Firefighters tackle blaze at Shimano HQ in Japan (+ link to video)

Firefighters have been tackling a blaze today at Shimano’s headquarters in the Japanese city of Sakai, which lies within Osaka prefecture.

According to a report on Asahi.com, which also has video, the fire broke out in a section of the factory dedicated to anodising parts made by the bicycle components and shipping tackle giant to protect them from corrosion.

Some 20 fire engines were said to have been in attendance, with footage shot from news network helicopters showing firefighters using hoses on the roof of the steel-framed building to try and douse the flames.

Approximately 200 employees were on the premises when the fire broke out, but they were evacuated outside the building with no reported casualties.

Police are investigating the cause of the fire, with initial reports suggesting it may have been caused by an electrical fault.

It’s impossible at this stage to say whether the fire will have any impact on the availability of Shimano products in the UK.

Besides Japan, where the bulk of the company's research and development is carried out, the company has major manufacturing plants nowadays are in China and elsewhere in Asia, including Malaysia and the Philippines. Within Europe, it also has production facilities in the Czech Republic.

Since not all product lines will be manufactured at individual factories it may not be a case of simply increasing capacity elsewhere to minimise disruption, though that does of course depend on which specific ones have been affected by today’s fire.

Nowadays the dominant force in the global cycling components industry, Shimano is due to celebrate its centenary in 2021.

H/T Cycling Industry News