Incorporating two of Japan's strongest qualities - a meticulous eye for aesthetics and a persistent passion for technology - Ya-Man is ramping up its beauty and health product line to enhance Asia's personal care industry. The company combines its 35 years of experience in supplying professional beauty devices with its expert knowledge of cosmetics, bringing advanced electronic beauty equipment and professional health care products to Asian homes. Starting as a professional device manufacturer and supplier to beauty salons in the 1970s, Ya-Man refashioned its business when home-use devices were introduced to the Japanese market in early 2000. It created personal beauty appliances and patented the fundamental body-fat measurement technologies found in many modern devices today. "We have been working with beauty salons for a long time," says Kimiyo Yamazaki, president. "Our knowledge of cosmetics and aesthetics is complemented by our technological expertise. We know what customers look for." Ya-Man's specialist industry status is a result of its highly skilled in-house research and development group, composed of three teams. Electronic engineers build internal components, design engineers create external hardware, and software engineers focus on operability. These teams work with medical practitioners to apply the latest technologies used in facial treatments and cosmetic goods. Its latest product, Platinum White RF, uses radio frequency technology to offer various facial treatment modes such as cleansing, moisturising and firming. Customers can test the device at Ya-Man's booth inside Beauty Avenue and at major electronic stores in Hong Kong, where it was launched in April. "Most women use some kind of lotion, gel or cream as a cosmetic, but they rarely complement it with a device to help the creams penetrate the skin," Yamazaki says. "Our goal is to see our devices become a standard in people's daily skin-care activity." Supported by a distribution partnership with Jebsen in Hong Kong, Ya-Man seeks more collaborations to create and bring revolutionary beauty products to markets in Southeast Asia. Ya-Man www.ya-man.com