Lord Corporation Eyes Far East Business Development for MR Fluid Technology Applications
New Tokyo-Based Business Development Manager, Korean Distributor
CARY, N.C., Aug. 27 -- In its drive to develop increasingly widespread industrial applications for its patented Rheonetic(TM) magnetorheological (MR) fluid technology, Lord Corporation has established a significant presence in the Far East with a new business development manager in Japan and a new distributor in Korea.
Shigeru Shutto, a 35-year chemical industry veteran in Japan, recently joined Lord Corporation to lead new business development for MR technology in the Far East. Mr. Shutto's broad experience and deep knowledge of industry development throughout the region is expected to help introduce MR technology to design engineers across a wide range of applications.
"MR fluid technology opens unlimited design engineering possibilities that didn't exist just a few years ago," said Mr. Shutto, a former senior executive with BP Amoco. "It's very exciting for me to bring Lord Corporation together with engineers in Asia to develop new commercial applications of this amazing technology."
Lord Corp. also has signed agreements establishing a new Korean-based distributor for MR dampers for use in vehicle seating applications. Z-TECH, Lord's Korean distributor, plans to promote Lord Corporation's Rheonetic MR technology during a key automotive industry trade and technology show in October. The Gunsan International Auto, Parts and Accessories Show will draw some 600 companies from around the world.
"There is a lot of interest in technology solutions at Korean automobile manufacturers," said Mr. Han. "This is a good time to introduce MR technology to these companies."
The Gunsan site is centrally located near a major automotive industrial technology complex the South Korean government is helping to launch. Major auto company manufacturing sites also are nearby, including GM Daewoo and TATA Daewoo Commercial, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia.
"Through our North American and European reach, we've been successful developing a viable commercial market for this remarkable 'smart' technology," said Lynn Yanyo, manager of global sales and marketing for the Materials Business Unit of Lord Corp., which develops commercial applications for MR technology worldwide. "Now our Lord Far East initiatives are positioned to do the same in Asia, and the potential is enormous."
For more than a decade Lord has focused intensive research and development on making its Rheonetic technology commercially practical and cost effective. Lord Corporation is the only company that manufactures and commercializes magnetorheological (MR) fluids, devices and systems.
The technology has been adopted in high-profile applications in Asia. Japan's National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo features a unique earthquake control system that includes custom-designed MR fluid dampers developed by Lord.
In China, Lord Corporation was recently selected to help develop a structural monitoring system using the company's MR fluid formulations and damper designs for what will become the longest cable-stay bridge in the world. The proposed Sutong Bridge, to be built in China's Jiangsu Province, will span the Yangtze River. Lord developed a similar system two years ago for the Dongting Lake Bridge, in the Hunan Province of China.
In other applications, Lord Corporation has developed fluids, devices and systems for real-time controllable shock absorbers currently offered on Cadillac and Corvette models and future car models. Secondary suspension systems have been developed for Class 8 truck seats and agricultural equipment. Steer-by-wire systems are in industrial vehicles, and Rheonetic systems have been used in factory machinery, household appliances, prosthetic devices, and for remote locking and positioning control.
The technology enables engineers to design a wide range of devices and systems with far greater flexibility than previously possible. The result is improved performance, reduced part count and complexity, lower system cost, smaller package size and less weight.
In addition to commercial development partners, Lord works with university researchers to explore new applications.
Lord Corporation, with headquarters in Cary, NC and sales in excess of $440-MM, is a privately held company that formulates, produces and sells general purpose and specialty adhesives and coatings; designs, manufactures and markets devices and systems to manage mechanical motion and control noise and vibration; and develops products and systems utilizing magnetically responsive technologies. With plants in nine states and facilities in 12 countries, Lord Corporation employs more than 2,200 worldwide.
For Additional Information: Lynn Yanyo Lord Corporation 919-469-2500 x 2129 Lynn_Yanyo@lord.com Dan Headrick Lord Corporation 919-469-2500 x 2138 Dan_Headrick@lord.com