Working at Nagatsu

Nagatsu Makes Molds

Nagatsu designs and manufactures molds, the metal tools used to make plastic products.

A mold is a metal form into which molten plastic is injected, so that many parts of exactly the same shape can be made. Think of it like a waffle iron or a cookie cutter.

Molds made by Nagatsu are used to produce parts found all around us, such as optical parts like camera lenses, automotive parts and parts for medical devices.

The accuracy required is measured in units of 1 µm (one thousandth of a millimeter). Since our founding in 1950, we have devoted ourselves to this level of precision.

Founded1950
Employees80
Annual holidays120 days
Production sites5 in 3 countries

How a Mold Is Made: Six Jobs

01
Technical Sales
The point of contact for customers
You meet with customers and take orders for molds. Our main customers are manufacturers of optical equipment, medical devices and automotive equipment. The job also includes preparing quotations, handling requests for mold repairs and modifications, and exhibiting at trade shows.

Location: Head Office Factory & Sales Office (Kawasaki)
02
Mold Design
Deciding the shape and structure of the mold
Based on the customer’s product drawings, you work out the shape and structure of the mold in 3D CAD. You also use computer simulation to check how the plastic will flow, and design molds that are easy to mold with.

Location: Head Office Factory & Sales Office (Kawasaki) / Niigata Factory (Mitsuke)
- Interview: 渡邊善朗（Design Group）
- Interview: 渋木靖之（Niigata Factory, CAD/CAM Group）
03
Machining
Cutting metal into mold parts
You create machining programs from the design drawings and cut metal on machining centers (computer-controlled machine tools) and EDM machines (machines that melt metal away bit by bit with electric sparks) to make the parts of the mold.

Location: Head Office Factory & Sales Office (Kawasaki) / Niigata Factory (Mitsuke)
04
Assembly & Adjustment
Assembling the parts into a finished mold
You put together dozens of machined parts to complete a single mold. The work calls for great care: polishing parts by hand and adjusting the tiniest misalignments. You also repair and maintain molds.

Location: Head Office Factory & Sales Office (Kawasaki) / Niigata Factory (Mitsuke)
- Interview: 板倉光洋（Manufacturing Group 2）
05
Injection Molding
Making trial parts with the mold
You mount the finished mold on a molding machine and actually make plastic parts as a trial. You check for warpage, burrs (thin plastic that squeezes out of gaps in the mold) and other defects, and work out solutions when there is a problem. Small production runs are also part of the job.

Location: Head Office Factory & Sales Office (Kawasaki)
- Interview: 西村勇（Quality Assurance (Molding) Group）
06
Quality Assurance
Measuring the finished parts
You measure the dimensions of trial parts on dedicated machines such as coordinate measuring machines. This is the final step, confirming that the parts meet the dimensions and quality the customer requires.

Location: Head Office Factory & Sales Office (Kawasaki)

Working Environment

Starting salary (Head Office Factory & Sales Office): High school　JPY 210,000
Junior college / vocational school　JPY 220,000
College of technology (kosen)　JPY 230,000
University　JPY 240,000
Graduate school　JPY 255,000
Starting salary (Niigata Factory): High school　JPY 190,000
Junior college / vocational school　JPY 200,000
College of technology (kosen)　JPY 210,000
University　JPY 220,000
Graduate school　JPY 235,000
Working hours: 8:00–16:45 (45-minute break)
Holidays: 120 days per year. Two days off per week (Sundays, plus Saturdays and national holidays set in the company calendar)
Leave: Year-end and New Year holidays, summer holidays, paid annual leave (10 days in the first year), special leave, childcare and family care leave, etc.
Allowances: Commuting (paid in full), family allowance, certified-skills allowance, overtime pay, etc.
Bonuses: Twice a year (June and December)
Training: New employee training, in-house study sessions (the “Wednesday Meeting”), and encouragement to take national skills tests (test fees fully covered)
Benefits: Retirement allowance (after 3 years of service), annual health checkup, full social insurance, uniforms provided
Dress code: Casual clothes for commuting. Hairstyles, beards and piercings are up to you (uniforms provided)