Key elements of Japanese manufacturing and transport infrastructure have been temporarily halted as the nation tackles widespread devastation and tries to avert a potential nuclear disaster at one of its reactor facilities.
 
The damage to the country’s infrastructure has also threatened to disrupt manufacturing production in the country, with companies including print kit manufacturers hit by the events.

BS Kampani, president and managing director at Toyo Ink India, who was in Tokyo at the time the earthquake struck, said: "The Toyo plants are safe. Just that the power supply is a bit staggered, which may result in delay or disruption in production. Even though the raw material for production of Toyo ink in India comes from Japan, the company in India is well buffered for inventory."
 
Mimaki HQ has confirmed the safety of its colleagues and their families as well as the factories and offices around Japan including Sendai sales office in the Tohoku area.

Padmakar Ojale, country general manager at Fujifilm India, said: "The Fujifilm manufacturing plant and warehouse is safe. There has been no damage reported due to the earthquake. We don't expect any problem in the supplies to India."
 
Komori has two factories in Japan, and they have suffered minor damage, but this is nothing serious considering the magnitude of what we are seeing being reported. Normal operations are intended to start again next week.
 
Ajay Agarwal, director of Insight Communications who are the Indian distributors for Komori, said: "Komori has two factories in Japan and all the employees are safe. The factories are earthquake resistant hence there was no damage. Operation of the firm has already started and is running smooth. The segment that has suffered is the logistics both inland and overseas, but this should be under control by next week."
 
B S Satish director of sales at Indo European Machinery which represents Ryobi in India, said: "Ryobi has two facilities in Japan. The factory near Hiroshima wasn't affected and the damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami is limited in Tokyo. The firm and the related companies along with their families are safe."
 
Karthik Iyer, director at Proteck Machinery which represents Mitsubishi and Screen in India, said: "All employees and relatives in Screen’s Kanto East facility are safe. Also all production procurement is under control and currently there is no impact on future shipments."  

An official press release from Epson said no employee casualties had been reported, but he added that the company had been affected. He said: "At present, it is unclear as to the exact effect that these events will have on Epson's operations, but every effort is being made to ensure that it is minimised."
 
Nippon Paper Group said in a statement its Ishinomaki mill operation had stopped, along with its Iwanuma mill, its Akita mill and its Nakoso mill. A few machines were also stopped at its Fuji mill.

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