Expansion of Zirconium Applications and Development of New Products
First written in FY2016. 17 of 30 entries say "Advanced", first in FY2017. Latest entry: 2026-08-25.
The whole theme swung hardest in 2024: 2 of 11 companies on the "Worse" side.
18 other companies' latest entry also says "Advanced".
- FY2026AdvancedAnnual report
「Press release on zirconia material for polishing SiC wafers for power semiconductors」
Regarding the expansion of zirconium applications and new product development, the company disclosed R&D achievements including an external announcement on materials for polishing SiC wafers for power semiconductors, joint development with customers of secondary-battery materials, carbon-neutrality-related materials, rare-earth-less and rare-earth-free materials, and the adoption or planned adoption of automotive catalyst materials. - FY2026-H1Strategic-field demand declined, with recovery varying by applicationAnnual report
「The strategic fields posted a significant decline in sales in the semiconductor and electronics and energy fields due to lower demand for the company’s products resulting from structural changes in the supply chain. The healthcare field was on a recovery trend, but sales declined as the effects of slowing demand from major customers persisted.」
In the strategic fields, where applications are being expanded, all of semiconductor and electronics, energy, and healthcare posted lower sales year on year. Total sales in the strategic fields were ¥2,636 million, down 11.9% year on year, representing progress of 44.7% against the full-year forecast. - FY2025Energy-field sales plan missedAnnual report
「Secondary-battery applications posted lower sales year on year, as the impact of slower electric-vehicle sales and the expanding share of Chinese automakers significantly exceeded the company’s expectations. Although the AI data-center market was strong, SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) and SOEC (solid oxide electrolyzer cell) applications posted lower sales year on year because inventory adjustments by major customers prevented the company from capturing demand. As a result, sales in the energy field for the consolidated fiscal year were ¥1,396 million, down 36.3% year on year, representing 77.6% of the ¥1,800 million earnings forecast.」
While semiconductor and healthcare within the strategic fields posted higher sales, the energy field reported sales of ¥1,396 million, down 36.3% year on year, with achievement of 77.6% of the earnings forecast, due to slower demand for electric vehicles, the expanding share of Chinese manufacturers, and inventory adjustments by major customers. - FY2025-H1Demand trends diverged within the strategic fieldsAnnual report
「Overall sales in the strategic fields increased year on year. The semiconductor and electronics and healthcare fields maintained firm demand and posted higher sales. The energy field posted lower sales due to a slowdown in demand for electric vehicles.」
Among the strategic fields where applications are being expanded, semiconductor and electronics and healthcare posted higher sales, while energy posted lower sales due to the slowdown in demand for electric vehicles. - FY2024AdvancedAnnual report
「Development of materials for secondary batteries Improving battery performance, durability and processability Expanding adoption of cathode-coating materials Development of functional structural materials Applying low-temperature sintering technology Improving aesthetics, ceramic strength and toughness Acquiring intellectual property rights Publication of newly developed antibacterial ceramics in an industry journal Receiving the Technical Award from the Ceramic Society of Japan」
The company reported improvements in the performance, durability and processability of secondary-battery materials, expanded adoption of cathode-coating materials, development of structural materials and antibacterial ceramics, acquisition of intellectual property, and external recognition as R&D achievements. - FY2024-Q3Progress delayed by the slowdown in the EV transitionAnnual report
「Sales volumes for secondary-battery applications increased as demand grew with the expansion of electric vehicles, but progress against the full-year plan was delayed by the slowdown in the shift to EVs, mainly in Europe and the United States, and the increase in sales narrowed compared with the cumulative second-quarter period. For SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) and SOEC (solid oxide electrolyzer cell) applications, sales volumes were roughly unchanged year on year, but sales declined year on year due to lower selling prices resulting from fluctuations in raw-material market prices. Hydrogen-related products continued to grow steadily.」
Sales volumes for secondary-battery applications increased with the expansion of electric vehicles, while progress against the full-year plan was delayed by the slowdown in the shift to EVs, mainly in Europe and the United States, and the increase in sales narrowed. Hydrogen-related products continued to grow. - FY2024-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「Sales volumes for secondary-battery applications increased as demand grew with the expansion of electric vehicles, resulting in higher sales year on year. Sales volumes for SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) and SOEC (solid oxide electrolyzer cell) applications increased in line with market growth, resulting in higher sales year on year. Hydrogen-related products grew steadily.」
In the energy field, the company reported growth in sales volumes or sales across secondary-battery, SOFC/SOEC and hydrogen-related applications, indicating continued expansion into new applications. - FY2024-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「Sales volumes for secondary-battery applications increased as demand grew with the expansion of electric vehicles, resulting in higher sales year on year. For SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) and SOEC (solid oxide electrolyzer cell) applications, sales increased year on year due to higher selling prices resulting from fluctuations in raw-material prices, despite sales volumes falling short of the year-earlier level. Hydrogen-related products performed steadily.」
Sales volumes for secondary-battery applications increased against a backdrop of rising electric-vehicle production, resulting in higher sales. SOFC and SOEC applications posted higher sales despite falling short of the year-earlier volume, due to higher selling prices, while hydrogen-related products performed steadily. - FY2023AdvancedAnnual report
「Development of materials for secondary batteries Improving and securing adoption of cathode-coating materials Improving oxide electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries Acquiring intellectual property rights」
For secondary-battery materials, the company reported improvements to and adoption of cathode-coating materials, improvements to oxide electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries, and the acquisition of intellectual property rights as achievements. - FY2023-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「Although secondary-battery materials were affected by inventory adjustments resulting from China’s “zero-COVID” policy and other factors, sales volumes increased, aided by the enactment of the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, resulting in higher sales year on year.」
Although secondary-battery materials were affected by inventory adjustments in China, sales volumes increased with the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act providing support, resulting in higher sales year on year. - FY2023-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「Although secondary-battery materials were affected mainly by polarization between cathode types in the Chinese market and inventory adjustments caused by lockdowns, the increase in sales volume from new adoptions more than offset these effects, resulting in higher sales year on year.」
For secondary-battery materials, the company reported that the increase in sales volume from new adoptions more than offset the effects of polarization in the Chinese market and inventory adjustments, resulting in higher sales year on year. - FY2023-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「Although secondary-battery materials were affected by inventory adjustments, new adoptions contributed to sales volumes exceeding the year-earlier level.」
For secondary-battery materials, the company secured new adoptions despite the impact of inventory adjustments, and sales volumes exceeded the year-earlier level. - FY2022AdvancedAnnual report
「Development of materials for secondary batteries Improving and securing adoption of cathode-coating materials Improving oxide electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries Acquiring intellectual property rights」
For secondary-battery materials, the company reported improvements to and adoption of cathode-coating materials, improvements to electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries, and the acquisition of intellectual property as achievements. It is also proceeding with the adoption of catalyst materials in next-generation catalysts, commercialization of dental materials, and exploration of new applications. - FY2022-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「Secondary-battery materials exceeded the year-earlier level, which had been affected by lower sales due to the diversification of automotive batteries.」
The company explained that secondary-battery materials, whose sales had declined year on year due to the diversification of automotive batteries, exceeded the year-earlier level during the cumulative third-quarter period of the current consolidated fiscal year. - FY2022-Q2Secondary-battery materials return to a growth trendAnnual report
「Secondary-battery materials are returning to their previous growth trend, with sales recovering well above the year-earlier level, which had been affected by lower sales due to the diversification of automotive batteries.」
The company explained that secondary-battery materials, whose sales had declined in the previous fiscal year due to the diversification of automotive batteries, were well above the year-earlier level and were returning to their previous growth trend. - FY2022-Q1Recovery in demand by application alongside continued weakness in battery materialsAnnual report
「Electronic materials saw steady sales growth as demand recovered from the decline caused by the spread of COVID-19. Although secondary-battery materials were also recovering as demand increased and inventory adjustments had run their course, sales remained below pre-pandemic levels due to the diversification of automotive batteries.」
Demand recovered and inventory adjustments largely ran their course for electronic materials and secondary-battery materials, while sales of secondary-battery materials had not returned to pre-pandemic levels due to the diversification of automotive batteries. - FY2021Developing new energy materials alongside the stalled secondary-battery marketAnnual report
「Secondary-battery materials struggled in the stationary energy-storage battery market due in part to the end of support measures in South Korea, while automotive applications also posted lower sales, affected by the diversification of battery types.」
For secondary-battery materials, the company reported stalled growth in the stationary energy-storage battery market and lower sales in automotive applications, while continuing R&D on electrolytes for solid-state batteries and new applications. - FY2021-Q3Stationary energy-storage battery market growth stalledAnnual report
「Secondary-battery materials struggled in the stationary energy-storage system (ESS) market due in part to the end of support measures in South Korea.」
The company explained that secondary-battery materials, whose applications had been expanding, struggled in the stationary energy-storage battery market due in part to the end of support measures in South Korea. - FY2021-Q1Demand Decline Due to COVID-19Annual report
「Sales of secondary-battery materials, which had performed extremely strongly to date as applications expanded, declined due to inventory adjustments caused by factory shutdowns in China and lower demand resulting from the impact of COVID-19.」
The company explained that sales of secondary-battery materials, for which applications had been expanding, declined due to the impact of inventory adjustments caused by factory shutdowns in China and lower demand. - FY2020AdvancedAnnual report
「Developing catalysts for next-generation exhaust-gas purification Adopting new zirconium and rare-earth catalyst materials with high functionality in the next-generation catalyst」
The company reported the adoption of new zirconium and rare-earth catalyst materials in the next-generation catalyst, development of oxide electrolytes for solid-state batteries, and improvements to zirconia for resin compounding as R&D achievements. - FY2020-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「Demand for secondary-battery materials for both automotive and stationary applications has been expanding, and sales increased significantly year on year. During the quarter, however, some applications were affected by inventory adjustments. Oxygen-sensor materials performed steadily, supported by firm sales to major customers and progress in expanding into motorcycle applications.」
The company reported expanding demand for secondary-battery materials for automotive and stationary applications, as well as progress in expanding oxygen-sensor materials into motorcycle applications. Some applications were also affected by inventory adjustments. - FY2019AdvancedAnnual report
「Expanding new applications for zirconium compounds Improving zirconia for resin compounding to meet customer requirements Developing oxide electrolytes for solid-state batteries Expanding into structural materials, optical materials targeting a high refractive index, and battery materials」
The company reported improvements to zirconia for resin compounding, development of electrolytes for solid-state batteries, and expanded applications in structural, optical and battery materials as R&D achievements. - FY2019-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「As a result of focusing on product development based on careful analysis of market needs and identifying new applications, products for other applications also performed steadily.」
The company explained that it continued to focus on product development based on market needs and the development of new applications, while products for other applications performed steadily. - FY2019-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「As a result of focusing on product development based on careful analysis of market needs and identifying new applications, products for other applications also performed steadily.」
The company explained that it continued product development based on market needs and the development of new applications, while products for other applications performed steadily. - FY2019-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「As a result of focusing on product development based on careful analysis of market needs and identifying new applications, products for other applications also performed steadily.」
The company explained that it continued to focus on product development based on market needs and the development of new applications, while products for other applications performed steadily. - FY2018AdvancedAnnual report
「Developing catalysts for next-generation exhaust-gas purification Commercializing high-performance zirconium and rare-earth catalysts Improving the purification performance and processability of automotive catalysts, among other initiatives」
The company reported the commercialization, improvement and expansion of applications for products including fuel-cell materials, next-generation exhaust-gas purification catalysts, brazing materials for home appliances, dental materials and zirconia for resin compounding. - FY2017AdvancedAnnual report
「Expanding new applications for zirconium compounds Commercializing zirconia for resin compounding Improving zirconia sol Expanding into structural materials, optical materials targeting a high refractive index, and battery materials」
The company reported the commercialization and improvement of zirconia products, as well as expanded applications in structural, optical and battery materials, as R&D achievements. - FY2016First statedAnnual report
「Our basic policy is to continue developing zirconium products that meet increasingly diverse and sophisticated customer needs, while taking ongoing action to further expand the applications of zirconium.」
Develop products that address customer needs by leveraging core technologies, and continue expanding their applications.