History

Monohakobi Technology Institute (MTI) was established April 1, 2004, after an expansive reorganization of NYK Logistics Technology Institute, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK). Since then, MTI has aspired to create its own business opportunities focusing on (1) research and development of Environmental Conservation and Energy-Saving Technology and Ship-Operating Technology, (2) consultation on quality transport services and human resources development, and (3) RFID Logistics Solutions. MTI aims to become a leader in these business fields.

MTI grew out of the Technical Development Center established in December 1986 as a division of NYK. Upon its opening, the center absorbed the Marine Division's Oil and Coal Efficiency Laboratory, and in March 1992 integrated the Cold Transportation Laboratory to become the core of NYK's R&D activities. But this core had its research facilities scattered in three locations. To overcome this inconvenience, the facilities were consolidated into a single site in June 1995 under the new name of Logistics Technology Institute (NYK LTI) in Shinsugita, Isogo-ku, Yokohama.

After the spin-off, NYK LTI further strengthened its commitment to research, but in February 2001 moved its head office to the Yusen Building in Marunouchi (central Tokyo) to maintain closer contact with customers. The laboratory and its large vibration-testing stand were left in Yokohama as the Shinsugita Laboratory. That September, the oil-analysis operations were transferred to Nippon Yuka Kogyo Co. Ltd. to enable the institute to concentrate on logistics technology.

NYK LTI was reorganized as MTI in April 2004 in response to the increasing need to secure and train people who could meet the global business needs of the rapidly and diversely developing NYK Group. The reorganization was further spurred by the need for a more unified organizational setup for technological research and development.

Chronology