Research and Development in Automation, Labor Saving, DX, Moving Beyond Contracting, and Carbon Neutrality

「These technologies have achieved zero worker entry directly below the tunnel face, while confirming reductions in overbreak, workforce requirements and variability in construction quality.」

「During the interim period, the company developed the “Fully Automated Steel Support Erection Robot” and the “Automated Concrete Spraying System (Hercules-Auto)” for mountain tunnel construction, as well as the “Panel Lining Vehicle,” which mechanizes panel installation, substantially improving safety and efficiency.」

「Specifically, the company is focusing on automation, labor saving and DX, management, and carbon neutrality, selecting research themes and concentrating management resources to respond to changes in the business environment. It is also advancing the development of automated machinery for water-conveyance tunnel renewal work, where addressing aging facilities is an urgent priority」

「On 25 October, the company issued a press release announcing the development of “ZEB-Scope,” a ZEB design support system capable of rapidly and accurately evaluating diverse ZEB specifications through automated coordination between a database compatible with BIM and various tools. On 15 November, it issued a press release announcing that it had applied the “Muck Recovery Test Device,” which enables confirmation of the properties of muck inside a shield machine chamber under deep underground pressure, at a large-scale shield construction site and commenced operation.」

「On 11 September, the company issued a press release announcing that it had applied the “Automatic Charging System,” under development, at a mountain tunnel construction site, conducted a demonstration test and confirmed its basic performance. This was the industry’s first on-site charging operation in which the area between the tunnel face and the drill jumbo operator’s cab was unmanned. The system can make the area between the tunnel face and the drill jumbo operator’s cab completely unmanned and automate charging work without workers entering the tunnel face, minimizing occupational accidents in mountain tunnels, approximately 90% of which occur at the tunnel face.」

「During the first quarter, the company reviewed and confirmed individual research themes before commencing various development projects. It narrowed down research and development priorities to respond promptly to recent rapid changes in the business environment and sought to select and concentrate management resources. On 14 June, it issued a press release on the Steel Erection Accuracy Management System “Erection Navi,” which three-dimensionally visualizes the accuracy of steel-frame erection and enables intuitive understanding.」

「Taking this award as an opportunity, the company will begin selling the “Steel Support Erection Robot.”」

「On 12 October, the “Steel Support Erection Robot,” jointly developed with Furukawa Rock Drill Co., Ltd. and Mac Co., Ltd., received the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award at the 10th Robot Awards. Automating work involving entry into the tunnel face with a robot improves productivity and can physically eliminate occupational accidents caused by rock falls from the tunnel face, a hazard unique to mountain tunnels.」

「The company is focusing its current initiatives on automation, labor saving and DX in contract work; management aimed at further accelerating reduced reliance on contracting; and carbon neutrality as a social issue to be addressed over the medium to long term.」

「The company is focusing its current initiatives on automation, labor saving and DX in contract work; management aimed at further accelerating reduced reliance on contracting; and carbon neutrality as a social issue to be addressed over the medium to long term.」

「The company is focusing its current initiatives on automation, labor saving and DX in contract work; management aimed at further accelerating reduced reliance on contracting; and carbon neutrality as a social issue to be addressed over the medium to long term.」