What is the relation between mobile phones and cosmetics? The question seems almost incongruous as both industries seem to concern completely different businesses. Yet these are the two core activities of the Yoshida group, the Japanese specialist in the moulding and decoration of plastic parts with high added value. "Apart from the fact that, in both cases, we transform plastic, I think the link lies in the importance given to details in the finishing of products and in the continuous innovation that these two markets require" explained Taro Kakizaki sole agent for Yoshida in Europe.

Technological innovations

Since the creation in 1946, of the Yoshida Seisakusyo company who was at the start a manufacturer of plastic caps, the Yoshida group has been behind several major technical developments in the injection and decoration of plastic parts.

In 1979, Yoshida is for example the first company to manufacture plastic make-up case with the actual modern type push-button. Quite a revolution for women at the time, who could finally open their cases only using one hand.

The same year, the group develops a decoration technique that will revolutionize the world of plastics. By laying special inks on an adapted film the decoration of plastic parts can be done during the moulding process - hence the name in-mould decoration. This technique will ensure the reputation of the group outside its frontiers. "Hundreds of millions of pieces were sold worldwide, thanks to this unique know-how, up until the 1990s," recounts Kakizaki. To serve the European market, the company created a joint venture, the TYM company (Techpack Yoshida Manufacturing) with Lir-Techpack.
Prior the creation of this venture, technological know how transfer was already made starting the 80’s.

In the following years, the Yoshida group also made the headlines several times, in particular with the development of multi-chamber flexible tubes, airtight compacts, compacts with a side opening. Even the knowledge developed in the world of mobile telephony benefited to the cosmetics industry, with for example the adaptation of mobiles closure systems to make-up cases.

The PlaGlass process

Always with innovation and perfection in mind, the Yoshida group was one of the first converters to industrially manage to over-mould a hollow component using Surlyn with strong variations in thickness. This method allows for the creation of particularly striking aesthetic effects and enables to go a step further in the substitution of glass by Surlyn, hence the name given by Yoshida to this material, PlaGlass.

A technique which has enabled Yoshida to develop, in partnership with the Japanese subsidiary of Dupont, the producer of Surlyn, a double thick wall jar. "This technique allows us to offer new solutions in the area of skincare, but also fragrances," emphasised Kakizaki.

International development

Yoshida owns six production sites, four in Japan, one in Tianjin, near Beijing, and one in Taiwan, as part of a partnership. The group which employs approximately 1,100 people, is still very much focused on its domestic market, which represents 70% of its turnover. However, to the image of Japanese cosmetics giants, its main customers, Yoshida is seeking to increase its global reach by targeting mainly the most advanced markets. The group has two sales offices abroad, one in New York and the other one in Issy-Les-Moulineaux, near Paris. [1]

"We mostly work on niche markets requiring high added value products and with a lot of innovation," confirmed Kakizaki. "What our customers expect from us is superlative quality and innovation."

With the exception of lipstick, Yoshida is present in all segments of cosmetics. But today, the group is mostly known outside Japan for its make-up cases and especially for its airtight cases. Yoshida also has a significant expertise in eco-refills, an area of growing interest for the luxury sector.