Work Co., Ltd. is a Japanese high-end wheel manufacturer for both motorsport and street use. They manufacture the "Work Equip" and "Work Meister" range of wheels.[1]
 | |
 Headquarters in Osaka, Japan | |
Native name | 株式会社ワーク |
|---|---|
Romanized name | Kabushiki-gaisha Wāku |
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Motorsport |
| Founded | March 8, 1977 |
| Founder | Takeshi Tanaka |
| Headquarters | Osaka, Japan |
| Products | Alloy wheels |
| Revenue | ¥JPY 95,000,000 (June 2014) |
Number of employees | 160 (June 2014) |
| Website | www.work-wheels.net |
Work Wheels released their first range of wheels in 1977[2] under the name "Work Equip", which continue to be manufactured today under popular demand. Commonly regarded as the leading manufacturer of Single, Two and Three piece forged wheels for automotive use, Work Wheels adopt a "on demand system" in order to produce products under direct request of their customers and corporate customers.[3] Current major corporate customers include Dunlop, Falken, Toyo Tires, Toyota Modellista International Co, FUJI Corporation, Bridgestone, and Ralliart.[2]
Work Wheels is a long-standing member of both the Japan Light-Alloy Wheel Association (JAWA) and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).[2]
The company's founder, Takeshi Tanaka, died in 2015.[1]
Current lines
edit- Equip
- Emotion
- Meister
- VS
- LS
- Emitz
- Zeast
- Gnosis
- Gnosis FMB
- Gnosis AE
- Gnosis GSR
- Gnosis IS
- Gnosis GR
- Gnosis CV
- Schwert
- Lanvec
- Rizaltado
- MCO
- Gran Seeker
- Seeker
- CRAG
- Lead Sled
- Goocars
- XTRAP
- Zistance
- Back Label[4]
Discontinued lines
edit- Arkline
- Astley
- Balmung
- Brombacher
- Durandal
- Euroline
- Nezart
- Pietra
- Promising
- Ryver
- Rezax
- Rusttere
- Script
- Sporbo
- Steez
- Urbanzone
- Varianza
- WIL (Work Import Label)
- XSA[5]
History
editWork Wheels timeline:[6]
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1977 | President Takeshi Tanaka started WORK Co,. Ltd
Company capital JPY 4,000,000 |
| 1979 | Established 3 piece wheel assembly plant.
Increased Company capital to JPY 10,000,000. |
| 1980 | Built current 4-story head office.
Relocated and expanded factory. |
| 1981 | Established paint facility. |
| 1982 | Established delivery center next to assembly plant.
Increased company capital to JPY 18,000,000- |
| 1983 | Established Racing Sec. factory.
Opened branch in Fukuoka, Japan. Opened branch in Kanagawa, Japan. |
| 1984 | Opened branches in Sendai, Japan and Hiroshima, Japan. |
| 1986 | Established assembly and delivery factory in Shiki, Japan. |
| 1987 | Opened automotive division dedicated to selling imported vehicles. |
| 1988 | Established painting line.
Established rim manufacturing factory in Okayama, Japan. |
| 1989 | Opened branch in Nagoya, Japan.
Expanded factory in Okayama, Japan. |
| 1990 | Opened AMP as the Planning and Development Sec. |
| 1991 | Established delivery / storage center in Okayama, Japan. |
| 1992 | Established casting factory in Okayama, Japan.
Opened branch in Takamatsu, Japan. |
| 1993 | Opened branch in Niigata, Japan.
Opened branch in Omiya, Japan. Opened branch in Sapporo, Japan. Opened branch in Kanazana, Japan. |
| 1998 | Established photo studio. |
| 1999 | Established prototype trial line. |
| 2000 | Increased company capital to JPY 18,950,000-.
Established factory in Sakai, Japan for rim manufacturing, assembly and delivery |
| 2001 | Increased company capital to JPY 95,000,000 |
| 2002 | Increased company capital to JPY 137,025,000 |
| 2003 | Acquired the certificate of Quality Management System ISO 9001 |
Notable products
edit- Euroline
- Equip
- Rezax
- Workemotion
- Meister
- CR2P
- VSXX
- VSKF
- S13P
- S1R
- CR Kai
- Autostrada Modena
References
edit- ^ a b Acoba, Paulo (20 August 2015). "Takeshi Tanaka Founder And President Of Work Wheels Passes Away". Art of Gears. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ a b c WORK Wheels - Company Information
- ^ WORK Wheels - Manufacturing
- ^ "PRODUCT｜WORK COMPANY LIMITED". WORK COMPANY LIMITED (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-11-22.
- ^ "PRODUCTION END｜WORK COMPANY LIMITED". WORK COMPANY LIMITED (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-11-23.
- ^ WORK Wheels - History