Saitama Prefecture - METI

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Saitama Prefecture

ARAI HELMET LTD (Saitama City) A helmet maker whose products are selected in Confidence by top world drivers.

SUMITA OPTICAL GLASS, INC. (Saitama City) Manufactures high-performance special optical glass products ahead in the world

PORITE CORPORATION (Saitama City) Porite specializes ultra-small, high-performance oil-impregnated bearings for miniature motors, optical devices and mobile phones

INDUSTRIA (TAKAHASHI CO., LTD) (Iruma City) Develops filters boasting remarkable 98% filtration ratio

ERC INC (Kawaguchi City) World leader of solvent degassing equipment and refractive index detectors

KODAMA FOUNDRY CO., LTD (Kawaguchi City) Long-term durable centrifuge for manufacturing concrete piles

MURATA SEISAKUSHO CO., LTD (Kawaguchi City) Manufactures ultra-thin castings with excellent abrasion-resistant property

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NAGAI KIKAI CHUZO CO., LTD (Kawaguchi City) Shuts out radioactive ray by using special casting technology

GNS CO., LTD (Sakado City) Reinforces buildings by filling high viscous adhesive at high pressure

CHICHIBU DENSHI CORPORATION (Chichibu City) World-leading high precision polishing technology supports semiconductor industry

KAMAKURA KOKI CO., LTD (Warabi City) Giant in the world, backed by technology development capability

Netsushin Co., Ltd (Iruma Gun) Total thermometer company, highlighted by platinum resistance thermometer element

KGS CORPORATION (Hiki Gun) The change in the way of thinking supports Braille communication equipment for the visually impaired person

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A helmet maker whose products are selected in Confidence by top world

drivers.

ARAI HELMET LTD

2-12 Azuma-cho, Omiya-ku,

Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture

Established in 1976

TEL +81-48-641-3825

http://www.arai.co.jp

Michio Arai President

The company gains more than 50% of the domestic share for thermohardening design helmets. Over half of F1 drivers use Arai helmets due to their confidence in the reliability of those products.

The Arai Standard” – an original in-house standard

Some other helmet companies emphasize comfort as a top priority, whereas “Arai” concentrates on energy management at the time of impact. This concept is fully manifested in the establishment of the in-house standard – the “Arai Standard” – to strictly implement product performance as a helmet manufacturer.

The requirements of Arai Standard exceed those of the Snell Standard (well known as one of the most stringent helmet standards in the world) and therefore, helmets made to the Arai Standard are assured to meet or exceed Snell Standard requirements.

The in-house Arai Standard is applied to all Arai helmets marketed as Snell certified products. Regardless of whether the helmets are destined for racing or street use, products passing the in-house standard are certified as meeting Snell Standard requirements. Many top drivers use Arai helmets

Confidence in Arai helmets is not only shared by many domestic racers, but also by more than half of F1 drivers.

GP-5RC (Racing Carbon)

59

Manufactures high-performance special

optical glass products ahead in the world

SUMITA OPTICAL

GLASS，INC. 4-7-25 Harigaya, Urawa-ku,


Established in 1953

TEL +81-48-832-3165

http://www.sumita-opt.co.jp

Masatoshi Sumita President

Sumita Optical Glass, for the first time in the world, manufactured ultra-precision molding glass lenses, which enables mass-production of aspherical lenses for digital cameras at low costs and high-performance special optical glass products (phosphorescent glass). The company also enjoys 60% of the market share in the manufacturing of optical glass fibers in medical, lighting, measuring, and other non-telecom areas.

Pushes ahead with domestic production of optical glass in the country of world’s leading producer of optical equipment

Since its establishment in 1953, Sumita Optical Glass has been pushing ahead with the domestic production of optical glass and making great efforts to establish precision molding technology to achieve high optical performance. Through the development of low-temperature molding precision optical glass, the company has realized the major cost cutbacks and mass-production of aspherical lenses for digital cameras, etc. Makes the substance with performance equal to artificial crystal fluorite from optical glass – the long-awaited dream of optical researchers

The company, for the first time in the world, successfully made the substance with performance equal to artificial crystal fluorite from optical glass. This achievement was evaluated highly, which lead to the winning of “Excellent New Product Award” from US Photonics Spectra. Moreover, another “Excellent New Product Award” was given to the company for the development of optical glass for precision molding lenses with properties of high refractive index and high dispersions. At present, Sumita’s optical glass is widely applied in various way which include: lenses for cameras, video equipment, binoculars, microscopes; special filtered glass; and optical lenses for DVD and other multimedia equipment as their core part. The company’s product lineups are as many as 200 items. Generates unrivaled HVA products by pursing original optical glass fiber technology

The company’s original optical glass fiber allowed them to quickly establish the integrated system of production from raw materials to finished products. The company’s optical glass fiber technology is used in medicine, lighting, measuring and other wide-ranged areas, and it also supports the foundation of optoelectronics, as a strategic area.

Low-dispersion optical glass “Photaron”

Optical glass for precision molding lenses with properties of high

refractive and high dispersions

Fiberscopes

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Porite specializes ultra-small,

high-performance oil-impregnated

bearings for miniature motors, optical devices

and mobile phones

PORITE CORPORATION

2-121 Nissin-cho, Kita-ku,


Established in 1952

TEL +81-48-653-2222

http://www.porite.co.jp/ Masanori Kikuchi President

The company manufactures oil-impregnated bearings for OA/AV devices, PC and other IT-related consumer electronics, mobiles phones, and for automobile electrical equipment including power windows and car navigation systems.

The company’s technology leads the world and heralds the movements of the industry

Porite’s sintered oil-impregnated bearings are self-lubricating bearings where the porous makeups formed in the powder metallurgy technique are imbued with lubricant. Since the regular lubricating is unnecessary, the oil-impregnated bearings are thus the indispensable parts for the workout ofthe miniature motors. Miniature motor is being widely used in products such as home electronic appliances, OA/AV equipment, PC-related equipment, mobile phones, and automobile electric devices and Porite has being incessantly innovated the smaller-size and high-performance products in order to meet these demands. Deepen the existing technologies with bold thinking out from obstinate concepts

Porite enjoys the overwhelming share of oil-impregnated bearings for DVD/CD and other optical disc drive motors. Porite, responding the need for smaller and high-performance products, has achieved excellent performance with high-precision all-in-one products that exceed conventional products by far. The company has gained a strong support from end users to a degree that they directly appoint Porite even though the company is a mere part maker. Backed by original technologies, Porite’s products spread over the world

Porite upholds a top domestic share for oil-impregnated bearings used in miniature motors. The company also builds up an overseas infrastructure by establishing production bases in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Thailand, and US, as well as sales footholds in Hong Kong, France and US, through which more than 6 billion pieces of products are supplied annually. In addition to oil-impregnated bearings, the company manufactures machine structure parts, MIM products, and gear units for electric power tools using high-strength high-accuracy sintered parts. Among others, the company’s Head Office in Japan is determined to play a role of technology development center and continuously strive for the development of original technologies.

Mainstay small-sized oil-impregnated bearings

All-in-one oil-impregnated bearings

Ultra-small oil-impregnated bearings

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Develops filters boasting remarkable 98%

filtration ratio

INDUSTRIA (TAKAHASHI

CO., LTD)

2700 Miyadera, Iruma City, Saitama Prefecture

Established in 1991 TEL +81-4-2934-6921

http://www.industria.co.jp

Kiichi Takahashi President

Industria has developed a new filter which filters extremely-fine particles without using elements (filtering materials). Environmentally-friendly and cost-effective filters expand their applications, including into automakers.

Top maker of elementless filter

Industria had seen problems in their oil filtering circulation devices attached to the cutting line of their machine tools to remove cutting waste. Since the devices required frequent element exchange, it generated losses, both costwise and timewise. To solve this problem, Industria took advantage of the development subsidy program offered by Saitama Prefecture, used the company’s own technology, and developed “FILSTAR,” a filter free from elements (filtering materials). “FILSTAR” boasts remarkable 98% filtration ratio “FILSTAR” is the system to filter fine particles based on the principles of centrifugal separation and

sedimentation. “NEW FILSTAR, ” which was developed and commercialized jointly with Hiroshima University for further seeking high accuracy, is a revolutionary product removing as small as 1.5 micron particles. With no complicated internal structure, it is free from clog and easy to inspect. Also, “FILSTAR” is the filter with full consideration and awareness on functionality, cost-effectiveness and environment-friendliness. Gets attention from major automakers

Domestic major automakers have instantly paid attention to “FILSTAR. ” They installed “FILSTAR ” on a part of their production lines and successfully achieved substantial cost reduction. Industria now receives brisk inquiries from automakers both at home and overseas, which leads to the sales growth.

Flow of solvent

Super-centrifugal effect

High-gravitation effect

Static sedimentation

Sludge

Solvent

Drained solvent

Clean solvent

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World leader of solvent degassing equipment and refractive index detectors

ERC INC

5-8-6, Nishi-aoki, Kawaguchi City,

Saitama Prefecture


http://www.erc.co.jp/ Shoji Horie

President

ERC develops, manufactures and markets degassing equipment removing dissolved gaseous compounds in liquid and refractive index detectors precisely measuring concentration of various compounds in a liquid. The company supports precision analysis in such areas as physics & chemistry research, life science, and food processing. The company also greatly contributes to the promotion and facilitation of academic research and product development.

Specializes in solvent degassing and refractive index detection

ERC was founded as a manufacturer of medical equipment and scientific/analytical instruments. Later, the company developed and provided researchers unique High Performance Liquid Chromatograph related instruments and apparatuses while emerging HPLC technique was widely spread out and became one of primary analytical tools. Throughout efforts to improve an accuracy and precision of HPLC analysis, ERC integrated its technical expertise to specialize them in solvent degassing and refractive index detection where the company could demonstrate its originality and creativity. Unknown Hero – “KAMIOKANDE” employs ERC Degasser®

ERC offers researchers a broad line of degassing devices and refractive index detectors as stand alone components.Meanwhile, many worlds’ largest analytical and clinical diagnostic instrument manufacturers employ ERC’s products, as built-in components. In a way, the company’s products, as an unknown hero, largely contribute to the academic researches and product development. In addition, ERC’s technological capabilities have such a proven track record as degassing equipment “DEGASSER (registered trademark)” for large-scale water treatment that was employed by “KAMIOKANDE,” a national project led by Nobel-award winner Professor. Masatoshi Koshiba. Laboratory degassing devices and refractive index detectors win the world market share of 80% and 70% respectively.

Combining various cutting edge technologies and expertise, ERC holds world’s leading market share of solvent degasser and refractive index detector. The company applies its degassing technologies for the development of new device that freely controls dissolved gaseous compounds in liquid by either removing or exchanging such gaseous compounds. This device will set and hold a solution at desired condition as well as giving an additional functionality to solution for improved handling safety and longer storage life. The company foresees opportunities in various areas such as the life science, pharmaceutical, food processing, civil construction, and electronics industries. A new business venture with highly concentrated ozone water has already started.

HPLC Degasser® for laboratory analysis

Degasser® installed at ““KAMIOKANDE” facilities

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Long-term durable centrifuge for

manufacturing concrete piles

KODAMA FOUNDRY CO., LTD

4-9-3 Hon-cho, Kawaguchi City,

Saitama Prefecture


http://www.cablenet.ne.jp/˜

1kodama-h/concept.html

Hirosuke Kodama President

The company wins 50% of the domestic market share for concrete-pile-manufacturing centrifuges using a ductile cast-iron bed. The market share is also expanding in overseas.

Unit-by-unit ductile cast-iron bed

Concrete piles are manufactured by forming reinforcing bars in the frames first, then filling concrete there, and rotating them at high speed with a centrifuge. Because of this, it is necessary to have know-how on vibration/noise prevention during high-speed rotation and safety measures. Kodama’s centrifugal spinning machine use unit-by-unit single ductile iron-cast beds, to which highly-accurate machine works are added, with length of about 2 meters. The leveling of the beds are adjusted at the plant site with jack bolts and fixed with anchor bolts. Compared with other methods adopted in their products, the Kodama’s method has the following advantages: 1. The bed of the centrifugal spinning machine is solid and robust with high vibration absorbing property; 2. Installation and relocation of the machine is easy and highly accurate; 3. A patented mechanism of connecting outer rings and shaft makes it easy to take outer rings off; 4. Manufacturing of high-strength products are possible because pressure is applicable up to 40G compared to usual 30 – 35G pressure; and 5. Special structure of bearings allows to waterwash the machine. Expands overseas market shares, led by South East Asia.

Kodama’s centrifugal spinning machine has engine-driven specifications besides electric-motor-driven ones. Thanks to this, the company increasingly receives orders from South East Asia and other foreign markets (in the growing and developing regions with insufficient infrastructure such as electricity).

Since this part rotates at high speed, centrifugal spinning machine pressure up to 40G is applicable. The company also manufactures an anti-vibration centrifuge using noise-absorbing air springs, etc.

Centrifuge for manufacturing concrete piles

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Manufactures ultra-thin castings with excellent

abrasion-resistant property

MURATA SEISAKUSHO

CO., LTD

9-35 Midori-cho, Kawaguchi City,

Saitama Prefecture


http://www.murata-msk.co.jp/

Masahiro Murata President

Cylinder liners are core parts of automobile engines. They must have durability capable of enduring reciprocating piston motions over several thousand times per minute. At the same time, demand for lightweight cylinder liners increases, and as such Murata meets the demand with its leading-edge technology capable of manufacturing thin and even casting products

Entry into new areas

In the automobile parts industry where keiretsu (alliance of enterprises) is rigid, Murata gains reliability beyond keiretsu companies. Murata is extending its coverage areas from cylinder liners used for large truck diesel engines, for which durability against high temperature and high pressure is required, to those for passenger cars. The company’s top-level casting technology in the industry is highly evaluated in Japan.

The production process based on the very strict quality control acquires high reliability from customers

Murata Seisakusho Co., Ltd, as a cylinder liner maker, has been engaged in the business for more than 40 years in Kawaguchi, and supplied highly reliable products to major domestic piston ring makers. Although automobile parts and industrial machine castings particularly demand extremely-high accuracy and quality, the company’s skilled workers are conducting the strict quality control with state-of art testing equipment on each production process, and supplying high-quality product on a stable basis while maintaining mass-production capacity on each production line. Contributes to the improvement of automobile gas mileage

Technological innovation in the automobile industry always heads to trimming weight for the improvement of gas mileage. As a result, aluminum engine parts are presently the mainstream of the industry. When a piston directly contacts with a cylinder, aluminum is abraded. To prevent abrasion, it is necessary to attach casting cylinder liners having abrasion-resistant, durable, and heat-resistant properties. Cylinder liners are indispensable parts for automobile engines and are required high-standard technology to manufacture them.

Melting process for casting

Cylinder liners for automobiles

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Shuts out radioactive ray by using special casting

technology

NAGAI KIKAI CHUZO

CO., LTD

3-6-22 Nakaaoki, Kawaguchi City,

Saitama Prefecture


http://[email protected]

Toshio Nishizawa President

The company casts high-precision casting products by using original technology. It is based on the Meehanite manufacturing method (world standard) which scientifically controls the process of casting products from design to finishing through numerical data, and delicate heat treatment to fix distortion in heat-retaining sand is added.The only maker of custom-made casting products for electronic microscopes

Nagai Kikai Chuzo Co., Ltd manufactures casting parts for electronic microscopes (the only maker manufacturing electronic microscope casting parts in Japan), as well as casting parts for cutters -- mainstay products -- and printing/book binding machines. As one of 17 Meehanite metal manufacturing licensee factories in Japan, the company has technology capable of quickly supplying high-quality, high-precision Meehanite cast iron. With such technology, Nagai Kikai Chuzo can make products free from material unevenness, internal defects and distortion, no matter how products have complicated shapes or are thick. Besides electronic microscope parts, the company maintains the high market share for parts for bank bill cutters. Reason of why the company is good at making custom-made products which require high-standard technology

In order to respond with the needs of precise, high-grade and diversified casting products along with change of the time, the company actively adopts leading-edge production technologies in the world and actively involves with the development of new technologies at the same time, while taking over traditional foundry techniques and artisan skills of workers which are built on wealth of experiences.

Electronic microscope chamber Electronic microscope

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Reinforces buildings by filling high viscous

adhesive at high pressure

GNS CO., LTD

7-23 Hinode-cho, Sakado-City,

Saitama Prefecture

Established in 1959 Tel +81-49-282-5111

http://www.gns-biz.co.jp

Nagamasa Yamada

President

The company developed high viscous adhesive filling machines to reinforce various buildings from historical buildings to state-of-art concrete buildings, winning 70% of the domestic markets share

Outstanding performance for cutting off water in tunnels

As to repair/reinforcement works for condominiums, dams, bridges, tunnels, and basement pits of high-rise buildings, it was common practice in Japan to do such works from the outside of the structure. The repair could be done and looked nice from the outside, but the effects were limited in terms of reinforcement/waterproof/water cutoff. For instance, a client company of GNS who engaged in the tunnel work had been struggling with solving problems of reinforcement for water cutoff/waterproof. The client company could almost completely carry out the reinforcement works by using high-pressure filling machines developed by GNS.

Leading company in Japan for crack repair/reinforcement grouting equipment

In the growing social needs for the conversion of historical buildings built in the 20th century and for the waterproof/water cutoff/reinforcement of condominiums, dams, bridges, tunnels, basement pits of high-rise buildings, the company boasts 70% of the domestic share for crack repair/reinforcement grouting equipment which are indispensable for repair and reinforcement works.

Applies to the reinforcement of historical buildings

GNS products have expanded their application and been used as concrete-use adhesives for the conversion of historical buildings. Yokohama red brick warehouses and the former office of Prime Minister represent such conversion. The inspection after the repair of Yokohama red brick warehouses showed that the adhesives have strength of 7-fold more than bricks. GNS is the pioneer for crack repair/reinforcement high-pressure filling machines in Japan and obtains a patent in Japan and US. They are ready to expand their sales channels further including overseas markets.

Conditions after crack repair

Adhesive filling machine

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World-leading high precision polishing

technology supports semiconductor industry

CHICHIBU DENSHI

CORPORATION

2178 Yamada, Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture

Established in 1967

TEL +81-494-22-5955

http://www.cec-kk.co.jp/ Takahiko Suneya President

The company specializes in polishing processing in the photomask substrate polishing technology -- monopoly of Japanese firms (monopolized by almost 4 companies). The company also promotes overseas business transactions through unrivaled original technology

Grabs a lifeline of the semiconductor industry through glass substrate polishing technology

A “photomask” corresponds to a negative film of photograph. It is used for transcripting circuit patterns inscribed on the glass substrate to silicon wafers that become materials for ICs and LSI. Even a tiny scratch or dust on the substrate gives serious damages on the manufacturing of semiconductors. High-standard technology and know how are necessary for polishing and cleaning. Among others, high-precision glass substrate polishing processing is monopolized by 4 companies including Chichibu Denshi, and thus, the company grabs a lifeline of highly integrated semiconductors in the world. Accumulation of technology devoted to polishing processing affords the highest level of processing precision in the world

Being specialized in the polishing of electronic materials, Chichibu Denshi has upgraded its polishing and cleaning technology. Through the accumulation of technologies and know how, the company has established the highest level of processing precision in the world. For example, the company can handle the photomask glass substrate with flatness of 0.3-micron meters and dust/scratches with size less than 0.1-micron meters. As for the recycling polishing in which used photomasks are polished again for reuse, the company’s unbeatable original technology is highly evaluated in Japan and overseas and successfully carries out business transactions with photomask makers who have the world largest and the second largest markets shares.

Photomask

Water is vital (pure water manufacturing device for

polishing and cleaning use)

Precision polishing equipment

Particle monitor (cleaning and inspection are conducted by creating a *class 1 clean environment within a clean room)

*Class 1 environment means that one 0.5 micron meter particle found in a cube 30 cm on a side.

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Big elephant in binocular industry backed with advanced technical

development

KAMAKURA KOKI CO., LTD

3-6-12 Tsukagoshi, Warabi City,

Saitama Prefecture


Ichiro Kamakura President

Kamakura Koki has established de facto world standard in the extra wide-angle binocular technology with the leading technology in the industry coupled with the development capability. Extra wide angle binocular technology become the “world standard”

Kamakura Koki responds quickly with the change of the needs and diversification drive in the market.Besides the extra wide angle binoculars developed in 1964, the company has been leading the world with its various technology and development capability which includes binoculars loaded with fast focus mechanism, binoculars with auto focusing system incorporated with the electronics and the development of laser beam distance measuring monocular, phase correction coatings, Super High Reflection coating with 70 layers achieved 99.9% light refection. In particular, the technology of extra wide angle binocular has now become the world de fact standard. The weight of military use large sized binoculars were reduced with the application of a smaller prisms which become also the world de fact standard. In addition, Kamakura Koki owns many other patents applied in the process of the development. The company has excellent credential also in the product designs and two times winner of Small/Medium Enterprises Prize for “Good Design Award” which is organized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry annually. Becomes a world-leading maker through the system of international specialization of diversion This company is not known much in public but

Kamakura Koki supplies its products to not only to camera makers in Japan but also to the manufacturers in the US and Europe as an OEM manufacturers. The company has established the system of international diversion of specialization, Marketing after sales, military standard binocular production in the US, whilst the product development/design and the establishment of production development are carried out in Japan.

Kamakura Koki exceeds other rivals in the speed of commercializing products after completion of the project with customers. Two months are enough for the company after the decision of the design, preparing a mock-up, opening the mold and commercialize the product. Production is mainly at China factory complying with the request of smaller lot production with the same or higher quality standard in Japan. This year, the company receives voluminous orders for laser range finders and enjoys brisk sales.

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Total thermometer company, highlighted by

platinum resistance thermometer element

Netsushin Co., Ltd

2079-7 Kamitome,

Miyoshi-machi, Iruma-gun, Saitama Prefecture

Established in 1971

TEL +81-49-259-0101

http://www.kagaku.com/netsushin/Iku Imamura

President

A top maker of thermo sensors using platinum resistance thermometer element. Based on the theme of reducing the size of platinum resistance thermometer element “ as small as a dot,” Netsushin successfully has developed various types of thermometers and won more than 70% of the market share.

Highly accurate quick-response temperature measurement is possible

Small platinum resistance thermometer element with less heat conduction and less heat capacity is being widely used in industrial measurement fields, such as semiconductor, biotechnology and food industries, thanks to merits of high accuracy and excellent stability. Moreover, with next-generation thermometers capable of measuring temperature simultaneously at multiple points with high accuracy and at high speed, it is possible to build up the measurement system aimed at obtaining temperature change faster and more accurately. The quality improvement and stable supply of semiconductors also become possible.

Be engaged in the development on the theme of reducing the size of platinum resistance thermometer element “as small as a dot”

Since its establishment, Netsushin has been specializing in temperature-related businesses. Based on the accumulated original technologies, the company developed the smallest platinum resistance thermometer element in the world, which is “smaller than a sesame seed.” Further, the company developed film type platinum resistance thermometer element (Platinum Wire Wound Type) with only 0.2 mm thick. The product was awarded Nikkan Kogyo Newspaper’s Encouraging Prize for the Monozukuri Buhin Taisho (Manufacturing Parts Award) in 2005. Platinum resistance thermometer element also receives high evaluation not only in Japan but also overseas: various national research institutes in the world use Netsushin’s products.

Strives for the quality improvement in the light atmosphere with background music

Temperature measurement and temperature control are the vital factors when manufacturing things. To provide temperature reliability with users, thermometers are calibrated based on the international temperature scale (ITS-90) in the laboratory.

Platinum resistance thermometer element

Next-generation thermometers and film

type platinum resistance thermometer element

(Platinum Wire Wound Type)

(Calibration work in our laboratory)

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The change in the way of thinking supports Braille

communication equipment for the visually

impaired person

KGS CORPORATION

1004 Ogawa, Ogawa-machi,

Hiki-gun, Saitama Prefecture


http://www.kgs-jpn.co.jp Takeo Kurematsu

President

The company cultivated the information equipment market for the visually impaired people by applying basic technology of solenoids in the existing sector. Now, the company wins 70% of the world market share through the development of the smallest/lightest products.

Pioneer in “solenoid”

Since its outset, KGS Corporation has been manufacturing “solenoids” nonrotational motors so to speak. They are used for tape recorders, VTRs, automatic ticket gates at stations, and electric locks, etc., and the company is a pioneer as the first domestic maker devoted to solenoids. Cultivates a Braille communication equipment area by changing the way of thinking on conventional technologies

In the early 1980s, the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology (present National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology) of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry at the time studied how stimulation given to the skin would be delivered to the brain, and solenoids were used in the study. However, solenoids had such problems occurrence of metallic sound, heavyweight and generation of heat. By changing the way of thinking, however, it was realized to commercialize Braille Cells (device converting character information on a PC into braille through up-and-down motions of small pins) using piezoelectric ceramics. Wins 70% of the market share through the commercialization of the world smallest/lightest products

KGS is the only maker manufacturing Braille Cells in Japan and further strives for R&D to renew the world smallest/lightest record every year. As a result, the company wins 70% of the world market share for Braille Cells, contributing to mobilization of information equipment for the visually impaired person. Also, KGS is now promoting commercialization of other information equipment for the visually impaired person, including the world first tactile display device “Dot View” (displaying pictures, shapes, graphs and other graphical information from a computer screen through up-and-down motions of pins).

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Saitama Prefecture - METI