Concentration of R&D resources on the PIM business and development of new technologies and processes

「国立研究開発法人宇宙航空研究開発機構（ＪＡＸＡ）の『宇宙探査イノベーションハブ 第13回研究提案募集』において、計画通りにサンプル製作を進め、現在は評価段階に入っております。」

「During the consolidated fiscal year, R&D activities covered aS-Medium in the sanitary inspection equipment business, the launch of mass production for new high-performance components in the PIM business, and R&D into technologies and processes for next-generation product development.」

「一方で利益面では、歩留まり向上・原価低減・生産効率化への取り組みが着実に改善に貢献しておりますが、未だ道半ばであります。引き続き改善活動の習慣化を全工程に根付かせることを重点課題として推進し、歩留まり向上・生産効率改善・品質安定化を継続的に積み上げることで、黒字化に向けた基盤の強化を図ってまいります。」

「During the interim consolidated accounting period, R&D activities in the sanitary inspection equipment business began focusing on expanding the microorganism types detectable by aS-Medium. In the PIM business, we will continue developing new high-performance components and stabilizing quality and improving production efficiency while keeping costs under control.」

「During the consolidated fiscal year, R&D activities covered aS-Medium in the sanitary inspection equipment business, the launch of mass production for new high-performance components and automotive turbo components in the PIM business, and R&D into technologies and processes for next-generation product development.」

「During the interim consolidated accounting period, in the sanitary inspection equipment business, intensive production rationalization activities reached a pause following the launch of sales of aS-Medium. In the PIM business, we will continue developing new high-performance components and stabilizing quality and improving production efficiency while keeping costs under control.」

「During the consolidated fiscal year, R&D activities covered aS-Medium in the sanitary inspection equipment business, the launch of new high-performance components in the PIM business, and R&D into technologies and processes for next-generation products, including ceramic heat-dissipation substrates, in anticipation of vehicle electrification.」

「Meanwhile, we are developing a new type of high-performance component on a prototype basis for use in machine tools, silicon wafer handling, and aluminum cutting. We will also continue to focus on commercializing aluminum nitride insulating and heat-dissipation substrates used in inverters for increasingly electrified automobiles and industrial equipment.」

「Meanwhile, we are developing 3 new molds on a prototype basis for high-performance components used in general machinery, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, industrial robots, and for material handling and positioning in machine tools and silicon wafers. We will also continue to focus on commercializing aluminum nitride insulating and heat-dissipation substrates used in inverters for increasingly electrified automobiles and industrial equipment.」

「As a new project, we are developing 2 new molds on a prototype basis for high-performance components used in general machinery, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, industrial robots, and for material handling and positioning in machine tools. At the same time, we will continue to focus on commercializing aluminum nitride heat-dissipation substrates for the future electrification of automobiles.」

「During the consolidated fiscal year, R&D activities concentrated on R&D for FM-Plate in the sanitary inspection equipment business and the launch of automotive turbo components for 株式会社ＩＨＩ in the PIM business, as well as R&D into technologies and processes to improve the performance of ceramic heat-dissipation substrates in anticipation of vehicle electrification.」

「Total R&D expenses for the nine months ended 31 December were ¥127 million. There were no material changes in the status of the Group's R&D activities during the nine months ended 31 December.」

「Total R&D expenses for the six months ended 30 September were ¥79 million. There were no material changes in the status of the Group's R&D activities during the six months ended 30 September.」

「During the consolidated fiscal year, R&D activities concentrated on R&D for FM-Plate in the sanitary inspection equipment business and the launch of automotive turbo components for 株式会社ＩＨＩ in the PIM (powder injection molding) business. We also conducted R&D into new technologies and processes that form the basis for the new products announced in the new medium-term management plan, VISION25/30.」

「Total R&D expenses for the nine months ended 31 December were ¥149 million. There were no material changes in the status of the Group's R&D activities during the nine months ended 31 December.」

「Total R&D expenses for the six months ended 30 September were ¥109 million. There were no material changes in the status of the Group's R&D activities during the six months ended 30 September.」

「Total research and development expenses for the first quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period were ¥47 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's research and development activities during the first quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period.」

「Total R&D expenses for the nine months ended 31 December were ¥139 million. There were no material changes in the status of the Group's R&D activities during the nine months ended 31 December.」

「Total R&D expenses for the cumulative second quarter of the current consolidated fiscal year were ¥95 million. There were no significant changes in the status of the Group's R&D activities during the cumulative second quarter of the current consolidated fiscal year.」

「Total research and development expenses for the three-month period of the current consolidated fiscal year were ¥45 million. There were no material changes in the status of the Group's research and development activities during the three-month period of the current consolidated fiscal year.」

「During the consolidated fiscal year, R&D activities continued to concentrate management resources on the PIM (powder injection molding) business, with R&D into new technologies and processes that will form the basis for future products over the medium to long term.」

「Total R&D expenses for the nine months ended 31 December were ¥206 million. There were no material changes in the status of the Group's R&D activities during the nine months ended 31 December.」

「Having successfully established dislocation-strengthening technology for PIM products capable of withstanding operating temperatures of 1,000°C, we are focusing on commercialising components for next-generation gasoline turbos using the VG system, which are expected to become widespread from 2022 onward. During the first quarter of the consolidated cumulative period, we signed an MOU with a major turbocharger manufacturer for the mass production of several components, including nozzle vanes for current diesel-turbo engines, and began prototype events targeting mass production during the fiscal year ending March 2021.」

「Diesel VG turbos currently used at temperatures around 700°C use a heat-resistant stainless-steel alloy (Fe-based). By applying the dislocation-strengthening technology successfully developed for Ni-based superalloys, development of nozzle vanes for this material capable of use at temperatures exceeding 900°C is also coming into view.」

「In particular, in developing nozzle vanes for gasoline VG turbos, we successfully achieved dislocation strengthening of a nickel-based superalloy capable of withstanding temperatures around 1,000°C, opening up significant prospects in the next-generation gasoline turbo vehicle business.」

「During the consolidated fiscal year, alongside product development for three key items targeted for full-scale commercialization from 2021, nozzle vanes for gasoline turbo engines (Variable Geometry, VG turbo), ceramic balls, and ceramic heat-dissipation plates for electric vehicles (silicon nitride), we fully launched efforts to resume material sales to customers that do not compete in sintered component sales and to acquire orders for high-value-added mechanical components.」

「In the PIM business, due to constraints on equipment and personnel in recent years, we focused on product development for three key items, nozzle vanes for gasoline turbo engines (Variable Geometry, VG turbo), ceramic balls, and ceramic heat-dissipation plates for electric vehicles (silicon nitride), as well as the launch of a new plant. As the start-up of all equipment added at the new plant and reinforcement of personnel in each department have been completed,」

「In the PIM business, due to constraints on equipment and personnel in recent years, we focused on product development for three key growth items, ceramic ball bearings, nozzle vanes for gasoline turbo engines (Variable Geometry, or VG turbo), and ceramic heat-dissipation plates for electric vehicles (silicon nitride), as well as the launch of a new plant. As the start-up of all equipment added at the new plant and the reinforcement of personnel in all departments, including sales, development, engineering, manufacturing and quality assurance, have been completed,」

「During the consolidated fiscal year, we continued to concentrate management resources on the PIM (powder injection molding) business for the development of new products, and conducted R&D into new technologies and processes that will form the basis for future products over the medium to long term.」

「In the PIM business, we are hiring immediately productive personnel and adding state-of-the-art equipment and testing machines to accelerate the development of key technologies for products including automotive turbo components targeted for mass production from 2020 onward, ceramic separators for power semiconductors designed for the rapid electrification of automobiles, and ceramic ball bearings.」

「Having completed the establishment of an in-house secondary-processing technology for sintered bodies finished to a near-net shape using our PIM process, we completed the audit for the first supplier certification under the German automotive standard VDA 6.3. Going forward, we will work to establish mass-production technology and build a robust quality-control system for prototyping and final review.」

「In connection with the relocation to the new Shiga plant, we are strengthening our capabilities for commercializing automotive turbo components, ceramic ball bearings, heat sinks for power devices and other products by hiring immediately deployable R&D and production engineering personnel and expanding state-of-the-art equipment and evaluation instruments. Total R&D expenses for the three months ended 30 June were ¥37 million.」

「The new multi-cavity mold and fully automated trimming line have been completed, and from the next consolidated fiscal year onward, we will accelerate commercialization using this state-of-the-art equipment to be installed at the new plant.」

「We are working to establish mass-production technology for ceramic ball bearings without burrs or pores by suppressing the occurrence of internal pore defects through a combination of technologies, including development of a dedicated binder and a specialized mold and revisions to sintering conditions.」

「In the PIM process, we established technology that produces almost no burrs around the equator of ceramic balls and completely removes even minor burrs before the debinding and sintering process. This has made it possible to reduce the polishing time for ceramic bearing balls to one-quarter of that required for products made using other companies' processes.」

「Total R&D expenses for the three months ended 30 June were ¥30 million. We are accelerating product development aimed at eliminating HIP (hot isostatic pressing) through burr-free and pore-free processing, which was impossible with conventional press forming.」

「During the consolidated fiscal year, we continued to concentrate management resources on the PIM (powder injection molding) business for the development of new products, and conducted R&D into new technologies and processes that will form the basis for future products over the medium to long term.」