Fort Wayne and Takaoka, Japan Mayors Celebrate 45-Year Relationship

FORT WAYNE, IN – Essex Furukawa Magnet Wire welcomed city officials, a delegation from Takaoka, Japan, as well as select guests to its Fort Wayne offices and manufacturing site this week. The group was participating in an economic development tour as part of a sister-city relationship that was established 45 years ago and reconfirmed during the visit.

Representatives were welcomed to the Fort Wayne campus.

Members of all parties attended a joint declaration ceremony where Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry and Takaoka Mayor Yuki Kakuda signed an agreement commemorating the continuation of the partnership. Representatives were then welcomed to the Fort Wayne campus by the North American President of Essex Furukawa, Jared Rowntree.

“We’re honored to be a part of this special visit, representing manufacturing in Fort Wayne,” Rowntree said. “As a global company with facilities in Japan, we know the importance of partnerships like the Sister Cities program, which build communication and understanding between cultures.”

The economic development tour was coordinated by Greater Fort Wayne Inc. to introduce Takaoka representatives to local businesses and show the diverse industries thriving in the region.

John Urbahns, President & CEO of Greater Fort Wayne Inc. explained, “Essex Furukawa’s long history in the Fort Wayne community, as well as their deep ties to Japan, made them the perfect partner for this event.”

The Essex Furukawa team was able to present to the visitors from Takaoka in Japanese, while sharing a history of growth in Indiana that reaches back to the 1930s.

“We’re so proud of our Fort Wayne manufacturing facility and the incredible work of our team here,” shared Director of Marketing, Lindsay Hartman, who helped coordinate the visit. “Community engagement is a key aspect of our corporate culture, and we’re grateful to Mayor Tom Henry & his office, as well as Greater Fort Wayne Inc. for the opportunity to share our community with the delegation from Takaoka.”

About Essex Furukawa

Essex Furukawa Magnet Wire LLC is the leading, global provider of magnet wire that is used by most major OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and industry leaders in the automotive, energy, industrial, and commercial & residential sectors. The Atlanta-based company is a global joint venture formed in 2020 between Essex Magnet Wire and Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., both leaders in magnet wire product development, and custom solutions. The combined entity, relying on the strengths of both Essex Magnet Wire and Furukawa Electric, draws on more than two centuries of combined experience and knowledge to push forward innovation while also remaining focused on delivering manufacturing excellence and outstanding customer service. For more information, visit essexfurukawa.com.