Research and Development

Muroran Research Laboratory

Research and development activities were almost

Hiroshima Research Laboratory

Yokohama Research Laboratory

Basic Research and Development Policy

entirely funded by the Company during fiscal 2016. Combined spending on research and development for theWe develop new products and businesses by focusing on

Steel and Energy Products Business and the Industrial

new energy and energy savings, information and tele-Machinery Products Business amounted to ¥4,237 mil-communications, nanotechnology and materials, andlion (US$37 million).

new production technologies, which relate directly toSeeking to become a “Top Global & Niche Corporateexisting businesses. We have increased collaboration

Group”, we strive to develop new products and produc-

between the Research and Development Headquarters

tion techniques using our proprietary technologies. Toand business divisions, and aim to cultivate existing busi-

bring these products and techniques to market as soonness by expanding and upgrading core technologies.

as possible, we actively promote multidisciplinary andtechnological tie-ups and joint development.

We engage in basic research for future technologies
and contemporary social needs and in researching

Our Research and Development Headquarters collab-component technologies for existing products. We willorates with business divisions and Group companies tobuild on these efforts to undertake R&D projects that

1) improve the capabilities, performance, and reliability

create new products and businesses and pursue inno-of core products; 2) develop offerings in new businessvations for existing products.

fields based on core and differentiated technologies; andIn Steel Products, we emphasize advances in energy3) promote the development and commercialization ofand creating even more industry-leading offerings

new products through synergies with Group companies.

while commercializing new areas. The focuses in

The Research and Development Headquarters con-Machinery Products are to enhance plastics machinery,sist of the head office, and our research laboratories in

IT equipment, and other industrial machinery. We will

Muroran, Hiroshima, and Yokohama.

allocate significant resources to such machinery by clarifying that our commercialization framework is open tomergers, acquisitions and alliances.

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R e s e a rc h a n d D e ve l o p m e n t

Activities by Business Segment
Steel and Energy Products BusinessIndustrial Machinery Products Business

Product development centers on materials, notably for

In machine-related product development, we are work-

clad steel pipes for natural gas transportation, large

ing to develop advanced processing technology forsteel castings, and forgings and high alloys for high-effi-

plastic molding machines; enhance the performance ofciency thermal power generation, forged steel products

plastic extruders and film molding equipment; enhance

for advanced nuclear power plants, and high-perfor-

the performance and lower the cost of magnesium

mance nonferrous alloys, as well as manufacturing pro-injection molding equipment and compressors; andcess technology development. We improve materials

develop manufacturing equipment for fiber-reinforced

and component technologies for existing products. In

plastic composite components. We are also incorporat-

the renewable arena, we develop material and compo-

ing advanced technologies and systems to develop

nent technologies to create lighter and more reliable

laser annealing equipment for thin-film transistor liquidpressure accumulators for hydrogen fueling stations.

crystal display (TFT LCD) production, as well as otherWe create analytical technologies and enhance compo-

laser application equipment and chemical vapor depo-

nent technologies to improve the reliability of windsition (CVD) and plasma application equipment.

power plants.
Segment R&D spending totaled ¥1,274 million

R&D spending in this segment was ¥2,963 million(US$26 million) in fiscal 2016.

(US$11 million) in fiscal 2016.

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