Japanese companies in the UK who have moved their product distribution hub to the EU in anticipation of what is now happening. One in a long thread, just to make a point that *some* companies have been preparing for worst case Brexit for years 1/13

Allegro MicroSystems Europe, semiconductors and ICs, owned by Sanken Denki, now importing into EU via Netherlands rather than UK. Amano Enzyme Europe transferred EU stock to warehouse in EU 2/13

Anritsu EMEA (sales and service of testing and measuring solutions to communications industry) all EU deliveries now go to second transport hub in Netherlands. Audio Technica established European Distribution Centre in Netherlands for Brexit (bit of a theme here) 3/13

Eisai Europe (manufactures pharmaceuticals in Hatfield) transferred centralised marketing authorizations to Frankfurt, established testing and storage facilities in Antwerp. Electric Glass Fiber holding stock in EU for Brexit 4/13

Enplas Europe (semiconductors) acquired warehousing in NL for Brexit. Fujichem Sonneborn opened warehouse in Spain for Brexit. Furukawa Electric Europe shifted warehouse and distribution to Germany. 5/13

Furuno (marine electronics) has bonded warehouse in Rotterdam, stockbuilding, obtained Ireland export license to prepare for Brexit. KIP UK (wide format printing) transferred stock to warehouse in Germany for Brexit. 6/13

Kubota transferred sales & distribution for Nordics & Baltics to Germany in 2018. Lighthouse (signing + labelling machines) set up subsidiary in NL. Margaret Howell clothing (owned by Anglobal) set up additional warehousing + accounting functions on continent for Brexit 7/13

Pentax (endoscopic products) moved Ireland distributorship moved away from UK to European HQ in Germany as Brexit contingency. Sodick Europe (electrical discharge machining) bonded warehouse in NL 8/13

One of the most well known moves - Sony Europe - turned itself into a branch of Sony Europe BV in Netherlands. Already had a warehouse there. Also built state of the art warehouse in Czech Rep in 2017 in 8 months 9/13 https://www.sonydadc.com/news/european-distribution-centre-nyrany-takes-off/

Similarly Panasonic Europe in UK became branch of Panasonic Europe in Germany, where European distribution centre was already. This was upgraded in 2018. 10/13 https://www.connectingindustry.com/ELECTRONICS/panasonic-industry-europe-expands-european-distribution-center-in-pfaffenhofen.aspx

Srixon Sports Europe opened a new distribution centre in NL for Brexit. Sumi Agro Europe will use its branch in Germany for post Brexit trading. Ishida Europe (food/beverageprocessing/packaging machines) opened distribution centre in NL in 2018 11/13

Sometimes the preparations are in the UK - Tomy, Japanese toy company already had a warehouse in Belgium, so took on temporary warehousing in UK for Brexit. 12/13

None of these companies are leaving the UK entirely as yet, but note many of them have "Europe" in their company name, and most are not manufacturing in UK. UK staff will have to fight hard to keep regional HQ status in years to come. 13/13

PS: Has this meant a decline in the numbers employed? Well, the results for 2019/20 not in for all I've covered above, but for those where there are figures, seems to have been an 8% drop on average from 2015/6. Turnover grew to 2018/9 but down 2% 2019/20 on the previous year.

Another one to add to shifts of distribution hubs to Europe - Sharp Electronics UK transferred inventory to Sharp Manufacturing France in July 2016, along with all responsibility for logistics + warehousing, to sell directly across Europe. Transferred parts to Germany.

YKK Europe, regional HQ in the UK, the zipper people, set up a branch in Germany in 2019 "to reduce the unforeseeable negative impact due to Brexit"

TN UK (Tsubaki Nakashima, manufacturer of precision metal, ceramic balls) transferred sales to EU to Poland and Italy operations in 2019-2020.

Takara Belmont, supplier of hairdressing and dental chairs and equipment, which they used to manufacture in the UK from 1974 transferred EU sales to Italy, France and Germany subsidiaries in 2019