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With the passage of time,
the warehousing industry has grown beyond the simple functions of
providing storage and transport services, and it is now expected to
underpin the operation of the global market economy with reliable
transborder distribution systems. Sumitomo Warehouse is no exception.
It has established an international intermodal transport service by
connecting its approximately 40 locations of owned warehouses in Japan
and 20 bases in the world by means of speedy optimum transport network
via ocean and air. Meeting the demands of the market, it also provides
a total support system, encompassing all aspects of physical distribution,
such as delivery, inventory management, and sorting. The company has
also diversified into real estate development, including office and
other commercial buildings, resulting into contribution to urban development.
Through distribution services, Sumitomo Warehouse has kept step with
a transition of Japanese industry. This business, full of potentiality,
got its start from making more efficient use of small earthen storehouse
in the premises, which the House of Sumitomo turned into a treasure
chest to create a new business. Now Sumitomo Warehouse’s global
network looks set to continue growing in step with the ever-increasing
international flow of goods for the benefit of humanity.
Preparation of this article was overseen and photos provided by
the Sumitomo Shi-ryo-kan and Sumitomo Warehouse.
CORPORATE DATA As of March 31, 2003
| FOUNDED |
1899 |
| INCORPORATED |
1923 |
| PAID-IN CAPITAL |
 9,452 million |
| NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES |
1,827(consolidated), 762(parent) |
HISTORIC MILESTONES
| 1899 |
Sumitomo Warehouse born as a sole proprietorship |
| 1923 |
Incorporated as The Sumitomo Warehouse Co., Ltd. |
| 1950 |
Listed on the Tokyo and Osaka stock exchanges |
| 1968 |
Entered the container terminal business at Kobe and Tokyo, subsequently expanding container terminal services at main ports in Japan. |
| 1972 |
Established a representative office in San Francisco, subsequently expanding its overseas operation. |
| 1974 |
Launched real estate leasing business in Osaka |
| 1982 |
Established Sumitomo Warehouse (Europe) Gmbh, a wholly-owned subsidiary in Germany |
| 1985 |
Established Sumitomo Warehouse (U.S.A.),Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary; Acquired airfreight agent license from the International Air Transport Association |
| 1988 |
Established Sumitomo Warehouse (Singapore) Pte.Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary |
| 1992 |
Launched international airfreight consolidation after licensed by the Government of Japan. |
| 1993 |
Established Sumitomo Warehouse (Hong Kong) Ltd. and Sumitomo Warehouse (Shanghai) Ltd., both wholly-owned subsidiaries |
| 1998 |
Buillt a warehouse in Kobe combined with cold storage function to start handling temperature-sensitive cargo. |
| 1999 |
Acquired ISO 9002 for airfreight operations, then ISO 9001 in 2002 |
| 2003 |
Established Shanghai Sumiso International Logistics Co., Ltd., the first majority Japanese-owned forwarding company in Shanghai, China; established Sumiso International Logistics (Qingdao) Co., Ltd. to starts constructing a general distribution center |
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Harbor transportation
The operating expertise to efficiently process an enourmous number of containers is now a key factor to evaluate a trading port. Sumitomo Warehouse supports international maritime shipping with a complete package of services in port logistics and relative acutivities in relation to import and export shipments. |
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Fully automated warehouse system
Through the construction of the systems that connect computers and cargo handling equipments such as its fully automated warehouse system and that utilize bar-coding and handheld data terminals Sumitomo Warehouse facilitates efficient cargo handling and distribution. |
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