CONTENT BY THE WORLDFOLIO

The hidden, yet indispensable value of monozukuri
Characterized by high quality, craftsmanship,
constant innovation and an acute understandingof customer needs, Japan’s reputed monozukuri
manufacturing is generally associated withmajor corporations such as Toyota, Honda andSony. However, it is the lesser-known manufacturers that truly represent Japan’s industrial
prowess. Working behind the scenes to produce
high-quality parts, components, tools, machinery and materials that are essential to several
industries, these companies are known as the“hidden champions” of Japanese manufacturing
and they have built up their expertise as leaders
in often specialized and niche ﬁelds.
“The result of different Japanese companies
specializing and focusing on a particular area isthe achievement of a lot of success worldwide.
Toyo Tanso’s philosophy is creating somethingthat cannot be found anywhere else, which has
been the beginning of our business and the secret
to our success,” says Naotaka Kondo, president of
Toyo Tanso, which manufactures carbon-based
products for several industries, including the semiconductor, transportation and medical sectors.
Another hidden champion, HARDLOCK,
manufactures high-quality nuts and bolts thatare used in various settings and situations,
including in bridges, buildings, high-speed
trains, aerospace applications, nuclear plants
and semiconductor manufacturing tools. “Ournuts are predominantly used in applications

which require safety at higher levels in extreme
conditions and environments, including Shinkansen trains, rail tracks, amusement park rides,
construction machinery, and especially mining
equipment that is subject to excessive vibrations,” says chairman Katsuhiko Wakabayashi.
“Our HARDLOCK Nut offers unique advantages in terms of reusability, self-locking
capability, versatility with different materials,
and stability in various environments. We
continue to focus on research and development to provide innovative solutions for ourcustomers in a wide range of industries.”
A company mainly active in the automotive
sector, Kohyei Trading also supplies solutions
to the semiconductor manufacturing industry through its subsidiary Zippertubing Japan.
Moving forward, this hidden champion aims toleverage its expertise in both ﬁelds to develop
essential parts for electric vehicles (EVs). “Kohyei
Trading has its strengths in its relationships with
automotive manufacturers, while Zippertubing
Japan specializes in semiconductor manufacturing equipment and has strong connections tosemiconductor machinery companies,” explainspresident Yoshihiko Tsuchihashi. “As a result,
we have established relationships with major
Japanese semiconductor machinery producers.
With the support of the government and its
active push in the semiconductor industry, we
anticipate signiﬁcant growth in our business.”

Japanese monozukuri is synonymous withhigh quality. To ensure the highest quality of
its products, kitchenware manufacturer Fuji
Enamel goes out of its way to source thebest materials. “We procure the most suitable special steel for making enamel products
from leading Japanese steel manufacturers,”
says president Minoru Kanehira. “Our corestrength is that we are particular about thequality of the steel materials we use, and theglass material, enamel, is also manufactured
using our own ﬁring method, which is managed to produce stable products of the same
standard,” he adds. “The choice of special
materials is important for the production of
stable products, but our strength is also that
we produce hard enamel products through thespecial pre-treatment technology we have accumulated over the years for these materials.”
A manufacturer of high precision tools forseveral industries, Eight Tool’s products are characterized by what president Yasuhiro Oka calls“Eight Quality”, which encompasses productquality, material quality, processing precision, theproduct line, and environmental consciousness.
“I would like users to view our tools as something
precious. They are not just ordinary tools. I wantthem to be used with care and passion,” he says.
“Although our price range may be higher than
average, we make sure to provide products thatare of great quality and last longer.”

New factory propelling Eight Tool’s growth
in tools for new segments and markets
With the opening of its new
Tottori factory, Eight Tool is
now targeting a wide rangeof markets, from the bicycle
to the space industries.

“This new building has
increased our production
capacity to meet thegrowing demand from
customers.”
Yasuhiro Oka, President,
Eight Tool Co., Ltd.

New factory opened in Jan 2023
Companies that focus on highquality products can often struggle to meet high-volume demand.
Japanese tool manufacturer Eight
Tool has managed to bridge thegap between quality and increasing demand with the constructionof its new purpose-built facility.
Founded in 1958, the company
has built its reputation on its specialization in hexagon wrenches
and its focus on what president
Yasuhiro Oka calls ‘Eight Qual-ity’: “product quality, material to ﬁt cyclists’ needs - along withquality, processing precision, the the expansion of Eight Tool’s inproduct line, and environmental ternational customer base - hasconsciousness.” The company is seen an increase in demand whichmaking the leap into the bicycle the company has met with themarket and its KPH-1 multitool opening of its new Tottori facility
in January 2023.
hexagonal
E i g h t To o lwrench madeboosted its repa splash at theutation with its
Cycle Modegroundbreaking
Tokyo 2023
E L /A R M O U R
exhibition.
plating, which is
Th i s n e w
free of hexavatool, which fealent chromium.
tures a rangeof wrenches New multi-tool product “KPH-1” The plating pro-

Eight Tool’s 2,000+ product lines
include color sets
vides wear and rust resistance
while being environmentallyfriendly, and as Mr. Oka says:“we consider ourselves pioneers
in this regard. The impact of thisnew product has been significant in the industry.”
The company has been expanding its operations with visits to the United States, Eastand Southeast Asia, Europe,and South Africa, and Mr. Oka
is aware of the importance of tailoring products to each market’s
needs. While the products may
be customized, one thing that
won’t change is Eight Tool’s commitment to quality and longevity.

www.eight-tool.co.jp/en

CONTENT BY THE WORLDFOLIO“The popularity ofenamel comes down to
its excellent durability– it lasts for a century
and beyond.”
Minoru Kanehira,President, FUJI PORCELAIN
ENAMEL Co., Ltd.

Built to last: the FUJIHORO difference
For over 75 years, FUJIHORO’s expertise in enamel has seen the Japanese brand create kitchenware of unparalleled quality.
Founded in 1947, FUJIHORO
has established itself as one ofJapan’s leading manufacturersof kitchenware. Specializing inenameled-steel cooking vessels
such as pots, pans and casseroles, the Tokyo-based company
boasts an extensive range of outstanding products that are sold
both at home and abroad.

Character products“Our core strength is that
we’re particular about the quality of the steel materials we use,”says FUJIHORO’s president, Minoru Kanehira. “We procure themost suitable special steel fromleading Japanese manufacturers.
The best products cannot be produced without using steel plates
specially designed for enameling.
What’s more, the glass material,
enamel, is manufactured usinga FUJIHORO firing method that
leads to consistently first-classproducts. Our production process
also involves special pre-treatment technology that we’ve developed over a number of years.”
Among FUJIHORO’s major
product lines is its EX series oflong-lasting, efficient cookware.
“These pans are particularly suitable for induction cooktops,” Mr.

Kanehira says. “They’re extremely energy efficient, so you cancook quickly with the minimum
amount of electricity required. In
addition, the good heat conduction means that heat is transferred from various directions,which makes cooking tastier.
“EX series products are durable and can be used for morethan 100 years, which means
less waste and makes them very
environmentally friendly. Insteadof consuming large quantities,
you make one thing last longer.”
In addition to its domestic
factory in Tsukuba, FUJIHORO
has operated a production plantin Thailand since 1988. With
Japan feeling the effects of
population decline, the manufacturer’s Thai base is expected
to have a key role to play in theyears to come, as FUJIHORO
pursues its target of becoming
a century-old company.

Solid series“The fusion of steel sheets andglass, which is at the heart of ourmanufacturing, requires special
chemical knowledge,” Mr. Kanehira says. “However, there’s agrowing shortage of researchers
in inorganic chemistry in Japan
who can understand this. To com-pensate for this, we have set up
a technical development teamat our plant in Thailand and recruited excellent Thai university
students in inorganic chemistry.
“We will continue to develop
new products at the Tsukuba
plant, but at the same time wehave an R&D center in Thailand as well, where Japaneseengineers are teaching young,talented local professionals andpassing on the technology.”

He continues: “E-commerce has
been doing very well during thecovid-19 pandemic, so we now
see it as a growing sales channel
both domestically and overseas.
E-commerce in the United States
is particularly attractive. We’re
currently attempting to penetrate the U.S. market throughthe Amazon route.”

Japanese factory since 1947
Thai factory since 1988
FUJIHORO is likewise looking beyond Japan’s borders
as it seeks to grow its clientbase – and the firm’s efforts
to strengthen its internationalpresence go hand in hand witha drive to boost its e-commerce
sales volume. “Of the countries
we export to, 60% are in Asia,
but we still want to expand morein Malaysia, Indonesia and other
Asian countries,” Mr. Kanehirasays. “Our focus is to provide
enriching food culture, throughour high-quality products, tothose who have a deep affiliation with food. Currently, we
export to 22 countries, and we’dlike to add more. We want tohave a big network.”

Having already collaborated
on special product ranges with
global brands such as Disney,
FUJIHORO is also out to growits international reach by establishing tie-ins with more major
companies. “We’re actively seeking partners,” Mr. Kanehira says.
“Our uniqueness is being able tooffer not only design expertise,
but also one-of-a-kind manufacturing technology – and reduced
costs. New molds have to be developed to create these collaborative products, but we can now
make the molds ourselves insteadof outsourcing the process. This
cuts initial costs for our partners.”

www.fujihorousa.com

CONTENT BY THE WORLDFOLIO

A trusted partner across a range of industries
A chemicals specialist, Kohyei Trading offers a comprehensive service.

Yoshihiko Tsuchihashi,
President,
Kohyei Trading Co., Ltd.
A trading company that specializes in supplying chemicals,
Kohyei Trading is a go-to partner to businesses from a whole
host of sectors. Established in1949, the Japanese firm boasts
a portfolio of major clients fromthe automotive, rubber andelectronics industries, as wellas fields such as agriculture
and construction.
“Our business model is both
import and export,” says Kohyei

Trading’s president, Yoshihiko
Tsuchihashi. “We mainly import chemical products fromoverseas companies and act astheir agent, stocking and selling
their products to our domestic
customers. Simultaneously, we
engage in transactions involving domestically manufactured
products, with 90% of sales
directed towards the domestic
market and 10% for export.
“Our strength lies in our ability to adapt to disruptions inthe supply chain. We hedge
risks by providing alternative
chemicals to our customers,
thereby establishing enduring,
trusted relationships.”
Clients also turn to Kohyei
Trading when they need a company to run long-term productdevelopment processes involving multiple stakeholders. “Amajor example of this is a collaboration to create biodegradable sheets that cover up fields
in sweet potato farms,” Mr.
Tsuchihashi reveals. “They’remade from the residue left behind after juice is extracted
from sweet potatoes to makethe Japanese drink shochu.
“There’s no need to remove
the sheet after use – since it’s
biodegradable, it goes backto the soil, so it’s a 100%
circular economy. We’ve beenworking on this project for
about 20 years, acting as abridge between a chemicalcompany, a shochu manufacturer, an agricultural association and farmers.”
Kohyei Trading’s knack forbuilding long-running partnerships will likewise be key as it
accompanies automobile makers through the transition toelectric vehicles (EVs). Combined with its know-how in
the industry, the firm is out
to leverage its experience inthe electronics sector – a field
that’s becoming increasingly
integral to vehicle design. Notably, it will look to capitalizeon the expertise that one ofits subsidiaries, Zippertubing
Japan, has in the semiconductor industry.
Kohyei Trading is also readyto adapt to automotive manufacturers’ changing needs. “Thetransition to EVs will likely be along-term process, and various
alternative proposals, such as
fuel-cell vehicles, will be considered,” Mr. Tsuchihashi explains.
“With our experience in a rangeof fields, our approach will be tolisten closely to our customers’
intentions and proposals.”
Having in recent years established a network of overseas
bases across Asia, Kohyei Trading is a company that is seeking
to strengthen its internationalpresence. “Our focus is on areas with growing populations,
namely Thailand, Indonesia andIndia,” Mr. Tsuchihashi says.
“We also see Vietnam as a potential growth market.”kohyei.com/en

Zippertubing Japan: Supporting the creation of cutting-edge tech withreliable EMI countermeasures, cable bundling and anti-heat solutions
The company specializes in supporting semiconductor manufacturers.

Shiro Takeuchi,
President,
Zippertubing Japan, Ltd.
A subsidiary of Kohyei Trading, Zippertubing Japan is amanufacturer that works withcompanies from a range of industries, supplying them withelectromagnetic-interference(EMI) countermeasures; wireand cable bundling; heat shrink;and heat shielding.
The firm boasts particular expertise in crafting high-quality
products that are used by cus-

Aerial view
tomers in the semiconductormanufacturing sector.
Having last year celebrated
its 50th anniversary, Zippertubing Japan has marked themilestone by opening a new,state-of-the-art production sitein Kobe, where the company isbased. “It’s three times larger
than our existing factory,”
President Shiro Takeuchi explains. “In terms of floor size,
it’s twice as large as the previous factory.”“We have products that havebeen used since our foundation, as well as products developed in the past five or 10

Entrance
years. Currently, we’re working on new products to caterto existing and new markets.
That’s why we’ve establisheda new factory.”
As part of its drive for innovative creations, Zippertubing
Japan has teamed up with its
parent company to develop a
product that harnesses both
firms’ know-how.
“Kohyei Trading has its
strengths, particularly in its
relationships with automotive
manufacturers,” Mr. Takeuchi
explains. “On the other hand,
we at Zippertubing Japan excel in manufacturing and have

Manufacturing sitestrong connections to semiconductor machinery companies.
“In line with the shift towards electric vehicles (EVs),
we’re aiming to leverage thestrengths of both entities bycreating a new product specifically tailored to the EV
market. We hope to achieve
this within three years andare in the R&D phase rightnow. It’s Zippertubing Japan’s
semiconductor expertise combined with Kohyei Trading’s
automotive experience.”
ztj.co.jp/en

CONTENT BY THE WORLDFOLIO

Total High Tech Integration

A trading company specializing in industrial materials, Suzuko’s original products,
with their super heat-resistance polymide shape, have outstanding performance ina variety of areas.
cation and hunger for knowledge
exhibited by Japanese craftsmen,”he explains. “The sophisticated robots produced by renowned Japanese companies such as FANUC,
Denso, and Yaskawa reflect thenation’s inherent unwavering commitment to perfection.”
Cepla
As misconceptions about the competitive edge of Japanese companies persist, Suzuko Corporation
stands as an example of how success comes with having uniquestrengths and core competencies.
“Japanese people possess vast
knowledge in specific fields andfantastic corporate ethics,” says
company president Kentaro Suzuki,
before turning his attention to thefactory automation challenges ofmore nuanced processes.
“Digital transformation plays acrucial role in remolding the automation ﬁeld by leveraging the dedi-such as hammers and around the1980s, the entire company shiftedfrom metallic products to system
integration for automation.”

Polymond
Super micro torque sensor
As a system integrator, Suzuko
not only supplies robots to manufacturers, but also provides comprehensive solutions and support
to ensure the seamless integrationand optimal utilization of robots
within production systems. Over
its 150-year history, the company
has evolved signiﬁcantly.
“In the Meiji era, we started bytrading metal,” reﬂects Mr. Suzuki.
“After WWII we tried hand tools

While Suzuko primarily focuseson the domestic market, its manufacturing capabilities enable it toapproach global giants such as Tokyo Electron and Sony, expanding
its reach. Involvement in the Hayabusa2 asteroid explorer project
also demonstrated its technologicalexpertise, providing heat-resistantpolymers, including CEPLA Polyimide resin shape, to protect thevulnerable antennas from spacematter. And looking toward the“Tackling new industries
and developing new
products and ideas isvital to pushing thecompany forward.”
Kentaro Suzuki, President,
Suzuko Corporation
future, Mr. Suzuki emphasized thecompany’s sustainability goals.
“Fostering and motivating humancapital, while tackling new industries
and product development are vital.”

www.suzuko.co.jp/english

TSK CO., LTD. : A trusted partner to automobile manufacturers
For nearly 50 years, TSK CO., LTD. has played a key rolein the manufacturing of car parts, offering expert moldmanufacturing and product design.
Founded in 1977, TSK CO., LTD.
has established itself as a go-to
manufacturer of molds for rubber and plastic automobile parts,
with specialization in component
design. Based in Komaki City,the Japanese company boasts
particular expertise in rubber
weatherstrips, the protective
seals ﬁtted around the edges ofvehicle doors, windows, windshields and trunk lids.
With overseas factories in China,
Indonesia, Mexico, and Thailand,
TSK has a strong internationalpresence. To counteract Japan’s
population decline, the company
is increasingly expanding its operations abroad. “To cope with theshrinking domestic market, we’retrying to expand our market shareoverseas,” says TSK’s president,
Toshio Sakoda. “In 2018, we started operations in India. We’re also
considering expanding into African
markets such as Nigeria.”

Mr. Sakoda continues: “Japan’s
decreasing population has resulted in a shrinking labor force.
To address this, we’re automating our manufacturing processes.
Additionally, we’re considering
hiring foreign workers to overcome the shortage, but automation is our current priority.”
As TSK CO., LTD. charts its
course for the future, the company
is committed to playing its part inachieving Japan’s goal of carbon
neutrality by 2050. “We strive tocontribute to a better society,”
Mr. Sakoda says. “As part of ourpush for carbon neutrality, we’recertified by the Science Based
Targets initiative until 2044, andwe’ve created a roadmap basedon activities that work towards
becoming carbon neutral.”Alongside electriﬁcation, theuse of lightweight materials isa key focus of the automobile
industry’s efforts to make ve-“Prioritizing customer
satisfaction over making
a proﬁt is a recipe
not only for a happy
customer, but also a
happy company.”
Toshio Sakoda,
President, TSK CO., LTD.
hicles more environmentallyfriendly. TSK CO., LTD. remains
dedicated to meeting its clients’needs when it comes to moving
away from rubber, Mr. Sakoda
says, but he adds that manufacturers face a challenge to makeequally effective weatherstrips
from lighter materials.
“Rubber has traditionally beenused for weatherstrips, but it’sheavy and difficult to recycle
and reuse,” he explains. “Resin,on the other hand, is lightweightand easy to mold. However, interms of the performance of the
product itself, rubber still has
several advantages.”

In addition to its drive topromote a greener future, TSK
CO., LTD. is focused on developing equipment that allows it to
manufacture its products withgreater and greater precision.
“We receive an R&D grant fromthe Japanese government,” Mr.
Sakoda says, “and we’ve been using it to invest heavily in innovating our processing technology.
The accuracy our clients demandis increasing day by day.”www.kktsk.com

Meichu to play a key role in theautomation of industrial furnaces

CONTENT BY THE WORLDFOLIO

Utilizing its accumulated know-how and core technology, Meichu is looking toensure that the furnaces of tomorrow can contribute to an automated industry.

“In the casting industry,
there are still many
dangerous jobs thatpeople have to carry out.”
Mitsukane Nakashima,
President (left), Hisaaki
Nakashima, Director (right),
Meichu Co., Ltd.
Since its establishment in 1987, Meichu has provided casting equipment
centered on aluminum melting furnaces as well as material production, sales and supplies. Quality isseen as a key factor in its success,with some of its technology differentiating it from other companies.
“Our monozukuri process in manufacturing keeps us competitive,” says
company president Mitsukane Nakashima. “Our biggest strengths are
the quality of our molten metals andour temperature control technology.
Our furnaces can be used more frequently and maintenance is easier.”
One major shift in the industry,and globally, is the evolution of artiﬁcial intelligence and Mr. Nakashimasees this as a huge opportunity,with unmanned factory operations
including autonomous driving.
“Engineers and factory workers
will be doing more of the brain
work rather than working in thefactory and doing the actual labor,” he predicts.
Collaboration is an importantpart of Meichu’s outlook and, alongwith technical alliances in Thailand and China, a world-leading
autonomous factory with Mino Industry is currently in development.

Auto Ingot Divider“It will become a model factoryaround the globe. We are also introducing energy-saving furnaces
and manpower auxiliary equipment
such as the automatic ingredientloader for the furnace. This increases the efﬁciency and qualityof the molten metal,” explains Mr.
Nakashima, who adds that Meichu

Flat Homel Furnace
is looking at Vietnam and India as
new locations for bases, starting
small with local companies.
With thoughts on the years
ahead, which includes the commercialization of a hydrogen gas burner,
the president says he has two clear
missions: environmental contribution and employee satisfaction.
“I would like to contribute backto the Earth as much as possible,
with energy-saving products andreduced energy waste. In the casting industry, I want to see automation reduce the dangers faced byworkers in the ﬁeld and provide
further opportunities to pursue
more creative jobs.”

www.meichu.co.jp/en

Katayama focusing on fields of the future
As it pursues growth in a changing automotive industry, the screw and rivet makeris also targeting other key sectors such as energy.
A Japanese company with a 109- tayama says. “We see a reduction inyear history, Katayama is a go-to sales for hard-disk applications. The
manufacturer of fastening parts automotive industry was somethingsuch as screws and rivets, sup- we looked to start supplying, and weplying domestic and international began doing so seven or eight years
customers from several industries. ago. We mostly supply screws and“Our technical capabilities are rivets for engine-related parts.”
As the shift towards electric veat the heart of everything we do,”says president Shuji Katayama. hicles brings about a revolution in“We maintain a ﬁrst-class level of engine design, demand for fastenquality. What’s more, this is allied ing parts in this area of automobile
with excellent responsiveness to- manufacturing has begun to fall.
However, Katayama is responding bywards customer requests.”
In recent decades, Katayama developing new products for othervehicle components,
has traditionallywith an emphasis
focused on producon using lightweighting fastening parts
materials.
for hard-disk manu“Making vehicles
facturers. Over thelightweight has bepast few years,
come of paramountthough, the ﬁrm has
importance to many
increasingly sought
automotive makers,
to penetrate the auShuji Katayama,
and it is rapidly betomobile market.
President, Katayama
coming a key trend in“World producRivet & Screw Co., Ltd.
the industry as battion of traditionalteries take over,” Mr.
hard disks is decreasing,” Mr. Ka- www.katayama-screw.co.jp/en Katayama says.

Katayama is also working tobranch out into new ﬁelds. “We’retargeting the medical sector, as
well as the energy-related industry,” the company president explains. “When it comes to energy,
we’re talking about equipment
that’s becoming vital as the world
pushes towards carbon neutrality.”“We are trying to challenge ourselves because we live in an environment that is evolving prettymuch every day. New opportunities are constantly presenting
themselves and we don’t need tojust rely on conventional products
and means. Needless to say, we aretrying to perform our best efforts
in R&D activities and our company
is trying out new solutions for ourcustomers beyond the conventional product lineup we have.
The thought is that we can potentially expand into these markets
and use these new cutting-edge
materials to diversify our productportfolio, thus capturing a wider
range of industries.”

Lithium battery parts for HV
and EV cars

Automotive battery parts

HDD parts

Diesel engine fuel ﬁlter parts

In-vehicle brake mount parts

CONTENT BY THE WORLDFOLIOHARDLOCK: the ultimate fastenerfor safety critical applications
From indispensable industrial machinery to towering bridges, the HARDLOCK
Nut has an unbeatable trackrecord in tough operational
environments.

“For fail-safe fastening
performance in themost demanding
vibration environments,
trust HARDLOCK.”
Katsuhiko Wakabayashi,
Chairman, HARDLOCK
Industry Co., Ltd.

Shinkansen E7 series
Founded half a century ago, HARDLOCK Industry has a mission andvision to contribute to people, companies, and the industry by providing
unparalleled self-locking nuts, or
solutions incorporating them, that
ensure safety and assurance. To give
just two examples: the company’s
nuts have been used on Japan’s
Shinkansen high-speed trains forover 30 years, boasting a zero-percent failure rate, and have remained

securely in place on The Great Seto
Bridge since 1988.
“Our HARDLOCK Nut, applying thewedge method, offers unique advantages in terms of self-locking capability, reusability, versatility with different
materials, and stability in various environments,” explains company chairman Katsuhiko Wakabayashi. “We
continue to focus on
research and development to provide
innovative solutions
for our customers
across a wide range
of industries.”

That focus includes global infrastructure growth, particularly indeveloping nations, where expertiseand experience in maintenance are
crucial. “Overseas partnerships arevital for overcoming challenges andexpanding reach,” Mr. Wakabayashi
says. “We are seeking local partners
to jointly grow the market, aiming
to create a safe andsustainable society
while supporting infrastructure
growth, encompassing both hardware and software.”

Shinkansen underﬂoor devices
The chairman’s vision is to eliminate any issues caused by bolt loosening by increasing partnerships
with companies that share HARDLOCK’s goals, in order to provide
safe and reliable bolted joint mechanisms for the international society.
“We are focused not only on pursuing proﬁts for our company, butalso thinking globally about how we
can contribute and support society
altogether,” he adds. “In ﬁve years’
time, we envision that the high tensile resin fastener mechanism will beestablished and it will revolutionize
the worldwide industry.
“Within this framework, we aim
to continue our global contribution.”

hardlock-nut.com

The pierce nuts behind
next-generation industries
Since its foundation, Shinjo has continued to provide technology and products that can
respond to any situation.
As the company celebrates 70 where Shinjo has its core acyears, Shinjo is not striving to tivity, and it’s a rapidly evolvincrease its size but instead ing one as electric vehicles
maintain its place among the play an ever greater role. Collaboration, however, is on the
top of its field.
“Our specialty and core focus president’s mind.
“Our partnership with Arnold
is on the type of fasteners thatpierce a sheet and clinch and Umformtechnik GmbH & Co.
allow you to mount and stabi- KG has been very successful
in expanding ourlize items in place,business, and wewith no need forhave contracts
a pilot hole,” exwith distributors
plains company
across the U.S.
president Isaoand EU for pierce
Shinjo. “We lisnuts. There are
ten to the needs
possibilities toof our customers
develop in Asia,and increase ourbut conventional
efficiency throughIsao Shinjo, President,
a strict produc- Shinjo Manufacturing Co.,Ltd. nuts are still the
major market sotion design and
we need to concontrol process.”sider how bestTh e a u to m o to progress.”
tive sector iswww.shinjo-int.co.jp/en

Innovation and sustainability form a crucial aspect of
the company’s goals, with aunique press machine and theirsmokeless pierced nut good
examples of each.
“The product is called Miracress, which was inspired byconstruction companies looking
for a nut in a square pipe, andwe are identifying applications
for this with our automotive
customers. For all our production we aim to minimize energy
consumption.”
Looking ahead, Mr. Shinjo
points to the continued transition to electric vehicles.
“It is more likely that the
number of screws and fasteners will be reduced significantly. We will change theproduct mix and follow theshift to EVs.”

Pierce nut:a handy
tool forsmall-sized
applications

Various nuts for various functions

Clean and organized production

CONTENT BY THE WORLDFOLIO

Sekiso’s Sound Management System making waves across industries
With the end users’ expectations in mind, Sekiso supplies high-quality products
offering the best cost-performance through the overall optimization system, SSMS.

Anechoic car testing room withchassis dynamometerSound control in vehicles is becoming increasingly more important,
not only for conventional engine
vehicles, which are currently mainstream, but even more so for electric vehicles (EVs). This is because
sounds that are not heard in aconventional engine vehicle may be
noticeable in an quieter EV.
At Sekiso, we are aware of theend users’ expectations from theearly development stage, and theoretically analyze, clarify, and evaluate (including sensorial evaluation)
all sources of sound and how they
are transmitted.
To create a “comfortable car
sound”, we are aggressively working
on new material development, parts

development, system development,
and “monozukuri” development. In
addition to improving the function
and performance of each part, weare proposing a system called SSMS
(SEKISO SOUND MANAGEMENTSYSTEM) that manages soundthrough the combination of soundcontrol performance of various
parts. SSMS is a solution that considers the overall optimization of thesystem by analyzing sound source
information, transmission paths,
timbre, and much more. Sekiso isa supplier that works closely withcustomers from the early stages ofdevelopment to provide high-quality,

Underbody silencers optimized
by SSMS development
best cost-performance systems thatwill meet end-users’ expectations
around the world.

For example, for the SSMS-Air
inlet duct, we are developing a product that absorbs sound inside the aircleaner and rectifies the turbulent
airflow on the wall surface. In addi-“We aim to be a top
manufacturer thatcan design soundand vibration-related
products.”
Porous duct for good soundquality (left: inlet; right: HVAC)
tion, by combining the original nonwoven fabric duct that eliminates
resonance, it is possible to reduce thesound in the entire frequency range
and create a smoother acceleration
sound. By optimizing the airflow in
the intake duct, the noise is reduced
without reducing the engine performance. This system can also be
applied to HVAC air blow noise that
becomes more noticeable in EVs.
In addition, Sekiso is now trying to find a way to contribute

Masaya Yamada, President,
SEKISO Co. Ltd.
to carbon neutrality with our
products. Our original business
was manufacturing paper partsfor automobiles. We hope tocontribute to carbon neutrality
with paper parts made from environmentally-friendly, lightweightand highly recyclable non-woven
fabric materials.

www.sekiso.co.jp

Nagatsu: indispensable parts of unrivaled quality
Since its founding in 1950, NAGATSU has pursued thorough quality control and advanced technology as a parts
manufacturer focused on collaboration.
dercarriages, transmissions, hydraulic parts, and sensors for vehicles.
The company’s success has been
propelled by its two main pillars:
increasing efficiency through automation and overseas production.

“We do not simply
supply products. We
consider our company
to be a place of creationand challenge.”
Yasuaki Tsuda,
President, Nagatsu GroupAs the world becomes ever moreinterconnected, collaboration will
drive innovation. Japanese firm Nagatsu Industry Co. is pushing the
manufacturing of construction machinery forward through its collaborations and a focus on automation.
Founded in 1960, Nagatsu has
grown into a multinational company
that provides parts for construction
and mining equipment, such as un-

Five-axis machining center
The first of these pillars has been
aided by its collaboration with construction giant Komatsu. Nagatsu
has worked with Komatsu closely
in all aspects of its work, from designing components to manufacturing and technology development.
For example, the two companies
worked together to create the quality and cost guidelines for Nagatsu’s
successful sensor business.
Collaboration has also aided theautomation of procedures in Na-

gatsu’s smart factories, from timescheduling to labor-saving machinery such as automatic changers
and measuring devices.
Company president Yasuaki
Tsuda reveals Nagatsu is alsoplanning on implementing two
new production systems: “Weplan to have the Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) and
four cells called Flexible Manufacturing Cells (FMC), which will
optimize our production using
multi-purpose machinery.”

3D-CAM
The company’s growth has enabled it to expand into Thailand
and Vietnam, where it has factories. Mr. Tsuda says Nagatsu

understands the importance ofcollaboration in these markets
as well, adding: “We are looking
to expand these facilities further
and we hope to strengthen our relationships with suppliers there.”

Undercarriage
Nagatsu is always on the lookout for like minded companies andhuman resources to collaborate
with as its digital transformationand international expansion continue, understanding that interconnectivity is the future of industry.

www.nagatsu-g.co.jp/en

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Door visor assembly line

“We’ve got to continue
to forge and polish thepower of innovation.”
Toru Ichimiya,President,
Nissen Chemitec Corporation

Front bumper safety plateassembly line

Super-engineered plastics forhigh-performance applications
Leveraging the power of synergy and collaboration – internally, externally and as partof the Ichimiya Group – Nissen Chemitec produces high-performance plastics for everevolving applications and is also engaged in the recycling of industrial plastic waste.
As we veer towards a sustainable,
carbon-neutral world, the recyclingof industrial plastic waste and theshift towards vehicle electriﬁcation(two major aspects of the environmental movement) are having a
direct influence on the businessdirection of Nissen Chemitec Corporation, a leading manufacturer ofhigh-performance plastic parts forthe automotive and other industries.
Fortunately thanks to its longcultivated know-how and collaborative synergies among the many
divisions of the group, and as partof the wider Ichimiya Group, Nissen Chemitec is well positioned tosupport both movements, with its
focus areas being recycling, automotive parts, and highly functional
plastic components.

Raw material resin
Nissen Chemitec is also 25%
owned by Sumitomo Chemical,
with whom it is collaborating
on initiatives to convert plastic
scraps of automotive origin backinto automobile parts, creatinga so-called “car-to-car recycling
cycle”. “In addition to producing
new (virgin) plastic raw materials,

we are also working to create new
businesses, areas and opportunities by recycling and reusing plastics,” says president Toru Ichimiya.

CVT welding line
As a company whose main business is the supply of exterior andinterior automotive parts, adapting
to the emerging CASE (connected,
autonomous, shared, electric) era
is both a major challenge and opportunity for Nissen Chemitec. “We
believe that the functions required
will change signiﬁcantly in the future due to automated driving andvehicle network connectivity,” adds
Mr. Ichimiya. “This means providing the entire interior environment,
including lighting and entertainment systems, as a package. Itis very difﬁcult for a company of
our size to cover such equipment
on its own, so we are collaboratingwith external partners to fulﬁll ourcustomers’ requirements.”
Nissen Chemitec already manufactures parts for oil pipes fortransmissions in hybrid vehicles
and by leveraging its expertise inresins and various manufacturing

techniques, the company aims
to expand into areas such asbatteries and motors for electricvehicles (EVs).
Launched in 2019, the superengineering plastics division is thelatest Nissen Chemitec businesspillar, targeting the highly functional parts sector. This division is
working with raw material manufacturers and other companies on
various initiatives in the areas ofraw materials, development andmanufacturing, with its ﬁrst success being a super-engineered plastic oil pipe used in transmissions for
Toyota’s hybrid vehicles. In recognition of this world-ﬁrst technology,
Toyota handed Nissen Chemitec atechnical award in 2020.

Front bumper safety plate
The semiconductor industry
is another important focus area
for Nissen Chemitec, which has a
trading division for semiconductor
products and display materials.
Mr. Ichimiya says the semiconductor industry in particular holds
great business opportunities forthe company in the future, particularly in Japan with the newfab established by Sony and TSMC
in Kumamoto. ”We would like toPipe for oil delivery

Door trim
expand our business with regard
to the new TSMC plant,” he adds.
As it adapts to a new era in theautomotive industry and beyond,
Mr. Ichimiya stresses the ongoing
importance of synergies, collaboration and knowledge sharing. “Theexpansion of EVs and automateddriving will undoubtedly change
the automotive industry. Demands
on suppliers will also change signiﬁcantly, and it will be difﬁcult for
us to meet all of these demands
on our own. In the future, we will
naturally continue to hone our own
technological capabilities, but wewill also continue to cooperatewith external partners as necessary. This applies not only to theautomotive parts business, but also
to other business areas, such as therecycling raw materials business,semiconductor and the super engineering plastics business.”

https://nissen-chem.jp/

CONTENT BY THE WORLDFOLIO

Handa Heavy Industrial: cooperation
through collaboration
From advanced, low-cost products for SMEs around the world to human resource recruitment
and development, Handa Heavy Industrial goes above and beyond in support of its clients.

“Handa Heavy Industrial’s
goal is to become a global
company that attracts
people, goods, andinformation from aroundthe world.”
Akitaka Niimi, President,
Handa Heavy Industrial Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1937, Handa Heavy
Industrial provides AI and IoT
products and services for small

and medium-sizedneed for automation andbusinesses aroundhuman resource recruitthe world, and isment, and its growth powilling to actively
tential is immeasurable,
promote crosswith products and services
border transacfor this industry a promistions, not only
ing opportunity. Therefore
locally in Japan.
we developed a new Image“Japan’s manuInspection Systems and Facfacturing industry
tor X recruiting service.”
remains among Image
The company manufactures
the world’s best in inspection
hydraulic cylinders for forklifts
terms of concen- system with AI and mainly supplies these to TOYOTA L&F, which has the world’s
tration, diversity,and sales scale,” explains company
president Akitaka Niimi. “On theother hand, the country, like other
Hydraulicdeveloped nations, is struggling
components
with a declining birthrate and an
aging population, resulting in an highest market share. In addition
to the cylinders, it is currently
aging workforce.
“This means that Japan’s manu- working on the development offacturing industry has a great electric pumps and considering

Factor X: a cross-border factorytransaction promotional service
proposing a total solution for theentire hydraulic unit.
Turning to his next midterm
strategy plan, Mr. Niimi concludes
that: “There is much more ahead
for us, so we will continue to work
hard to reach our new goals forthe company,” adding, “I deeply
appreciate all our employees.”

https://en.hanju.co.jp

Daimei Plastic: sustainable
innovation for more than a century
Daimei is looking to continue its model of sustainably
creating plastic products of
unrivaled quality.

“Daimei is a company
that considers the global
environment, grasps
market trends, andcontinues to innovate.”

SOEM
guchi says, “we would like to address new markets and add a thirdor fourth pillar for our business.

Toru Yamaguchi, President,
Daimei Plastic Co., Ltd.
Healthy Foot Washer
A molded plastic parts manufacturer first established over
100 years ago, Daimei Plastic is
a leading light when it comes tosustainable innovation.
Daimei has had a long relationship with major home appliancemanufacturers since the mid1950s, and has earned their trust.
However, today, it has become acompany that has earned the trustof not only home appliances, butalso automobile manufacturers
who are strict about quality. And
president Toru Yamaguchi has no

We succeeded in signiﬁcantly
doubt that customer satisfaction
is at the heart of the ﬁrm’s success. reducing the weight by applying“We regard our ability to meet gas-assisted injection molding
the demands of our customers as technology in a new way, which
our core competence,” he explains, has improved the appearance ofhighlighting how prioritizing the thick plates with sink marks andcustomer has led to the develop- dents on the surface.
In addition to B2B products,
ment of magnesium alternative
plastics and gas-assisted injection Daimei has also begun developing
molding technology. Daimei’s sta- and marketing B2C products such
as SOEM, which
tus as a top venuses environmendor in a number
TV cabinet
tally friendly maof ﬁelds – a status
producedterials, to expand
which, in turn, isin 1955
all options.
linked back to the“Moving forcompany’s creward,” Mr. Yamaative output.

Gas Assist Injection
Molding (interior)
To achieve that, we would liketo approach and collaborate
with various customers, regardless of the size of the company
or the length of its history.” In
the future, Daimei intends tostrengthen its presence overseas,with Asia and North America asimportant targets.

https://daimei.jp

CONTENT BY THE WORLDFOLIO

Yamato Gokin: unique materials manufacturer
continues to support global industry
As a leading firm in the manufacture of thermally conductive materials, Yamato
Gokin is now looking to tackle the global market.
capacity to supply its products
to an increasingly diverse range
of industries.

“The company as awhole has a wealth ofexperience in making allsorts of different alloys.”
Genjiro Hagino, President,
Yamato Gokin Co., Ltd.
First established more than 80
years ago, Yamato Gokin now supplies more than 100 different copper alloys and is looking to expand
its customer base around the world.
The firm already counts Honda among its clients, and has the

Yamato Gokin begins by melting
its special copper alloys
While the company has become“very successful” in making products for fusion reactors, president
Genjiro Hagino states that Yamato
Gokin is “still conducting researchin other industries, for applications in hydrogen industries, powders and even 3D printing.”
Of those mentioned above, itis the hydrogen industry that appears to offer the most potential.
Copper alloys, Dr. Hagino explains,are resistant to hydrogen embrittlement, making them suitable forparts of the heat exchangers under the high pressure of hydrogenin hydrogen stations.
As well as growing its existingpresence in Portugal, the firm iskeen to target the U.S. and Canadianmarkets. Dr. Hagino adds: “Currently we are exporting our materials
to Europe for use in aerospace andfusion energy industries, as I believe
our technical capabilities are higher
than those of local companies.”

Copper chrome zirconium
With the applications for thefirm’s materials potentially “end-Bushings from Yamato Gokin’s
alloys used in airplanesless”, however, Dr. Hagino is equallyfocused on employee wellbeing.
A yearly music concert and barbecue
for all Yamato Gokin employees, subcontractors, and locals provides theopportunity for them to exchange
views on the way the company is run,a process which Dr. Hagino himself
describes as “very important”.
As for the future, the goal is tohave as many global branches as
possible so that Yamato Gokin’s
reputation continues to flourish
in the years to come.

www.yamatogokin.com/en

Unique industrial challenges require
unique pipe milling solutions
For over a century, Kusakabe Electric & Machinery has developed pipe mills forcustomers in fields that range from the automotive to the nuclear power industry.
Such an approach has brought
clear dividends in product terms.
Mr. Kusakabe again: “In the processof partnering with clients to comeup with the best solutions, we mutually advance our technologies.”“We have been to different countries to address
different markets and were willing to take on
difficult challenges that our competitors were not.”Ryouji Kusakabe, President, Kusakabe Electric & Machinery Co., Ltd.
With a company history stretch- key, as company president Ryouji
ing back over 100 years, Kusakabe Kusakabe explains: “We cannot
Electric & Machinery is an impor- just copy our technology fromtant behind-the-scenes presence one place to another. We havein a number of different industries. to customize and fine tune it in
Working in a variety of sec- line with different conditions
tors means that partnerships are and technologies.”

Automotive stabilizer tube mill
One such technology is the
DNC shear-type cut-off press, a
motor-driven press whose method causes no pipe deformation,
leading to higher yields.
Other well-known products
include the automotive stabilizer
tube mill, which is used to manufacture manganese boron steel
and is the first choice of manu-

DNC shear-type cutoff
facturers all around the world.
Looking to the future, thecompany has identified a number of areas for further expansion. With an existing presencein the USA and EU, the next
target could be South America,
India or even the Middle East.
But as Mr. Kusakabe is keen
to point out, size isn’t the be-alland end-all: “Our goal is not toenlarge the size of our business,but to obtain recognition from themarket. The aim is not necessarily
to achieve returns on our investments, or higher revenues, but to
add value to our clients.”

www.kusakabe.com/eng