Japan Special: Howa: Equipping the vehicles of tomorrow

Howa Textile has positioned itself at the forefront of innovation for automotive textiles since it was founded in 1955. The company was started by Yasushi Shibuya in Nagoya, with know-how gained from his experience working with material, such as cotton and felt.

Shibuya's strategy of pursuing and applying innovative technologies from the start has made the company one of the leading suppliers of automotive upholstery worldwide today.

From the start, the company employed specially designed machinery specific to Howa's needs. Collaborations with other Japanese engineers and manufacturers in various industrial sectors also led to the production of one-of-a-kind systems. These early partnerships quickly enabled Howa to offer products that no other competitor could produce. Howa has been a pioneer in its field ever since.