267

Hyogo Prefecture

Nunobiki Seisakusho Co., Ltd (Kobe City) Precise punching screen by micro technology

Kanemitsu Co., Ltd. (Akashi City) Producing pulley for cars by press technology

Otowa Electric Company, Ltd. (Amagasaski City,) Providing internal and external lightning system by its own technology

Sera Co., Ltd. (Amagasaki City) Producing precision parts by special press molding technology

MEC COMPANY LTD. (Amagasaki City,) Producing special agent for printed-wiring boards

Yamashita Works Co., Ltd. (Amagasaki City,) Completion technology of special mirror in complicate shapes

FiS Inc. (Itami City) Producing ultrasmall semiconductor gas sensor

KOTANI CORPORATION (Kasai City) Producing automotive driving parts by its own combined technology

268

Katayama Co., Ltd. (Nishiwaki City) Developed the world's first high-mix low-volume production of textile

Technos Japan Co., Ltd (Himeji City) Developed brain wave switch of communication device for handicapped.

Technos developed communication aids, BIO.SWITCH for people with special needs.

Hamanaka Chain Mfg.Co., Ltd. (Himeji City) Producing special chains by welding technology

269

Precise punching screen by micro technology

Nunobiki Seisakusho

Co., Ltd

2-16-24 Uozaki Minamimachi Higashinada-Ward, Kobe City,

Hyogo Prefecture

Established in 1944 TEL +81-78-431-1105

http://www.nunobiki-s.co.jp/

Takashi Ando President

World-leading technology in precise punching technology capable of making ultrasmall- and high-density holes and special holes with direction on metal plates

World-leading technology of precise and punching process

Nunobiki Seisakusho is a maker specialized in precise punching screen (punching metal) since starting business. Especially for small holes, porous holes and special shapes, it has an excellent technology of precise punching screen, with processing precision that has been mastered through its continuous technology development for a long time.

Success in the advanced areas of fuel cells, bio, environment

Recently, it developed an epoch-making hot dust collection screen by its punching-metal technology. It is highlighted as efficient dust collection filter since it has the advantage of environment resistance. As important parts, precise punching screen has been studied and used in the advanced technology areas of fuel cells, bio and environment equipments. Its applications are now extended to various industry areas. Creative personnel training and dissemination of technology

Sophisticated technology and know-how on shapes and processing of molds are required for the precise screening processing. But sense of engineers with years of experience is needed for last fine adjustments. It has the strength of having skill which machine cannot make copy of since it has strategically trained excellent engineers through the experiences in producing molds for a long time.

There are 4,055 holes per square inch with 0.25mm φ. Ultra small holes with 30.7% opening area. High-precision punching metal

Screen of various kinds of special holes with direction

270

Producing pulley for cars by press technology

Kanemitsu Co., Ltd.

20-26 Okurahoncho Akashi City,

Hyogo Prefecture

Established in 1950 TEL +81-78-911-6645

http://www.kanemitsu.co.jp Yukio Kanemitsu

President

Pulley is the important block to transmit the power of automotive engine.It succeeded in producing steel pulleys for the first time in Japan by its own rotational molding technology and press technology. It has 35% market share in Japan.

"Pulley", important security parts for cars

5 to 6 pulleys are used per car normally.The pulley is important security parts which need to have similar durability, safety and reliability to car since its parts cannot be replaced.

In-house development of the press technology and production facilities

Kanemitsu changed traditional casting and welding methods to its own rotational molding method based on President's idea of "rotating products should be produced by rotating" (to produce one pulley from one steel sheet) and succeeded in producing steel pulley for cars.It grows to a major company of automotive pulleys by developing the production facility for mass production, enhancing the quality assurance system and having testing facilities in house.

Excellent soft-asset management

It has more than 840 applications of industrial property (patent and design right).It has promoted the technology development of steel pulley and other precision metal products by these industrial property, rotational molding technology, press technology and composite deformation processing technology at its one and only production facility. It also makes excellent soft-asset management

Rotational molding machine (in-house development)

Automotive engine Pulley products

Intelligent molding machine (in-house development)

271

Providing internal and external lightning system

by its own technology

Otowa Electric Company, Ltd.

3-7-18 Meichin-cho, Amagasaski City,

Hyogo Prefecture

Established in 1946 TEL +81-6-6429-3541

http://www.otowadenki.co.jp

Osamu Yoshida President

It is the only total lightening maker from the development, production and sales of lightning rod products such as arrester (lightning rod) and ceramic elements to consulting of internal and external lightening, entrusted experiments, electric works and grounding works.

Spread of lightening rods

Since Otowa Electric developed P-valve lightening rod in 1950 by improving the traditional and less-reliable lightening rod, it has mass-produced and spread them to the industries of electricity, railway, broadcasting and communication., and now has 60% market share in the power industry. After that, it has made development, production and sales of various kinds of products according to the needs of electric companies. It makes efforts to protect electric equipment and appliances from thunderbolt, and spread the necessity by publishing technical books and photo books of thunderstorm. The activities are highly appreciated. Technology

It has made continuous efforts on the research and development of zinc oxide element which is the core of current paravanes and its high-qualified products have good reputation in global market. It also improves customer satisfaction by the paravanes which have been developed by the outcome of long-term research and are now its core technology. Experimental facility for thunderstorm

It developed and installed its own experimental equipments of thunderstorm to develop new products. It has 3 experimental equipments of thunderstorm which are not available at other companies in Japan and has accepted the experiments from others. Through severer experiments, high-qualified zinc oxide element was created. The element contributes to the drastic development of the company in line with development of paravanes.

272

Producing precision parts by special press molding

technology

Sera Co., Ltd.

2-23-2, Kukuchi-Nishimachi,

Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture

Established in 1935

TEL +81-6-6429-7446

http://www.kksera.co.jp

Yukihiro Sera President

Producing automotive brake parts by fine blanking processing technology capable of forming 3D complicate high-precision members in one process

Factory in headquarter Factory in Thailand

Handling brake parts for various kinds of carmakers

Sera started the business of spring manufacturing and have expanded the business to brake-parts for railroad carriages and automotive brake parts. Currently its products of complicate shapes by high-precision processing are used for several kinds of cars, trains and motorbikes.

Establishment of technology

To press 3D complicate parts with high precision, in fine blanking processing technology, special skills in machining accuracy and machine operation are required. Accordingly it has made efforts to improve the skill for a long term and established the current position in fine blanking.

Development of overseas production facilities and establishment of international specialization system

In 1997, it established the production facility in Southeast Asia to supply parts to ASEAN and Japan. In

Japan, it focuses on development, and makes production of molds and very difficult products. Overseas production facility produces considerable quantities of parts to establish international specialization system.

Blacket fiber flow

273

Producing special agent for printed-wiring boards

MEC COMPANY

LTD.

3-95 Showa-dori, Amagasaki City,

Hyogo Prefecture

Established in 1969 TEL +81-6-6414-3451

http://www.mec-co.com/

Kazuo Maeda President

Developed "super-roughing agent on copper surfaces" used in the production process of high-precision electronic boards for digital devices like mobile phones and PC. It has 100% market share in the world.

Top share in surface preparation agent for packaged boards

MEC was established in 1969 as the research & development company who merge the technology of machine (M), electronics (E) and chemical(C). It developed special agent (surface preparation agent) for high-density and high-integrated printed-wiring boards (electronic boards), which is necessary for electronic devices, and has top share in agent for super-roughing on copper surfaces in the world. Development of "super-roughing agent on copper surfaces" under its own brand

MEC acquired 100% market share in CZ series of “super-roughing agent on copper surfaces" which improve coherence reliability between wiring pattern (copper) and plastic when forming the wiring pattern of several tens of micrometer on resin substrates of packaged boards for PC, mobile phones and flat-screen TV. Especially only MEC has the agent for circuit patterns on boards of which line space (pattern width of circuit and its space) is less than 100 micrometer.

Unprocessed copper surface Copper surface after CZ processing

MEC research center

(Observing by 3,500-power electronic microscope)

Investment to specific research & development areas and enhancement of research & development system

There are about 40 employees in R&D(Reserch & Development) that are one-third of all. It invests 10% of sales to research & development and continues to develop new products in response to printed-wiring boards under engineering innovation.

274

Completion technology of special mirror in complicate shapes

Yamashita Works

Co., Ltd.

2-1-8 Tsugiya, Amagazaki City, Hyogo Prefecture

Established in 1986

TEL +81-6-6496-4566

http://www13.ocn.ne.jp/~y-works/

Kenji Yamashita President

It succeeded in development of the special equipment to polish the surface of complicate shape quickly and smoothly (mirroring) while it has been considered impossible.

Applicable to any shape of molds

"AERO LAP", its equipment, polishes the molds by spraying wet abradants (multicorn) in which diamond powder of several µm is attached to polishing nucleus. It can make mirroring process of molds of complicate shape in short time. The polishing agent has excellent safety and has the feature of preventing mine dusts since food materials are used. It has business experiences of molds and parts for medical products as well as mold, cutting tools, parts and plastic-forming products. Its own management strategy

Its management policy is to prevent subcontracting and the drop of prices by controlling the sales ratio of each account and diversifying customers. Without having sales division, it expands the sales channel through personal communication and introduction by customers who evaluate its technology highly.

Use the experiences of a food company to different area

President of Yamashita Works has focused on "coating technology" and established the company after working with a food company for a few years.Based on know-how and experiences at the food company, it succeeded in developing a equipment to polish mold surface of complicate shape in short time smoothly. Before the development, the works were made by hand of skilled workers.

275

Producing ultrasmall semiconductor gas sensor

FiS Inc.

3-36-3, Kitazono, Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture

Established in 1992

TEL +81-72-780-1800

http://www.fisinc.co.jp

Noriyuki Ogasawara, President

By its own technology, succeeded in microminiaturization of sensor and reducing power consumption, and achieving the reduction of prices for application products of the same. Having 30% market share

8 million pieces of production capacity

The semiconductor gas sensors are used for gas-leak alarm, CO alarm, and automatic operation of ventilation fan and control of air quality in a car. It has the production capacity of 8 million pieces and has 30% market share in Japan. Various application and extension of application areas

Only a few companies handle semiconductor gas sensors in the world. FIS is receiving requests of collaboration

from major companies thanks to its high technology and product development capability. Its SB and SP series which uses the next generation of semiconductor gas sensor has the excellence in sensitivity, long-term stability, maintenance, economic efficiency, small power consumption and integration. It has the possibility of extending the application areas.

Wide line-up from gas-leak detector to gas detector of small amount of air quality

Succeeded in microminiaturizing of sensors

FIS has been the union of engineers who have experiences of the production and development of sensor for a long term and the venture company of research and development who has technology and creativity. By its own technology, it succeeded in microminiaturization of sensor (0.5 x 0.3 mm) and reduced power consumption, and achieved the price reduction of application products (air cleaner for family use and cars etc). (1mm is the width of metal terminal.)

276

Producing automotive driving parts by its own

combined technology

KOTANI CORPORATION

1665 Nakano-cho Kasai City,

Hyogo Prefecture

Established in 1974 TEL +81-790-49-0360

http://www.kk-kotani.co.jp Masahiro Kotani

Persident

By its own combined technology of warm, hot and cool forging, rolling forging and orbital forging), it produces automotive parts, such as constant-velocity joint, hub bearing and transmission (multistage AT, CVT and MT), in integrated production, and has top market share in Japan.

Originality in engineering technology of forging products

KOTANI develops everything including production method by focusing on engineering technology of forging products.Ahead of others, it started automation of forging line and supplies at low price by integrated production of automotive driving parts such as hub bearing for axle, constant-velocity joint and transmission. Aggressive investment in research and development

In the processing technology of automotive driving parts, it has improved hot rolling machines and established its own technology of tooth forming by hot orbital forging through a long-term research and development. It attains high reputation for precise forging including hypoid gears from users in the world. Technology development policy is to make investment in equipment for high quality and low-cost toward future 10 years.

By making aggressive investments in equipment for high-quality and low-cost based on technology development and its own technology after 10 years, it has blocked the entry of major companies and other competitors, and establishes competitive leadership.

Hypoid gear Sliding for CVT In-board outer ring for CVJ

277

Developed the world's first high-mix low-volume

production of textile

Katayama Co., Ltd.

1130 Nishiwaki Nishiwaki City,

Hyogo Prefecture

Established in 1913 TEL +81-795-22-2613

http://www.katayama-s.co.jp Shozo Katayama

President

Developed continuous production system of yarn-dyed textiles by winding&knotting maximum 9 different materials and size into a thread. Local company challenging the revival of textile manufacturing center by innovative manufacturing

Technology development of world's first "high-mix low-volume production system"

In traditional textile manufacturing sites, the warping had to be prepared for each colored pattern whenever the colored pattern changed. Accordingly the system needed too much cost and a lot of time to make "high-mix low-volume production " according to the diversification of consumer needs, and it was the major issue of the manufacturing center. Based on the needs of the manufacturing sites, it succeeded in the development of creative and innovative control machine capable of winding&knotting 9 different-colored yarns into a thread by reeling stretch warps in uniform length. Improvement of international competitiveness

The excellent development helps to exclude replacing works of warps and reduce cost by using remaining warp-yarns, and develop new products with design performance. So, it improves the international competitiveness. As the result of those efforts, it received Prime Minister's Prize of 1st Japan Manufacturing Award in 2005.

Continuous production of "blue pattern" and "red pattern"

Production cost 39 to 81% down Loss of materials 66 to 87% down

Revival of world's leading manufacturing center of yarn-dyed textile (Banshu-brocade)

Katamaya is the established trading company of weaving machines since 1913 in the manufacturing center of Banshu-brocade which has 200 years of tradition. Recently, the manufacturing center was hard hit by low-price imported products and was depressed due to drastic decline of production. To survive, under the circumstance, "high-mix low-volume production system" was urgently required to differentiate from imported products by high-value added products.

Arrange Winder

278

Developed brain wave switch of communication device for handicapped.

Technos developed communication aids,

BIO.SWITCH for people with special needs.

Technos Japan Co., Ltd

78 Sanzaemonbori,Higashi no

machi, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture

Established in 1993

TEL +81-792-88-0995

http://www.technosj.co.jp/company/Hidenori Ohnishi

President

Developed the world's first input system "brain-wave switch (MCTOS)" to operate various electronic devices by biological signals (Bio Signal) such as brain wave (EEG), electro-oculogram (EOG) and myoelectric signal (EMG). Aiming at contribution for a fulfilling life in a supportive society

Keywords of development is "Elderly", "Agriculture", " Environment" and "Heart".

With Keywords of "Elderly", "Agriculture", " Environment" and "Heart", Technos Japan develops the products to support people with special needs by electronic technology and computer technology under the management policy of fabless, branchless and no subcontracting. The products include Fall Prevention Alarm, Vacuume Cushion for seating, disaster evacuation lights, support software of agricultural corporation like control of farmland etc. Biological signal switch (MCTOS・EMOS)

Biological signal switch, BIO.SWITCH(MCTOS,EMOS) is the device which exchanges human biological signals into control signals of electronic device. Technos developed the world first device. It is used as communication aids for people with special needs. In the actual achievement, the person with ALS in home care to bring out the book of Japanese short poetry, Haiku, with MCTOS. Mr. Ohnishi, CEO, who started the business at 45 years old, is now fulfilling his dream "serve people with special needs and contribute for a fulfilling life in a affluent society" step by step. Fall Prevention Alarm for elderly care has top market share.

Technos has created a suite of fall prevention alarms. At elderly care in hospitals, institutions and home care, to

prevent incidents by falling down, and to ease the burden on nurses and other caregivers, It has the top market share with high reputation..

Fall Prevention Alarm Biological signal switch

279

Producing special chains by welding technology

Hamanaka Chain Mfg.Co., Ltd

Ko-770, Shirahama-cho

Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture

Established in 1950

TEL +81-792-45-5151

http://www.hamanaka-chain.co.jpHideo Hamanaka

President

Producing special steel chains of 686 N/m ㎡ for shipbuilding based on chain-making technology of Matsubara peg for Himeji castle of national treasure (traditional technology), holding 55% share of the domestic market.

Chain-making technology developed by Matsubara peg to build Himeji castle (traditional technology)

Hamanaka Chain started business in Shirahama-cho of Himeji, the "major production area of chain”, and introduced foreign-made large welding machine (flash butt welding) in 1957, which was the 1st introduction in Japan. Comparing to chains by traditional smithery method and steel casting method, it enhanced the industrial productivity and quality of chains and contributed to the improvement of international competitiveness of shipbuilding. High-qualified products

It is the only company in Japan which produces tensile special steel chain of 980 N/m ㎡ (high-tension steel) for mooring (mooring by chain) of floating equipments for oil production, storage and shipping. Continuous technology development and improvement of quality and process

Its strength is high engineering technology which has been developed by the research and development of special steels together with major steel makers for a long time, process patens of engineering technology, atomization and laborsaving in production process and standardization of technology. It now competes with foreign products by the technology.

Flash butt welding machine Welding robot factory Shipping