6. Machine Element Sector

6. Machine Element Sector
6.1

Dies

6.1.1. Supply and demand trend(1) Outline

The domestic production of dies in 2006 was ¥487.96 billion or an increase of 11.1% over theprevious year. This is due to an expanded production of large-sized, precise and complex dies suchas dies for die-casting and for pressing purposes. The output of small-sized and simple dies, such asdies for glasswork, was lower as compared with that in 2005. In addition to the growth in larger dies,such other tendencies as “increased prices” and “falling production” were continued in 2006.
The export of dies was ¥381.6 billion or down 9.4% from 2005. The ratio of export toChina/Hong Kong rose in 2006. The import of dies grew by 10.4% y/y to ¥86.15 billion; behind thisis increased import from China/Hong Kong.
(2) Production

The production of dies (at the manufacturers with 20 workers or more) in 2006 was ¥487.96
billion or an increase of ¥48.7 billion over the previous year. Since 2003, the domestic die output has
grown for three consecutive years and approached the ¥500.0 billion mark (See Fig. 6-1). The
domestic production in 2006 rose by 18.4% as compared with that in 2003. As shown in Figure 6-3,
all types of dies, excluding those for rubber molding/glasswork, recorded considerable increase overthe previous year.
The production of dies for die casting showed especially high growth of 37.0% over 2005. Thatof dies for casting, forging, pressing and plastic molding also tended to increase at a steady rate of
10% or so.
The production figures in 2006 show that dies for pressing and plastic molding combined
accounted for about 80% of the total output (dies for pressing, 39.1%; dies for plastic molding,
37.3%). Therefore, description below about the trend of the die industry is centered on dies forpressing and plastic molding.
Figure 6-2 indicates that the quantity of all types of dies produced in 2006 fell as in the past
several years. Moreover, this downward trend is observed for dies for pressing and those for plastic
molding, too. The quantity of output of all dies dropped from 833,468 sets in 2005 to 813,276 sets in2006. That of dies for pressing fell from 178,311 sets in 2005 to 170,325 sets in 2006. In addition,that of dies for plastic molding decreased from 54,213 sets in 2005 to 53,685 sets in 2006. The
production quantity of dies for plastic molding in 2006 was less than a half that in 2002. Thesefigures show that the quantity of all dies, dies for pressing and dies for plastic molding has long been
in a falling trend. If this tendency continues, the production quantity of dies in 2007 will be less than
800,000 pieces.

1156. Machine Element Sector

Fig. 6-1

Production of dies (at the manufacturers with 20 or more workers)
Production( 億円million))
生産金額(¥100

Production(04=100)
index (2004=100)
生産指数

6,000

140

118.4

5,000

95

106.6

100

93.2

120
100

4,000

80
3,000
2,000

3,916.2

4,122.6

3,840.960

4,879.6

4,392.7

40

1,000

20
0

0
2002

Source:2003

2004
Calendar year

2005

2006

Based on the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, “Annual Report of Machinery Statistics.”

Fig. 6-2

Trend of production quantity (in set) of diesAll
dies (set)( 組)
金型全体

( 組)
Dies for pressing
プレス用

Dies
for plastic ( 組)
プラスチック用
molding (set)(set)

1,200,000

250,000
201,349

199,582

191,064

1,000,000

178,311

170,325

200,000

800,000

150,000

115,753
600,000
74,75464,556400,000

54,21353,685100,000
50,000200,000
981,514919,667

853,101

833,468

813,276

2002

2003

2004
Calendar year

2005

2006

0

Source:0Same as that for Fig. 6-1.

Fig. 6-3

Production of dies by product category(Calendar year, ¥100 million)

All dies

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Growth rate
(2006)

Component ratio(2006)

3,916.2

3,840.9

4,122.6

4,392.7

4,879.6

11.1%

100%

For pressing

1,638.9

1,534.1

1,710.5

1,748.4

1,909.5

9.2%

39.1%

For plastic molding

1,494.5

1,504.6

1,594.7

1,680.9

1,821.0

8.3%

37.3%

For die casting

275.3

280.7

297.2

384.7

527.2

37.0%

10.8%

For forging

142.0

151.8

157.8

176.7

211.1

19.5%

4.3%

For rubber molding

103.9

109.4

113.1

127.3

125.8

-1.2%

2.6%

For casting

118.1

119.8

108.6

135.8

151.0

11.2%

3.1%

For powder metallurgy

63.5

68.4

73.8

78.7

79.2

0.7%

1.6%

For glasswork

80.0

72.1

66.9

60.4

56.5

-6.5%

1.2%

Source:Same as that for Fig. 6-1.

116

6. Machine Element Sector

Then the trend of the unit price (¥10,000) and average weight (kg) of dies is described below.
Figures 6-4, 6-5 and 6-6 show that the weight and price of all dies, dies for pressing and dies forplastic molding continued to increase in 2006. The unit price of all types of dies went up from¥527,000 in 2005 to ¥600,000 in 2006 (See Fig. 6-4). The average weight of all dies rose from 211kg
in 2005 to 245.3kg in 2006. From dies for pressing, too, the unit price increased from ¥981,000 in2005 to ¥1,121,000 in 2006, while the average weight became heavier from 599.9kg in 2005 to
715.7kg in 2006. Finally for dies for plastic molding, the unit price rose from ¥3,101,000 in 2005 to¥3,392,000 in 2006 and the average weight, from 699.7kg in 2005 to 739.3kg in 2006. These figuresindicate that the unit price and average weight of all dies, dies for pressing and dies for plastic
molding have long kept an upward trend and recorded the highest value in the past five years in 2006.
It can generally be said that higher technology is required to make larger dies. For example, in thecase of dies for pressing, sequential feeding dies are larger and require higher-level technology thansingle feeding dies; thus the former is more expensive than the latter.

Fig. 6-4

Average weight and unit price of all types of dies(kg) (kg)
Average weight
平均重量( 万円(yen))
Unit price
単価

300

60

65
60

250
52.7

55

200

50
150
100

39.9

41.8

45

48.3

40

50
169.5

169.3

198.3

211.0

245.3

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

0

30

Calendar year

Source:35

Same as that for Fig. 6-1.

117

6. Machine Element Sector

Fig. 6-5

Unit price and average weight of dies for pressing(kg) (kg)
Average weight
平均重量( 万円(yen))
Unit price
単価

800

112.1

700

120
110

600
500
400

100

89.5

90

98.1

81.4
76.9

300

80

200
100

70
525.7

474.9

568.5

599.9

715.7

2002

2003

2004
Calendar year

2005

2006

60

0

Source:Same as that for Fig. 6-1.

Fig. 6-6

Unit price and average weight of dies for plastic molding(kg) (kg)
Average weight
平均重量

( 万円
)
Unit price
(yen)
単価

800

400

700

350

600

339.2

500

310.1

250

400
300
200
100

200

247.0
129.1

201.3

299.9

455.5

523.3

699.7

739.3

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

150
100
50

0

Calendar year

Source:300

Same as that for Fig. 6-1.

118

6. Machine Element Sector

Fig. 6-7

Changes in the average weight and unit price of various types of dies(comparison between 2003 and 2006)
Dies for die
casting (2006)

Unit price

1.8
1.6

Dies for die
casting (2003)

1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2

Dies for rubber
molding (2003)

Dies forpressing (2003)

0

1

Dies for plastic
molding (2006)

Dies for forging(2006)
Dies for plastic
molding (2003)

Dies for rubber
molding (2006)

0

Source:Dies for forging(2003)

Dies forpressing (2006)

2

Average weight3

4

5

Same as that for Fig. 6-1.

Therefore, the declining production quantity of dies and their increasing unit price and average
weight can be regarded as the indicators that point to a transfer of the Japanese die industry to the
low-volume output of larger dies, which requires higher technology. Figure 6-7 shows this transferof the domestic die industry.
Figure 6-7 compares the average weight and unit price of dies for die casting, plastic molding,forging, pressing and rubber molding in 2003 and those in 2006. From this figure it can be seen thatthe unit price and average weight of all of these dies, excluding dies for forging, increased.
Another change in the domestic die market is the advance of self-manufacture as shown in
Figure 6-8. As represented in the case of Canon Inc. that made Igari Mold Co. its wholly-owned
subsidiary in 2004, major manufacturers have promoted the self-manufacture of important dies inrecent several years.
To sum up, the situation of production of all dies, dies for pressing and dies for plastic molding
may be expressed as “continued upward trend of amount of production and downward trend of
production quantity.” Behind this tendency is probably the progress of production of “larger andmore expensive” dies in Japan.
Considering the recent production trend of dies in China and Southeast Asia, mainly Thailand,
the die manufacture in Japan will have an increasing trend of “super-large,” “super-precise” and“super-complex” products. In fact, Honda Engineering Co. says that it will raise the level of die
technology of its subsidiary in Thailand to that equal to the level in Japan.1

1See, for example, the lecture of the company at the 2007 Conference on Die and Mould Technology held by
the Japanese Society of Die and Mould Technology.

119

6. Machine Element Sector

Fig. 6-8

Advance of self-manufacture of dies

Purchased(diesmillion))
外販金型億円(¥100(04=100)
Self-manufactured
dies (2004=100)
内製金型

Self-manufactured( 億円) dies (¥100 million)
内製金型
Purchased(04=100)
dies (2004=100)
外販金型

6,000

132

5,000

130

4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0

Source:140

1,002.7

882.5

941.4

1,025.9
109

114.3

100
106.5

1,243.1

100
91.6
2,913.5

93
2,958.4

2002

2003

110
100

105.8

93.7

120

90

3,181.3

3,366.8

3,636.5

2004
Calendar year

2005

2006

80

Same as that for Fig. 6-1.

(3) Export and import2

The export of all types of dies in 2006 amounted to ¥381.6 billion (See Fig. 6-9). This meansthat the export in 2006 increased by 9.4% over the previous year. The export of dies for pressing in2006 was ¥148.44 billion or an increase of 13.3% y/y (See Fig. 6-10). That of dies for plastic
molding in 2006 grew by 7.2% y/y to ¥145.14 billion (See Fig. 6-11). As noted, the die export in2006 can be said to have been favorable.
The export of dies to China/Hong Kong continued to increase, too. Figure 6-12 shows the dieexport to the three largest trade partners (U.S., China/Hong Kong and Thailand) in the 2002-2006
period. According to this figure, the ratio of Japan’s die export to China/Hong Kong in 2002 was
19.8% of the total export. But in 2006, the export to China/Hong Kong rose to 26.8% of the total. In
addition, the U.S. had had the largest share of the die export from Japan until 2004, but in 2005 andafter, China/Hong Kong was the top importer of Japanese-made dies, surpassing the U.S.
The import of dies in 2006 was ¥86.15 billion, up 10.4% over the previous year (See Fig. 6-13).
Die import has rapidly increased in the recent several years (in 2006, up 90.4% over 2002). Figure
6-14 shows the trend of shares of the top three importers of Japanese-made dies. In 2006, 51.6% ofJapan’s die import was from South Korea, a decline of 7.8% from the previous year. By contrast,
import from China/Hong Kong increased, accounting for 22.6% of the total import in 2006 (12.1%
in 2002). China/Hong Kong has made its presence felt more as the die exporting country to Japan,
too. Attention should also be paid to the movements of Thailand in the future.

2

The item numbers of the foreign trade statistics used are as follows: all types of dies: 8207.20-200,
8207.20-900, 8207.30-100, 8207.30-900, 8480.10-000, 8480.20-000, 8480.30-000, 8480.30-000,
8480.41-000, 8480.49-000, 8480.50-000, 8480.60-000, 8480.71-000, 8480.79-000; dies for pressing:8207.30-100. 8207.30-900; dies for plastic molding: 8480.71-000, 8480.79-000. The foreign trade statistics
adopt the division “dies for rubber or plastic molding;” thus the export-import statistics for dies for plastic
molding include those for dies for rubber molding, too.

120

6. Machine Element Sector

Fig. 6-9

Situation of export of dies
Export index04(2004=100)
輸出指数（
年=100）

Export (¥100 million)
輸出金額（億円）

102.6

3,900

100

3,800

100

3,700

93.8

3,600
3,500
3,400

105

95
87.4

90

86.6

3,300
85

3,200
3,100
3,000

80
3,250.2

3,219.0

3,719.1

3,488.5

3,816

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

75

2,900

Calendar year

Source:Based on the Ministry of Finance, “International Trade Statistics.”

Fig. 6-10

Situation of export of dies for pressing
Export index03=100(2003=100)
輸出指数（）

Export (¥100 million)
輸出金額（億円）

101.6

100

1,600

1,200
1,000

95

89.6
85.7

1252.7

90

82.6

800
600

85
1461.21207.61309.91484.4

80
75

400

70

200

65
60

0
2002

2003

2004

Calendar year

Source:

105
100

1,400

Same as that for Fig. 6-6.

121

2005

2006

6. Machine Element Sector

Fig. 6-11

Situation of export of dies for plastic molding
Export index(2004=100)
04=100
輸出指数（）

Export (¥100 million)
輸出金額（億円）
1500

105

100

99

1450

100

1400
1350

92.3

95

88.8
90

86.4

1300

85

1250
1200

80
1302.31266.61466.61354.11451.4

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

75

1150

Calendar year

Source:Same as that for Fig. 6-6.

Fig. 6-12

Situation of export of dies by main importing country
U.S.
米国

China/Hong中国+香港 Kong

Thailandタイ

Others
その他

100%
90%
80%

38.7%

40.0%

40.9%

42.2%

11.3%

10.5%

11.0%

13.1%

19.8%

20.5%

23.2%

37.8%

70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%

30.2%

28.9%

2002

2003

26.7%

25.0%

18.0%

11.3%
26.8%

24.1%

0%
2004

2005

2006

Calendar year

Source:Same as that for Fig. 6-6.

Fig. 6-13

Situation if import of dies
04=100
Import index(2004=100)
輸入指数（）

Import (¥100 million)
輸入金額（億円）

141.8

1,000
128.4

900
800
600

140

100

700
74.4

120
100

76.8

500

80

400

60

300

40

200
100

452.4

466.6

607.7

780.6

861.5

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

0

20
0

Calendar year

Source:160

Same as that for Fig. 6-6.

122

6. Machine Element Sector

Fig. 6-14

Situation of import of dies by main exporting countrySouth
韓国 Korea+香港 Kong
China/Hong中国

Thailandタイ

Others
その他

100%
90%
80%
70%
60%

29.2%

31.5%

4.6%
12.1%

5.7%

50%

22.4%
4.8%
16.8%

17.4%

19.7%

4.4%

6.1%

18.7%

22.6%

15.6%

40%
30%
20%

54.1%

47.3%

2002

2003

56.0%

59.4%

2004
Calendar year

2005

51.6%

10%
0%

Source:2006

Same as that for Fig. 6-6.

6.1.2. Results of operations and the trend of the die industry(1) Trend of management

Figure 6-15 shows the trend of management in FY2006 of main seven die manufacturers.
Futaba Corp. registered sales of ¥39,696 million or an increase of 3.3% over the previous year
in 2006 (the operating profit declined by 4.0%). The company says that the growth in sales was dueto the business recovery of mainly consumer electronic appliance businesses, such as the
manufacturers of cellular phones and flat-screen TVs, and greater demand for dies.
Fuji Technica Inc. suffered a decline of 19.1% y/y in sales to ¥13,190.0 million in 2006, but its
operating profit was ¥872.0 million or a growth of 57.5% y/y. According to the company, the main
factor behind this was successful projects for China and Russia.
Kuroda Precision Industries Ltd. recorded sales of ¥3,794.0 million, up 25.2% y/y, in 2006. The
company says that while orders for dies for motors for air-conditioner and other household electric
appliances and those for printers and other office equipment tended to level off, orders for core diesfor motors mounted on hybrid vehicles picked up well as a result of increased production of thesevehicles. Orders for dies for small-sized vibrating motor cores used for cellular phones increased, too,and the company states that they filled these orders by reinforcing the production capacity and costcompetitiveness of its Malaysian subsidiary, thereby attaining greater sales.
Hoden Seimitsu Kako Kenkyusho Co. had sales of ¥4,122.72 million in 2006, down 7.2% fromthe previous year, and its operating profit, ¥751.44 million, down 22.8% y/y. The company points
out as a reason for this that orders for dies for extrusion dies for automobile parts and other industrial
aluminum parts picked up but those for extrusion dies for ceramics honeycombs for purifying
automobile exhaust gas declined.
Marujun Co. recorded an increase of 1.8% in sales to ¥3,410.0 million but its operating profit
fell to 516.0 million, down 1.0%. According to the company, the delivery period was shortened and123

6. Machine Element Sector

the quality was improved for domestic dies, resulting in smaller sales and operating profit. On theother hand, it says that then sales of its Thai subsidiary increased.
Nichidai Corp.’s sales in 2006 were ¥6,029.0 million or a decline of 3.3% from the previous
year. The company’s operating profit lowered by 25.2% y/y to ¥510.69 million, too. The factors
behind this given by the company include the fact that mainly due to increasing investment inoverseas manufacturing bases by Japanese automobile manufacturers, new domestic projects forparts decreased, mostly in the Chubu (Central Japan) district, leading to inactive demand for dies.
The sales of Arrk Corp. in 2006 were ¥318,504.0 million or an increase of 1.6% over theprevious year. This amount was the largest in history to the company. Behind this is an increase in
the company’s business and capital tie-up partners as shown in Figure 6-15. But its operating profit
dropped by 39.1% y/y to ¥11,149.0 million. Sekisui Machinery Co., with which Arrk cooperates inbusiness and capital, also had a growth in sales of 1.6% y/y but a smaller operating profit (down
4.0%) in 2006. The company says that the reasons for the lower operating profit include rising pricesof steel and other materials for dies and higher labor costs in Asia.

Fig. 6-15

Consolidated settlement of accounts of main die manufacturers(as of the most recent announcement)(Consolidated; ¥10,000; amounts less than ¥10,000 rounded off)
FY2005

FY2006

Y/y growth rate
OperatingprofitSales

OperatingprofitSales

Operatingprofit26,493,100

1,830,500

31,850,400

1,114,900

20.2%-39.1%

689,21753,334

699,900

51,200

1.6%

-4.0%

Futaba Corp.
Manufacturing equipment segment

3,842,700

258,800

3,969,600

243,100

3.3%

-6.1%

Fuji Technica Inc.
Dies for pressing for automobiles

1,629,539

55,366

1,319,000

87,200-19.1%

57.5%

Kuroda Precision Industries Ltd.
Precision equipment/systems equipment segment

587,300

161,451695,700

98,40018.5%-39.1%

Arrk Corp.

Sales

Dies for plastic molding
Sekisui Machinery Co.
Dies
Dies for pressing

302,971－379,400

－

25.2%

－

Hoden Seimitsu Kako Kenkyusho Co.
Dies

Press dies

446,339

97,283412,272

75,144-7.6%-22.8%

Marujun Co.
Dies segment

334,900

51,600341,000

51,100

1.8%

-1.0%

Nichidai Corp.
Dies

623,534

68,286602,900

51,069-3.3%-25.2%

Dies for forging

Notes: 1. The description following the company name is the name of the segment to which the die business belongs.
2. Sales figures include sales between different segments.
3. The sales and operating profit figures for Arrk are those of the whole company (Sekisui Machinery is Arrk’s subsidiary).
Source: Prepared based on the financial statements, quick reports on the settlement of accounts, etc. of the companies.

1246. Machine Element Sector

Fig. 6-16

Arrk’s business and capital tie-up partners

April

Shanghai Longchuang Qiche Designing, Ltd.

China

April

Soode Nagano Co.

Japan

2006

June

Graphic Products Inc.

Japan

AugustSagamihara-Buhin Co.

Japan

AugustNew System Holding Company Limited

Thailand

October

Shokowsha Co.

Japan

January

Xianghu Gufen, Ltd.

TaiwanFebruary

Ecoplastic Co.

South Korea

2007

Source:Prepared based on the published data of Arrk Corp.

(2) Technological innovation and the business environment

This section discusses the situation of technological innovation and R&D activities of die
manufacturers. The R&D expenditure of these manufacturers is as shown in Fig. 6-17. Arrk Corp. spent¥1,165.0 million for R&D in FY2006, an increase of 60.2% over the previous year. Sekisui
Machinery Co. also increased its R&D expenses by 100% y/y to ¥38.0 million in FY2006. Futaba
Corp. invested ¥388.0 million in R&D, up 83.9% y/y and Fuji Technica Inc., ¥12.0 million, up 9.1%
y/y. The R&D expenditure of Nichidai Corp. in FY2006 was ¥86.13 million or a 34.0% y/y growth.
On the other hand, Kuroda Precision Industries Ltd. cut its R&D expenses by 42.8% y/y to¥107.0 million, Hoden Seimitsu Kako Kenkyusho Co., by 7.8% y/y to ¥226.0 million, and Marujun
Co., by 34.0% y/y to ¥86.13 million.
Figure 6-18 shows the R&D expenditure to sales ratio of the major manufacturers. As seen in
the figure, the R&D intensity of the domestic die manufacturers are not very high. Since it have beenrequested to raise the value added of dies as stated earlier, die businesses will need to be morepositive to R&D activities in the future.

Fig. 6-17

R&D expenditure of main die manufacturers(Consolidated; ¥10,000; amounts less than ¥10,000 rounded off)
FY2005
Arrk Corp.
Sekisui Machinery

FY2006

Y/y growth rate

72,700116,500

60.2%

1,900

3,800

100%
83.9%

Dies for pressing
Futaba Corp.

21,10038,800Fuji Technica

1,100

1,200

9.1%

Kuroda Precision Industries Ltd.

18,70010,700-42.8%

Hoden Seimitsu Kako Kenkyusho

24,50022,600-7.8%

Marujun Co.

105,500

57,500-45.5%

Nichidai

6,430

8,613

34.0%

Dies for forging
Source:Financial statements of the companies.

1256. Machine Element Sector

Fig. 6-18

R&D expenditure to sales ratio of main die manufacturers(Consolidated; ¥10,000; amounts less than ¥10,000 rounded off)
FY2005

Arrk Corp.

FY2006

Y/y ratio

0.27%

0.37%

0.09%

0.28%

0.54%

0.27%

Futaba Corp.

0.55%

0.98%

0.43%
0.02%

Sekisui Machinery
Dies for pressing
Fuji Technica

0.04%

0.06%

Kuroda Precision Industries Ltd.

1.39%

1.54%

-

Hoden Seimitsu Kako Kenkyusho

2.58%

2.32%

-0.26%

Marujun Co.

3.04%

1.43%

-1.61%

Nichidai

0.60%

0.71%

0.11%

Dies for forging
Source:Financial statements of the companies.

The details of main R&D activities of the main die manufacturers are as shown in Figure 6-19.
Arrk and Sekisui Machinery are doing R&D on 3-D CAD, such as the system of “CAD/CAM/CAE
for unifying 3-D CAD data.” Nichidai is continuing the development of “plastic joining method.”
One of the purposes of these R&D activities is to “shorten the delivery time” in an attempt to meetthe growing needs of dies-using industries.

Fig. 6-19

Source:Main R&D projects of main die manufacturers

Manufacturer

Main R&D activities

Arrk Corp.

CAD/CAM/CAE system for unifying 3-D data;
in-mold dies/three-color molding dies

Sekisui Machinery

CAD/CAM/CAE system for unifying 3-D data

Futaba Corp.

Development of a mechanism for reducing the time for transferring
CAD data to processing data

Fuji Technica

Application of thermal spraying technology to die surface
treatment/use of non-contact 3-D measured data for die modifying
work

Kuroda Precision Industries Ltd.

Structural analysis of dies for pressing/study of molding mechanism ofdies for pressing

Marujun Co.

Development of die structure for weight reduction of automobile bodyparts

Nichidai

Development of implanting forge welding

Prepared based on the quick report on the settlement of accounts of the companies.

(3) Future prospects and problems

Domestically made dies have had higher value added (They have become “super-large,”“super-precise” and “super-complex”). This section examines the need of die industries to cooperatewith other businesses and organizations in such a changing domestic market as well as their present126

6. Machine Element Sector

situation and future directions.
Figure 6-20 is a pie chart showing the ratio of patents related to dies for pressing obtained byindustry. The figure indicates that the forge rolling machine industry and the automobile industry
combined have got 40.5% of these patents.

Fig. 6-20

Trend of patents for dies for pressing obtained by industry
Total number of patents obtained = 432
Forge rolling machineindustry:
26.6%

Automobile
industry:
13.9%
Other industries:
59.5%

Source:Prepared based on the data of the Industrial Property Digital Library.

In other words, machine tool manufacturers and the die and die self-manufacture segments of
the automobile industry are working as the “sites” of cooperation between the manufacturers of diesfor pressing and the machine tool and automobile industries. Thus it is supposed that a variety ofknowledge and findings that would urge the development of technology related to dies for pressing
are exchanged at these sites.
As noted above, if die manufacturers are to do technical development work and make dies ofhigher value added, it is important for them to positively work together with other businesses in andout of the die industry and with universities and public organizations. In fact, Company A, one of theleaders in dies for automobiles having high-level technology (engaged in the designing and making
dies for pressing and pressing), has positively been cooperating with these parties. In addition,
diverse attempts to encourage technical development with cooperation between die manufacturers
and other industries universities and public organizations have been made across Japan, such as thegroup for die study in Shimane Prefecture and the workshop for dies for pressing in Gunma
Prefecture.

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6. Machine Element Sector

Fig. 6-21

Trend of the number of Company A’s partner businesses (1991-2006)
16

Total number of partner businesses and organizations
連携先企業・組織累積数

14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Calendar year/year of patent application

Note:
Source:Figures are all of the patents applied by Company A. The figures for the “Total number of partner businesses andorganizations” are the number of applicants excluding Company A for each patent.
Prepared based on the data of the Industrial Property Digital Library.

One of the results of the cooperation is the foundation of a die business as a university-led
venture. The Kyushu Institute of Technology has the Advanced Die Center, which also serves as acenter of the “Project for Core Human Resource Development for Advanced Dies in the Northern
Kyushu District.” On the basis of this fact, a student at the university’s doctor’s course conducted ajoint study with a die manufacturer and founded a company named 3D Engineering as aconsequence.
As stated thus far, it will become more important for the die industry to positively cooperatewith other industries and the academic world and to support this cooperation.

Fig. 6-22

Source:Outline of 3D Engineering Co.

Company name

3D Engineering Co., Ltd.

Business

R&E and manufacture of dies for metal photofabrication, the designing,
manufacturing, and forming of dies for plastic molding, and the holding of events andseminars

Date of foundation

September 26, 2006

Capital¥10.65 million

Address

Room No. 105, Incubation Building, Kyushu Institute of Technology, 680-4, Kawatsu,
Iizuka-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture 820-8502

The website of 3D Engineering Co.

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