This week marks the beginning of the EU Gateway Business Mission to Japan, for which Scanprobe Techniques Ltd fought off over a hundred other companies to be selected with around 40 others to represent our business to the Japanese market.

For EU Gateway | Business Avenues, the Construction & Building Technologies sector covers technologies and materials related to the engineering, the design, the construction, the demolition and demolition waste services, the fitting, the arrangement, the finishing of public and private buildings as well as its renovation or deconstruction/ demolition and infrastructure works (roads, airports, ports, etc.). Recent trends underline the concept of Circular Economy – low carbon materials, greater durability or reusability/ recycling and resource efficiency.  For Scanprobe in particular, being offered such a well structured platform and fantastically arranged audience of prospective businesses to present our company and products (the Maxprobe and the TrapJumper) to was an opportunity not to be missed, and has been a welcome addition to what as already been a tremendously busy 2018 activities calendar.  As this is a very exciting time for our company, we are running a daily diary with our Managing Director Jon and UK Sales Manager Vernon as they embark on this business mission….day one!

Vernon: “Flying out Saturday evening UK time and arriving Sunday afternoon in Tokyo, there was little time to relax once we had arrived at the hotel.  There was a “Welcome & Networking Gathering” in the bar on the 30th floor of the Grand Nikko Hotel Daiba at 6pm which was a great opportunity to meet some of the other companies taking this opportunity to bring their business to Japan.  We were able to meet with the EU Gateway Communications Manager, Piero Zilio who was able to answer our questions ahead of this busy week for us, and we could share our stories and experiences so far with others making the journey across the world.  There are some very interesting people and companies joining us on this business mission, definitely feels like we are in great company here on this EU Gateway Business Mission.”

Jon: “Monday was a very helpful grounding experience I feel.  The morning had everyone in the ‘Ginga’ room where after a quick welcome every company had the opportunity to present an elevator pitch about themselves, and as Vernon said, some very interesting companies among us.  Once the presentations were finished, including a couple of Sector Expert Presentations, the afternoon was spent visiting Kajima Corporation Technical Research Institution (KaTRI for short!) to learn about their research and development methods, and how they themselves are helping to drive businesses and manufacturing techniques forwards.  This was a very interesting trip (and it also meant that I could leave Vernon alone to set up our stand!)  Now we are just about to have some dinner and prepare for the first day of the exhibitions and meetings tomorrow.”

Follow Jon & Vernon’s progress at the EU Gateway Business Mission to Japan tomorrow!