Sumitomo Drive Technologies: Driving Virginia Forward
Jim Solomon, President and CEO
World-class leaders in power transmission and control products provide the tech and talent to move the world forward through engineered solutions.
CHESAPEAKE, VA, UNITED STATES, March 3, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- "On any given day, just about every person is impacted by a product that we make,” says Jim Solomon, President and CEO of Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America, the Americas headquarters of the Japanese manufacturing leader Sumitomo Drive Technologies.
It’s a bold claim, but not an overstatement; the Sumitomo fingerprint is on industrial gearboxes, inverters, and other power transmission products in airports, factories, parcel hubs, and agriculture, as just a few examples. But behind those products is an international team strengthened by the etiquette and trust of the over 400-year-old Japanese business.
“My first boss at Sumitomo came from Japan,” says Solomon. “What an incredible mentor. I learned from his patience and the way his interactions were full of grace. He’d take a step back and look closer to find a solution. We do the same today for our coworkers and customers.”
Perhaps the greatest strength of the team is its organic diversity, which reflects the company’s international presence with employees and partners across countries and cultures.
Rather than feeling forced, the diversity is a natural part of the North and South American team collaborating in a company built on trust and integrity, making employees more likely to stay and take pride in their work.
“We’re a competitive team, strengthened by a natural diversity developed over time and a shared desire to make this company the best that it can be,” says Solomon. “We have employees from around the world who approach work with diverse perspectives. The range of talent pays off in the long run.”
Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America’s North and South American operations have been proudly headquartered in Chesapeake, Virginia, since 1988, attracting global talent and resources to build a better Hampton Roads.
“I’ve loved this area since I was a kid visiting on vacation,” says Solomon. “It’s a beautiful place surrounded by history, nature, and a remarkable talent pool. It’s a great place to call home.”
An apprenticeship program created in collaboration with Tidewater Community College is one of the ways Sumitomo supports the community. While enrolled in the program, students become computer numerical control (CNC) machinists working full time as Sumitomo employees. They gain professional experience and work benefits while splitting time between on-campus classrooms and on-site, hands-on equipment training, graduating as fully qualified CNC machinists with a role waiting for them at Sumitomo.
“We have employees engaged with local organizations that support the community and help the area grow by identifying opportunities to move together into the future,” says Solomon, a member of Hampton Roads Executive Roundtable. “Sumitomo is in it for the long run, knowing the stability of the company and community leads to a workforce that will carry us forward through difficult and prosperous times.”
Brion D. Humphrey
Sumitomo Drive Technologies
+1 757-485-3355
email us here
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