AUBURN HILLS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--When the Operations and Health and Safety management teams of Teijin Automotive Technologies gathered in San Antonio, Texas, earlier this month, operational improvement was not the only focus of the gathering. The team also worked together to create wheel spoke guards to be fitted to wheelchairs that would be donated to individuals around the world.
During this collaborative, team-building project, more than 50 Teijin Automotive employees broke into teams to learn more about the wheelchair recipients and the organization providing the chairs – The Walkabout Foundation. Presented as case studies, the teams learned about past recipients and their individual needs and had to answer specific questions to earn the right to decorate the wheel spoke guards. When completed, each team gave a presentation about why they chose to decorate the cover as they did.
“As we were planning our first post-COVID in-person gathering, we wanted to be sure we had team building elements included on the agenda,” explained Dina Graham, vice president, Environmental Legal Affairs, Health, Safety and Sustainability. “But even more than that, we wanted to do something that enabled us to be a good corporate citizen, and to give back to those in need. This project was a great cross-section of both.”
The colorfully decorated wheel spoke guards are donated to The Walkabout Foundation, a UK -and US-registered charity with the mission of restoring dignity, freedom and independence by providing wheelchairs and rehabilitation to individuals in the developing world. Since its founding in 2009, the foundation has donated nearly 24,000 wheelchairs to individuals who otherwise could not afford one.
The donated wheel spoke guards are not only an important safety feature – ensuring that the users’ fingers don’t get pinched in the wheels – they are also a bright, decorative touch that reduces the fear and stigma that a wheelchair can produce for the recipient.
“Mobility in all forms is important to us, including that which is provided via wheelchairs for people who need them,” said Teijin Automotive Technologies CEO Chris Twining. “This activity enabled us to provide much needed safety items to wheelchair users, while at the same time building camaraderie and really showcasing the creativity of our team.”
About Teijin Automotive Technologies
Teijin Automotive Technologies specializes in the development and production of advanced composite components – including carbon and glass fiber – for the global automotive and transportation industries and is an integral part of the Teijin Group of companies. The company is a worldwide leader in composite formulations with a focus on providing automakers with lightweight, durable products that enable design and packaging flexibility. Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., USA, Teijin Automotive Technologies has 29 operations in 8 countries and employs more than 5,000 people. For more information, visit teijinautomotive.com.
About the Teijin Group
Teijin (TSE: 3401) is a technology-driven global group offering advanced solutions in the fields of environmental value; safety, security and disaster mitigation; and demographic change and increased health consciousness. Originally established as Japan's first rayon manufacturer in 1918, Teijin has evolved into a unique enterprise encompassing three core business domains: high-performance materials including aramid, carbon fibers and composites, and also resin and plastic processing, films, polyester fibers and products converting; healthcare including pharmaceuticals and home healthcare equipment for bone/joint, respiratory and cardiovascular/metabolic diseases, nursing care and pre-symptomatic healthcare; and IT including B2B solutions for medical, corporate and public systems as well as packaged software and B2C online services for digital entertainment. Deeply committed to its stakeholders, as expressed in the brand statement “Human Chemistry, Human Solutions,” Teijin aims to be a company that supports the society of the future. The group comprises some 170 companies and employs some 20,000 people across 20 countries worldwide. Teijin posted consolidated sales of JPY 926.1 billion (USD 7.2 billion) and total assets of JPY 1,207.6 billion (USD 9.4 billion) in the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2022.
