TOKYO -- Bandai Namco Holdings will expand its plastic-model plant in the city of Shizuoka, southwest of Tokyo, aiming to raise its production capacity by 40% by the fall of 2020 for characters and accessories that are part of the "Mobile Suit Gundam" sci-fi robot anime series.
Gundam plastic models, called "Gunpla" by enthusiasts, are increasingly popular in Asia, with shipment volume rising 150% from a decade ago to 15.73 million units in fiscal 2018 ended March this year.
