MEMBER FEATURE
THE FUTURE CONNECTED DENSO is globally recognised for manufacturing excellence, technological advancements, and environmental responsiveness The company says it is committed to sustainable growth and to the health of the Australian automotive industry as a whole. “DENSO was established in Kariya, Japan in 1949 primarily as a manufacturer of starters, generators, and radiators to the Toyota Motor Co,” DENSO Automotive Systems Australia Manager Aftermarket Sales, Con Stogiannou, said. Today, DENSO has grown from its electrical beginnings into a corporation of 211 group companies in 35 countries and regions and is proud to have a global workforce of over 170,000 employees. From the outset, DENSO identified that its success relied heavily upon the skills of its people, product development, and modern facilities. “Globally, DENSO has built a culture of participation, collaboration, and creative thinking,” Con said. “Locally, this led to the establishment of our stateof-the-art technical training, R&D and Testing Center.” The center has become a hub for sharing knowledge, refining skills, and, most importantly, innovation. “DENSO’s commitment to the Australian automotive industry is most evident in our dedication to local research and development,” Con explained. “Based in Victoria, our testing facility allows our customers to perform extensive product evaluation and prototype vehicle testing in one secure location.”
The facility includes chambers for high/lowtemperature testing, sunlight replication, and a wide range of system diagnostics.
“To meet the growing needs of regional car manufacturers, NipponDENSO Australia was established,” Con said.
“DENSO has always been considered an innovator,” Con said.
“This was DENSO’s first manufacturing plant outside of Japan, and in 1972, we began assembling a range of thermal products expanding to include radiators, condensers, meter clusters, caravan air-conditioning, and a/c tubing.”
“With the growth of our technical prowess came innovation, and in the mid-1950s we began to expand our business fields beyond the production of electrical components. “This allowed us to establish a competitive edge in the ability to develop and deliver seamless systems instead of single products.” The hard work and persistence paid off, and in 1961 DENSO was awarded the Deming Prize for quality control. “This laid the foundations for the concept and our culture of Quality First,” Con explained. New goals came with this newfound confidence, and the company looked beyond its shore, launching its global expansion campaign.
From 1972 through to the end of local vehicle manufacturing in 2017, DENSO says it built a reputation for quality and innovation that was the envy of its competitors. “As a result of the decline of local automotive manufacturing, DENSO Australia’s facility ceased production operations, and in late 2017 we shifted our focus towards the growth of local aftermarket product sales and expanding our Australian-based R&D Engineering capabilities,” Con described. “As DENSO prepares to celebrate its 50th Anniversary here in Australia, it reflects upon a legacy that dates back to the company’s founding principles, to embrace change without fear, to confront and overcome every challenge with a view to the future, and to continue to create new products and technologies.” The automobile industry is undergoing its most significant transformation in a century due to the rapid evolution of technology. In this period of change, DENSO explains that its primary goal is working to meet the future mobility needs of society in four major areas of technology: Electric Vehicles; Advanced Safety/Autonomous Vehicles; Connectivity; and Factory Automation/ Agriculture. The team at DENSO certainly takes a long-term view of the future, which is highlighted by its innovative work in vehicle connectivity. DENSO’s MaaS project is already providing a glimpse of the future trends in-vehicle connectivity.
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Australian Automotive Aftermarket Magazine November 2021
