiliates in for a network of convenience stores may Japan and China. buy 200 identical trucks each year. Our way is different,” says Tanaka. Japan imports almost all of its crude oil from overseas. Shipped to refineries “We find customized solutions for each Some companies are driven to enter along the coastline, the crude is first of our customers and each type of processed into gasoline, kerosene or product. This means that most of our new markets and introduce new other petroleum products and then truck bodies are different. Since the products hoping to expand their business transported by a Maruwn tanker for goods we carry are heavy and fragile, delivery. we might want, for instance, a steel post range. For others, focusing on what placed somewhere in the loading area to The other larger portion of the business, tether ropes to prevent the cargo from lies in front of them and trying hard to accounting for nearly half of total shifting around. That’s the way we do achieve perfection is what counts. Major revenue, is generated by transporting business.” raw materials for industrial use. Dry transporter Maruwn Corporation, based in cargo, as it is called, includes cables, Maruwn’s current fleet numbers around Tokyo, is most definitely among the latter. steel frames, aluminum coil and other 1,500 vehicles and almost all of them heavy, bulky goods. come with custom-made bodies. “I bet Japanese artists and business people are you can’t find any other company like familiar with the well-known saying; “The “There are transporters that specialize us!” ventures Tanaka, who is responsible in carrying petroleum products and also for truck purchases and liaison with devil is in the details!” and it is this kind of others that focus on raw materials, but I manufacturers. thinking that has given Maruwn its unique can’t think of a Japanese company, apart from us, that does both,” adds Ichihara While Maruwn has been focusing on position in Japan’s logistics industry. proudly. delivering customer satisfaction, it has also started to outsource non-core Despite these varied revenue streams, business such as truck repair operations.

Ichihara Yutaka, President of Maruwn Corporation. With a background in the oil industry, Ichihara brought a wealth of knowledge with him when he became president of Maruwn four years ago

20 21 Customer story

It has now closed most of its own repair shops and in 2007, UD Trucks won a Fujita Takeru, Head of contract to do maintenance work for Haneda Keihin General Affairs Department, Maruwn’s Kanto region, which includes Logistics Maruwn Corp. (left) Tokyo and Yokohama. Akio Tanaka, Group Manager of Procurement, Maruwn Centre Corp. (right) “From around 2005, maintenance became more difficult as that was the December 2012 saw the opening of a new logistics hub at Keihin Island in the Ota year manufacturers started to use more neighborhood of Tokyo. “Haneda airport, computerized parts,” says Tanaka. Japan Freight Railway terminal and Keihin One way of coping with this change truck terminal are all within a few kilometers Each truck is customized to of our base,” says Yoshikazu Wakabayashi, clients’ specific needs, as was to contract this work out, “We’ve second in command at the center. illustrated by these five trucks outsourced maintenance of all of our “Our five-story storage facility with a total Kanto-based trucks, including that of floor space of 17,000 square meters (about other brands, to UD and they do an 180,000 square feet) has recently been ex- panded,” says Hamabe. “The center is also excellent job.” equipped with a bonded warehouse which we aim to use to expand our foreign cargo busi- The maintenance contract proved ness.” Wakabayashi walks through neat rows of alu- invaluable recently when a Maruwn minum building materials stacked in the stor- vehicle broke down on an express way age area. “This elevator can hold up to five in Saga prefecture, approximately 900 tonnes,” he says. “We regularly use it to load kilometers southwest of Tokyo. semiconductor manufacturing equipment that can weigh as much as three tonnes.”

“On this occasion, the truck had an engine malfunction. Whether it concerns UD or another manufacturer, we’re usually looking at about a month to replace an engine. But this time it only took ten days. UD enabled us to shorten any inconvenience to our customer by 20 days. That’s huge!”

“Keeping our trucks in good working condition and being able to have them fixed quickly is at the foundation of our service commitment,” emphasizes Takeru Fujita, head of the general affairs department at the company. Maruwn’s custom-made truck bodies along with Yoshikazu Wakabayashi, Deputy Manager other efforts have successfully shortened of Haneda Keihin Logistics Centre load and unloading times at the customer end. But if the usual truck fails to work, finding a suitable substitute current business,” says Ichihara. “China is a price-driven market with vehicle can cause delays. a myriad of competitors. At this time “Faced with expanding demand the revenue from our China business Outsourcing maintenance “We’ve worked hard on countless at the time, the company received is relatively small,” admits Ichihara, but work to UD Trucks kaizen to cut costs and improve service investment funding from Nippon he is aiming big. “We’re determined to levels. That’s why fast repairs are crucial Mining. Its successor JX Nippon Oil & stick to our quality standards so we are Kameo Metoki is a veteran driver with 29 their truck, they will contact one of years’ experience. His first truck was a 10- Maruwn’s mechanics. to us,” adds Fujita, referring to the Energy Corporation is still our biggest focused on giving thorough training to ton diesel under the Nissan brand, now UD Chief Field Mechanic, Keiji Nosaka, grew Japanese work philosophy of continuous customer.” our drivers in China. By 2018, our target Trucks. “In those days, trucks were much up with a passion for machines and improvement and troubleshooting of the is to increase our China revenue to at slower. My truck would slow down to as motorbikes and a dream of making that low as 30 or 40 kilometers per hour in his job. “I’m now in charge of visiting smallest details. In 1990, Maruwn was listed on the first least 10 per cent of overall revenue. the long uphill grind at Dangozaka on the our truck drivers based in Tokyo and division of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Securing a firm footing in China is one of Chuo express way.” Kanagawa prefecture. I inspect trucks and In the Japanese transport industry, and today the company is consolidating the key priorities of our global strategy.” He now drives a Quon and appreciates discuss with the drivers any overhauls and Maruwn is one of the long-term its business expansion into China. the huge improvements. “Seat cushions repair schedules.” are soft and easy on the body. Although I As more electronic equipment is used, ad- players. Tenryu Transport, one The first subsidiary was established And to achieve their expansion strategy, suffer from backache, it’s really comfort- equate in-house maintenance is becoming of Maruwn’s forerunners, was in Shanghai in 2007, then another in the new generations of this near 125- able driving a Quon. It’s a lot quieter in the more challenging. “We’ve closed our own established in 1892. “Then in 1950, Changzhou, a city in Jiangsu province year old company will continue to focus cabin too. And I feel safer with Traffic Eye repair shop in Kanto and have UD Trucks it merged with a company that 160 kilometers west of Shanghai, and on those “devilish details”, a company Breaks that alert me if I’m getting too close do the work. I’m happy that they are al- Keiji Nosaka, Chief Field Mechanic (above) to another car.” ways reachable - even late at night - and specialized in railway cargo and that finally in Tianjin, the largest port city in philosophy that will guide them in the Kameo Metoki, experienced driver of Maruwn Corp. (below) If drivers experience any problems with that they are reliable.” formed the foundation of Maruwn’s Northern China. coming challenging decades.

22 23 UD Road Support – Whatever happens, we’re by your side.

Wherever you might find yourself in Japan, our dedicated call center staff will stay with you every step of the way until your issue is resolved. Unforeseeable emergencies can happen at any moment. That’s why we’re here around the clock. Our nationwide UD service network and technically trained mechanics ensure that we will rush to your aid and will lead you out of trouble’s way.

* UD Road Support requires prior registration. Please consult with your nearest UD Trucks retailer for more information.

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