Tuesday August 4, 2020[Special Event]Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun

Conversation

Kengo Kuma, architect, and Atsushi Kinoshita,
President of Asahi Mekki Co., Ltd.

Coloring
Technology andBranding

Discussion between President Kinoshita of Asahi
Mekki (right) and Mr. Kuma

Kinoshita: I am a fan,and have always
thought that I would
like for us to work
together someday. I am
so honored that you
have expressed aninterest in Ororu
Processing technology,
and feel grateful to havethis opportunity.
This technology allows
precise control of thethickness of the coatingon the surface ofstainless steel to prevent corrosion, and uses theinterference of light to produce 20 different colors. We
have strong confidence in this technology, not only because
it provides stronger resistance to corrosion and impact
when compared to stainless steel products with aconventional coating, but also because it can be used by
Kengo Kuma, architects to manufacture products with or without glossy
surfaces, and that are resistant to fingerprints. It can also bearchitectused safely in the food industry.
Kengo Kuma graduated from Kuma: Until now, stainless steel products have had a cold
the Department of Architecture impression. I’ve used stainless steel for several decades,
but I never imagined that adding color would create such aat the University of Tokyo in
1979. After participating as awarm impression. These days, following the end of the 20th
visiting scholar at Columbia
century, people are feeling anxious due to many disasters,
University, he establishedincluding the novel coronavirus. There is a need to alleviate
Kengo Kuma & Associates in
1990, became a professor at the such feelings, even if just a little, through the use ofwarmth and gentleness in architecture.
University of Tokyo in 2009,I look for a sense of friendliness in materials. Even though
and then became aSpecial/Honorary Professor at
this product uses cutting edge technology, it has thethe University of Tokyo infriendliness and warmth of traditional crafts. I think it will2020. He is from Kanagawa
work well with natural wood and stone. It is exactly what
Prefecture, and is currently 65.
we need in this era. What led you to develop thistechnology?

Started with Comments from Clients
Warmth and Strong Corrosion ResistanceKinoshita: It all started from comments we heard from staff members at hospitals andcare facilities that “stainless steel is inorganic and cold.” Since 2013, we have been
trying to change it to warmer colors, and make it more resistant to corrosion andscratches. Originally, in the plating industry we received most of our work fromprocessing companies, usually through subcontracting, so I also wanted to use thisopportunity to make changes in that respect. We had a difficult time developing uniform
colors, but finally in 2016 we succeeded in doubling corrosion resistance and developing
20 colors. We can also support large sizes and complex shapes, and we are on schedule
to start mass production in the spring.
Since this is a unique technology, we want to focus on introducing our products to theworld in the field of surface processing, rather than conventional plating.
Kuma: In architecture, there is also low regard for the word “subcontracting.” In Japan,
I think that small and medium-size businesses, which are responsible for finishing partsand details, have the most advanced products and technologies. Business owners shouldhave more confidence in their work. The more time I spend around the world, the more I
feel the superiority of technology in Japan.
However, people in Japan don’t seem to understand this, and for several decades haveplaced more importance on the price of a product rather than its quality. As a result,work goes to other countries, and Japan’s most wonderful products and technologies are
at risk of disappearing. I think that buyers and architects are also partly responsible forthis.

Message

Shinji Hirai, Governor of Tottori

Congratulations to Asahi Mekki on its new fully operational factory.
With its roots in the founding of Asahi Ringyo in 1948, Asahi
Mekki got its start in 1958, and their employees worked hard
together, based on a strong “Asahi Mekki spirit,” to develop
superior technologies. Now they
have developed a unique, new surface processing technology for adding color tostainless steel, and expanded it into a new service called “Ororu,” which has led to theopening of their new factory.
I would like to express my sincere hope that Asahi Mekki, as a major base for stainlesssteel color processing, will make great contributions to the development of industry inTottori Prefecture.

Confidence in an Industry Leader
The novel coronavirus is having a major impact not only on our daily lives, but also at
manufacturing sites. However, I am confident that, through their reliable technology
and passion to keep moving forward, Asahi Mekki will continue to lead the way in thefuture as they have in the past. I sincerely pray that Asahi Mekki will prosper as acompany, and make great leaps forward through the development of unique, newtechnology at their new factory.

Third-class mail matter
Asahi Mekki Co., Ltd. (Tottori-shi, President: AtsushiKinoshita) has started a business called “Ororu Processing,”
which uses a color development technology to provide
corrosion resistance and about 20 different colors to thesurface of stainless steel. Their new factory is now fully
operational. The high corrosion resistance and vivid colorsof this new technology has grabbed the attention of theworld, and caught the eye of architect Kengo Kuma. Since
Mr. Kinoshita is a fan of Mr. Kuma, this was an opportunity
to hold a unique dialogue between a manufacturer and anarchitect. We asked them to discuss, based on the products
and techniques offered by Asahi Mekki, the types ofmaterials that architects desire, as well as the possibility ofcollaboration between manufacturers and architects.

Changing Images,

Kinoshita: This is also a
Creating New Ideas
problem with business owners.
So, at our company, we are
implementing reforms that
include upgrading ourtechnology and training theemployees who use it, all basedon the motto “no growth
without facing challenges”. We
are moving forward withchanges in our work style inorder to reduce work hours by
11 hours each week, but there isstill more to be done.
As you mentioned a moment ago, thistechnology has been evaluated highly overseas.
Therefore, we created a sales company called“Ororu,” which comes from “aurore,” theFrench word for aurora. We are creating thebrand “Ororu Processing” based on the
Atsushi Kinoshita,
emotional value of color, and are working hardPresident, Asahi Mekki Co., Ltd.
to become a proposal-based company thatbrings new value to the world. Do architects
Atsushi Kinoshita graduated from thesuch as yourself have the opportunity to come
Department of Information Science at
into contact with these kinds of products andShonan Institute of Technology in 1993,and began serving as the secretary to atechnologies during your daily work?
member of the House of Representatives
Kuma: Architects want to use good products andthat same year. He joined Asahi Mekki
technologies. We can’t make good designs
in 2011, was promoted to Managing
without good products. But, due to things such as
Director in 2012, and became Presidentof Ororu in 2018. He is from Tottori
the client’s personal preference and ordering
Prefecture, and is currently 52. Hesystems, we currently don’t have suchbecame President of Asahi Mekki onopportunities very often.
June 1. (1 Nanei-cho, Tottori-shi)
I would love to create an opportunity for exchange
between manufacturers and architects. If architects and designers also understand how
good these products and technologies are, many new ideas and designs will be developed.
It would be interesting to collaborate with manufacturers.
Kinoshita: I would really like to have such an opportunity in the future.
By the way, in what ways do you think you would like to use these products andtechnologies that our company has developed?
Kuma: As I mentioned before, this product has completely changed the image that I hadof stainless steel. I would like to use it in a variety of ways as one type of material in myarchitecture. I think it could work well with wood and stone.
Kinoshita: Thank you. This discussion has helped to clarify our goals for operating ourbusiness and developing our products in the future. We will work hard to use theseproducts and technologies to change the image of stainless steel to one of “warmth,” firstin Japan and then around the world.

Bringing
Processing to the WorldMechanism and Effect of Ororu Processing
Technology

Stainless steel color processing is a technology that uses chemicals to grow the oxide
film that covers the surface of stainless steel and prevents corrosion. This processchanges how light is reflected from the surface, making it appear as if color has beenadded. This technology has existed for some time, but since it was difficult toprecisely control the thickness of the oxide film in units of 1 nanometer (nano meanson billionth of a quantity), variations in color were found when manufacturing large
volumes of product, and therefore commercialization was never achieved.

Controlling the Thickness of Oxide Film,Developing Uniform Colors
Asahi Mekki has succeeded in creating uniform colors through the precise
control of oxide film thickness. They have developed 20 standard colors,with or without a glossy finish, as well as a semi-glossy finish. And, they
have worked hard to standardize both the quality of chemically coloredfilm and their testing methods according to JIS standards.

This technology is used for a wide variety of applications, including building
materials, bodies for precision equipment, automotive parts, and daily products.
Currently, Asahi Mekki is working on the United Nations sustainable development
goals (SDGs), through research in the application of this technology for pressure
vessels for storing the hydrogen that is used as fuel in fuel cells, and for septic tanks
for ballast tanks on ships.