Corporate
Profile

[Company strength]
Our company has been developing various products using unique technologies and introducing them in iron-related industries since 1955. Our current main products are: (1) image inspection equipment; (3 models), (2) applicators (3 types) and oiling devices (15 models); and (3) safe makers (6 models).  Our image inspection equipment is ranked as No. 1 in the quantity of units sold to major coil centers, and has been featured in various industry papers many times. More than 40 sets of our image inspection equipment have been shipped to steel makers and metalwork makers both in Japan and overseas. Our customers’ product life cycles are getting shorter, so we quickly cater to the customer’s auxiliary tool needs, such as necessary operation software, at low cost. This is done by subdividing each of our divisions into 3 departments, and by working with 3 other companies that have partnered with us for more than 20 years. We repeat a cycle of design and verification together with our development department, and conduct development so that we can contribute to enhancing productivity, safety, and quality. 

[Business description]
We develop, manufacture, and sell image processing inspection equipment, mechatronic units, oiling devices, and safe markers. 

[Industry]
Machine manufacturing

[Strength of products/technologies]
We offer in-house development of dedicated processing boards for defect judgment, and optimal lighting equipment for image inspection. 
Our metal surface inspection device detects various defective parts on steel sheets, such as scratches, dimples, and dents, by size (width and length) and area. It automatically inspects all the surfaces of various steel sheets for scratches, including hot-rolled, cold rolled, acid washed, and surface treated steel sheets. We use a suitable camera for the customer’s conditions, such as the line speed, and the size that the customer wants to detect, so we can propose an optimal system. We have also developed automatic measurement equipment for washer thickness and flatness by applying three-dimensional measurement with a whole-space tabulation method. This makes it possible to measure the depth of nicks and scratches on the back of a product as well as warping and distortion of the product itself. The results and measured location information are displayed on a monitor in real time, and can be output as warnings. 


[Representative's message]
Our company has been engaged in reliable manufacturing through unique technological strength and creativity since our establishment in 1955. We pursue the possibilities of technologies. The resulting capabilities in development and commercialization have produced new products in the lubricant field, and also in the field of optical device and image processing. This has earned us a favorable reputation with our customers. Japan’s manufacturing sector has now been forced to face the issue of cost reduction, safety measures, and globalization even further. This is due to the declining birth rate, the strong yen, and other factors. We hope to continue our R&D activities without interruption, by using our unique seeds. This will be done so we can become a company that contributes to our valued customers, however little it may be. 

[Company structure for market development/overseas expansion]
Our sales division has an overseas project department, and the staff can directly do business with customers in English. We also have overseas sales agencies and partner companies in China and India to facilitate quick responses. 

[Market share/Ranking]
Our company is in the No. 1 position in the quantity of metal surface inspection equipment delivered to sheet metal processing companies. We also have the largest share in the lubricator market for cranes. 

[Awards and media coverage]
[Awards]

[Media]
Our metal surface inspection equipment has been featured in Japan Metal Daily (March 2013), Sangyo Shimbun (February 2013), and Sangyo Shimbun (May 2014). 


[Joint research and development]
Wakayama University (development of three-dimensional measurement); Kagawa National College of Technology (joint development on solid lubricant molding methods, since 2013). 

[Factory (domestic)]
Kagawa

[Transaction form]
Joint development; product sales.

[Transaction terms]
Delivered products are received after inspection, and entered into a billing cycle that closes at the end of each month. Payment is due at the end of the next month.

[Main Clients / Business History (domestic)]
Japan Railway Group (delivered flange lubricator for railroad cars); Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal, JFE Steel, Kobe Steel, Nisshin Steel (delivered various lubricators); Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and other makers in heavy industries (delivered various lubricants); Nisshin Steel, JFE Shoji Coil Center (delivered image processing inspection equipment). 

[Main Clients / Business History (overseas)]
Tata Steel in India (lubricator for cranes, since 2004); steel makers in China (since 2006).

[Exhibition History/Information]
Kanagawa Prefecture New Technology/New Manufacturing Method Exhibition and Business Talk in Toyota; TAMA Association Technology Collaboration Fair; SHANGHAI METAL EXPO 2012.