Corporate
Profile

[Company strength]
Our management contract business started with the repair of steel ingot casting molds and surface plates for the former Sumitomo Metal Industries, and the business has since expanded to cover the operation, equipment maintenance and facility planning of leading steelmakers’ production processes. In fact, we now have branch offices inside major steel plants. Our own plants in eastern (Chiba) and western (Amagasaki) Japan offer repair services to customers. Our strong point is the ability to operate production lines including facility planning and maintenance. While providing special cladding by welding/thermal spraying and machine processing services as part of the contracted management of product lines, we have acquired extensive knowledge about metal surface reformulation technology, which has also become our strength.

[Business description]
We provide all-inclusive contract services covering the production management, quality control, safety administration, and design/maintenance of the production line sections of leading steelmakers. We also manufacture and restore steelmaking facilities through the use of special cladding via welding/thermal spraying and machine processing. Our special cladding is based on a metal surface reformulation technology and is applicable to the production and restoration of parts and components in a wide range of industries including industrial machinery, paper manufacturing, automobiles, energy, semiconductors, IT, aerospace and construction in addition to steelmaking.

[Industry]
Iron and steel industry (Steel material manufacturing without steelmaking)

[Strength of products/technologies]
Our advantages are as follows:
(1) Total operation expertise and techniques including facility planning and maintenance of major steelmakers’ production lines
(2) Proprietary metal surface reformulation technology including cladding via welding/thermal spraying and quenching (of small-bore roll manufacturing)
In the area of (1), we are highly evaluated as a key partner by customers. In the area of (2), we are able to offer cladding for special materials (e.g., Stellite®, Tribaloy® and complex carbide alloys) employing “powder plasma arc welding,” which uses powder weld materials. This technology is applicable to surface treatment of products that require high heat resistance, corrosion resistance, abrasion resistance and toughness (e.g., CGL hot-dip parts, hearth rolls, hot-working tools and power-generating plant components).


[Representative's message]
We have consolidated all expertise and technologies related to powder plasma arc welding devices into a product development and production technology division to realize enhanced quality, manufacturing capability and technological competence. With regard to “laser cladding,” which is a third technology for metal surface reformulation following cladding by welding and thermal spraying, we have achieved the following:
(1) Establishment of a joint research division for “Advanced Functional Processing” on the campus of Osaka University in April 2013 to promote the research and development of the technology.
(2) Establishment of the “Research Institute for Laser Plasma Bonding” in November 2014.
(3) Installation of a laser cladding device to accelerate development efforts.
(4) Participation in two exhibitions in 2015.
Thus, we are making every effort to expand the metal surface reformulation business with laser cladding as a core service.


[Company structure for market development/overseas expansion]
The sales division is the contact for domestic and overseas customers and the technology center handles technical issues. Our internal system is well-organized to comprehensively promote and develop our welding, thermal spraying and machine processing technologies and services in close cooperation with our iron and steel division and affiliate companies.

[Market share/Ranking]
We are among the top ten of some 3,000 general mechanical repairers in Japan.

[Awards and media coverage]
[Awards]

[Media]
The establishment of a local company in Vietnam was reported by the Japan Metal Daily, The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun and other media.
Our cladding by welding/thermal spraying was reported by mass media including The Welding New Reports.


[Authorization/Certification]
ISO 9001, JIS Q 9100, and the Strategic Core Technology Advancement Program (2014)

[Joint research and development]
Registered Patent (No. 4517008) for “high-temperature material carriage members,” and ten other registered patents
Patents pending and laid-open to the public: three



[Main Clients / Business History (domestic)]
Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation, JFE Steel Corporation, Kobe Steel, Ltd., Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd., Kubota Corporation and many other leading manufacturers

[Main Clients / Business History (overseas)]
Vina Kraft Paper Co., Ltd., NS Bluescope Vietnam Ltd., China Steel Sumikin Vietnam JSC