Corporate
Profile

[Company strength]
Our company possesses a very extensive knowledge base, because we have focused on the niche field of heat-proof cameras. We have developed a wide range of derived models by customizing our patented technology according to needs in the field. Every industrial furnace is operated in a unique environment, so each heat-proof camera must be customized and built by hand. This is why our accumulation of know-how is a great asset. We also specialize in heat- and cold-proof cameras and cold-proof cameras as applications of this technology. We have the same advantage of an extensive knowledge base that we gained as a pioneer in this field as we do for heat-proof cameras. 

[Business description]
Our company develops, manufactures, and sells the Furnacecope heat-proof interior monitoring camera (Japanese Patent No. 2891672). This is world’s only camera that can be directly inserted into an industrial furnace with an ambient temperature of 1,500 °C and take video footage of the interior. We design, develop, and sell heat-proof exterior monitoring cameras for furnaces (HRS models). Our products also include new heat distribution monitors (ANB-10), cold-proof cameras (to -60 °C), and heat- and cold-proof cameras (-60 to +200 °C). We are the only dedicated manufacturer of such products in Japan. 



[Industry]
Electronic device manufacturing and distribution

[Strength of products/technologies]
Our patented technology can take a CCD camera directly into an industrial furnace at 1,500 °C to make the interior visible. Our patent will expire in a few years, but we can preserve our other detailed technologies about the interior of our heat-proof cameras. This is because we did not patent them so as to avoid making them public. These undisclosed technologies themselves have extensive variations, so we can continue to offer customized heat-proof cameras that withstand use inside or outside various industrial furnaces. This is why our company is regarded as a pioneer in field of heat-proof cameras, where no standardized products can be favored. Constant evolution and an extensive product lineup are our strengths. 



[Representative's message]
Our company has been operating for 30 years as the pioneer of heat-proof cameras. We have also established pioneering positions in the fields of cold-proof cameras and heat- and cold-proof cameras by releasing these products for the first time in Japan. We want to bring the technologies, know-how, and experience we have accumulated in Japan into new markets, including overseas. This is why we are currently accumulating experience and know-how for overseas operations through demonstration experiments, and also by making use of JICA’s support options. 

[Company structure for market development/overseas expansion]
We have promoted an energy conservation and verification project with heat-proof monitoring cameras for furnace interiors at a government-run steel mill and a coal-fired thermal power plant in India. This was planned to run for two years from November 2013 to September 2015, which has given us a series of experiences from overseas sales activity to delivery. This makes our sales and technical staff members uniquely qualified for our future overseas operations. 



[Market share/Ranking]
We have a top-level market share as a dedicated manufacturer of heat-proof products. We have a 100% share of the market for heat-proof cameras for use inside furnaces. We estimate that our share of the market for heat-proof fixed cameras for furnace exteriors is 30% or more.

[Awards and media coverage]
[Awards]
Koto Brand certification (2015); Tokyo Venture Technology Awards, Encouragement Award (2009); registration as a designated product for trial orders by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (2010).

[Media]
Japan Metal Daily; Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun; Chemical Daily; Nikkei newspaper; and so on.


[Joint research and development]
Japanese Patent No. 2891672; Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-222713.

[Main Clients / Business History (domestic)]
Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal; JFE Steel; Kobe Steel; Nisshin Steel; Chubu Steel Plate; Topy Industries; Asahi Glass; Toyota Motor; Denso; Calsonic Kansei; Kansai Electric Power; Chubu Electric Power; Tohoku Electric Power; Hokuriku Electric Power; Showa Denko; Idemitsu Kosan; Kashima South Joint Power; Kashima North Joint Power; Tokyo Gas; Osaka Gas; Shimizu; Takenaka; Obayashi; Kajima; Mitsubishi Chemical; and so on.We have received requests from a number of companies including Kaneka, Kuraray, and Furukawa Electric.

[Main Clients / Business History (overseas)]
Steel companies: POSCO (South Korea), Dragon Steel (Taiwan), China Steel (Taiwan), China Steel Sumikin Vietnam (Vietnam), and Steel Authority of India (India).Overseas plants of Asahi Glass: In South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, and India.