Rubber goods plant stops production at Honda in China

ERJ staff report (DS)

Kunshan, Jiangsu province -- Striking workers clashed with police outside the KOK International plant in Kunshan, Jiangsu. The plant makes rubber products including oil seals. Production stoppages have contributed to the cessation of production at two Honda car plans in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

Local press reports suggested that around 2000 workers at the plant walked out, seeking improved pay and working conditions. Company officials were quoted saying that the workers had later returned and resumed production.

KOK is a Taiwanese-based supplier of rubber goods. The company began life in 1963 as an oil seal manufacturer, founded by Shu Yuan Hsu. Mr Shu designed the oil seals and also the equipment to mould them. Since then, KOK -- which is an abbreviation of the Japanese translation of Hsu family oil seals company -- has diversified into Orings, static seals, vibration control, boots, bellows and general automotive rubber components.

The company has a turnover in the $50 million - 100 million range and employs over 3000 people worldwide.

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www.kokinternational.com

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