About Hirata

Hirata’s Competitive Advantage

Engineering Capabilities, Manufacturing
Capabilities, and Support Capabilities
Hirata possesses engineering capabilities and manufacturing capabilities cultivated by responding to various
customer requests. The strengths of the Group are createdby the synergies of these two capabilities. We conduct concurrent engineering that leads to new ideas and efficiency
improvement by having employees responsible for engineering and manufacturing functions share informationand collaborate at a high level.
Because Hirata supports manufacturing sites around theworld, we utilize the technology and know-how we haveaccumulated over the years to work on operation support, maintenance, and product updates. In this way, we
have grown and expanded our business by grasping andresponding to the changing needs of the times around theworld.

Development/Proposal

Engineering capabilities

iveness to chan
pons
geRes

Maintenance/Service
DesignSupportcapabilities

From the development stage and conceptual stage, maintaining a customer-oriented mindset is indispensable. Our
experienced engineers, who have cultivated their uniqueproposal and design skills for each job, give shape to andrealize customer needs.
The experiential knowledge of our engineers is accumulated in our organization. We can provide high-level
solutions by actively incorporating the latest tools into thisknowledge.

Engineering
capabilities

il iyt

toesAb

Production
start-upts

Manufacturing
capabilities
make

pro

p o sal s

to reusaliz e cto meeqrruComponent
manufacturing

Assembly, inspection,and testing

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Support capabilities

Manufacturing capabilities

In supporting production sites, there are various practical issues, including labor practices, customs, and safetystandards in each region. We face these issues in earnest
and continue to provide optimal production systems andimprove them every day based on experience and knowhow. In addition, our global network, which includes nine
overseas bases, provides reliable support for our customers.

Our manufacturing capabilities can be said to be manufacturing capabilities that reinforce our engineering capabilities. The integrated production that achieves both quality
and speed through a sense of unity, which can be describedas manufacturing versed in production sites and designversed in manufacturing, produces the greatest effect andleads to our competitive advantage. We are also actively
working to improve the efficiency of our own production
processes and to increase added value.

Hirata Integrated Report 2023

Hirata Integrated Report 2023

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About Hirata

Hirata’s Competitive Advantage

Demonstrating Our Three Capabilities in the Value Chain

Hirata’s Competitive Advantage Is Being Demonstrated in Each Business Field.

Hirata has an integrated production system that includes development and proposal and design, component
manufacturing, assembly and verification, production start-up, and maintenance and service. In this system, wework closely with customers from conceptual design to verification and maintenance to realize production systems with low total cost and high production efficiency. By sincerely addressing the needs of our customers andpursuing technical innnovation, we respond to needs that change with the times.

Hirata demonstrates its strengths in production systems in a wide range of fields, including automotive, semiconductor, medical and chemical equipment, and home electronics-related equipment.

Automotive-related Business
1. Wide-ranging lineup of EV equipment

Development/Proposal and Design

Engineering
capabilities

We respond to the needs of our customers by making use of our track record in production
system design in a wide range of fields. By engaging engineers from the inquiry stage, we canclear up issues that would normally be present in design, part manufacturing, and assemblyand verification, leading to efficient proposals. Through the active use of simulations, we canmaterialize requests at the conceptual design stage and ask customers to confirm the details.

Supportcapabilities

Component Manufacturing
Since our development, design, and manufacturing departments are located at the samelocation, the employees of these departments can cooperate together closely. This allows us
to offer more sophisticated proposals while reducing waste and rework. We have a full rangeof machine tools and manufacturing facilities, enabling us to manufacture parts in-house. Thisability allows us to maintain a high level of quality and realize stable part supply.

Assembly, Inspection, and Testing/Production Start-Up
We have a large assembly and trial run space and clean room, allowing us to assemble andverify even large production systems at our own plants. This enables us to conduct efficienttesting and commissioning adjustments prior to on-site installation, ensuring quick delivery.
Our digital utilization at manufacturing sites and remote observation and maintenance havebeen very well received by our customers.

Maintenance/Service
Having three Group companies in Japan and nine Group companies overseas allows us tosupport operation training, maintenance, and upgrades tailored to sites in various countries.
The knowledge that we gain by providing maintenance and service and through ­customer
feedback is utilized for subsequent development efforts and proposals.

Manufacturing
capabilities

We are able to develop new products that our customers
demand with technology that extends our existing broad
product lineup, contributing to the enhancement of ourpresence.
We are able to handle a wide range of processes, from
IGBT, inverter, EDU, EV motor, and LiB to battery moduleand pack-related processes. Although some processes areprone to price competition, we create added value by covering IGBT and LiB charging and discharging.

2. Robots and transport systems/equipment aremanufactured in-house
We have expanded the range of proposal targets and offer
comprehensive proposals for the transport section of theline that meet the customer’s requirements, differentiating
us from our competitors.

3.	Electrification of equipment through ourEco Electric Series and motor development
This allows us to promote the environmental friendliness of
our customers’ manufacturing facilities.

4. Trusting relationships with Japanese autoparts manufacturers
Detailed communication between Hirata and Japanese autoparts manufacturer allows us to create prototypes of newproducts.

5. Global network consisting of nine companiesoverseas
Having a global network allows us to support the global
expansion of our customers.

Engineering
capabilities
Manufacturing
capabilities

Semiconductor-related Equipment Business1. Trustful relationships with customers

Engineering
capabilities
Supportcapabilities

Through continuous communication, we gain an understanding of the needs and issues of our customers, allowing
us to make appropriate proposals.

3. Global network consisting of nine companies
overseas
Having a global network allows us to support the global
expansion of our customers.

2. Wide-ranging lineup of related equipment
We accept bulk orders for transfer robots, load ports, openers, etc., increasing customer convenience.

Other Automatic Labor-saving Business
Hirata’s Production System Evolves in Response to the Changing Times 
Since our founding, we have developed production equipment and systems that meet the needs of the times by fulfilling theneeds of our customers at a high level and have enhanced our technological capabilities and ability to make proposals.
The following are examples of Hirata’s production facilities and systems that have evolved along with changes in manufacturing.

16Powertrains/transmissions for internal combustion engines

EV (electric vehicle) EDUs
(electric drive units)/batteries

Developed assembly lines

Developed assembly lines

Cathode-ray tube (CRT) televisions

FPD

Developed assembly lines

Developed assembly lines
and transfer robots

Hirata Integrated Report 2023

OLED televisions andsmartphones
Developed panel vacuum
deposition equipment(serving as the core ofproduction systems)

Medical and scientific equipment

Industrial robots

In the market for automated equipment for medical applications, it is close to being an oligopoly market since we havefew competitors in Japan. In addition, we are very different
in that we can propose production systems that include
robots. We provide after-sales services such as maintenanceservices offered through Hirata Field Engineering Co., Ltd.

While there are many other companies specializingin ­robotics, we can propose incorporating robots into
­production systems.

How We Will Further Enhance Our Strengths in the Future As society keeps changing rapidly, it is expected that the Company will play an increasingly important role in advancing customer requests and realizing a sustainable society. We will further enhance our engineering capabilities,
manufacturing capabilities, and support capabilities to meet the expectations of society and enhance our competitiveness. Under the Medium-Term Management Plan (FY2022–FY2024), we will aim to further grow our businessand strengthen our competitiveness by expanding our business in growth businesses, improving customer value
through the use of digital technologies, and strengthening our structure as a global company.

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