Development and commercialization of new materials

「In the functional textiles field, the Company sold TEXIFIL®, a thin-film insulating sheet with stretchability and moisture-induced heat generation properties.」

「In new business areas, in addition to the established apparel field, the Company is leveraging the material’s heat resistance and conductivity to explore entry into the insulation materials and smart textiles markets, while strengthening its sales and marketing structure and developing its research and development and mass-production capabilities.」

「The Company has also begun spinning nanofibers using biomass-based resin rather than fossil-fuel-based resin as an environmentally friendly product initiative, and is advancing development of the filter media as a next-generation hydraulic filter for construction machinery, offering low pressure loss and a long service life.」

「Furthermore, leveraging the technology developed for NanoWHELP, the Company is working to develop a nanofiber HEPA filter made from thermoplastic polymer nonwoven fabric, under the trademark Yamashin Nano Air. Unlike conventional glass-fiber HEPA filters, this product is PFAS FREE and does not use organic fluorine compounds (hereinafter, “PFAS”), for which carcinogenic risks have been raised. As regulations to eliminate health and environmental damage begin to spread from the EU to other countries, the product is expected to become a new driver of growth for the Company’s business.」

「Furthermore, leveraging a manufacturing process that does not use adhesives, the Company developed an oil mist filter using nanofibers as a replacement for conventional glass fiber, developed filter media capable of removing oil mist at HEPA levels, and successfully commercialized the product. Unlike conventional glass-fiber HEPA filters, this product is PFAS FREE and does not use organic fluorine compounds (hereinafter, “PFAS”), which enables it to address the growing market demand for eliminating health and environmental damage and tighter regulations on the manufacture and sale of products containing PFAS.」

「Using the mass-production technology for nanofibers established by the Company as a foundation, we will advance the development and supply of nanofiber hydraulic filters as the next-generation global standard for major construction machinery manufacturers.」

「Furthermore, leveraging a manufacturing process that does not use adhesives, the Company developed an oil mist filter using nanofibers as a replacement for conventional glass fiber, and commercialized the product during the current fiscal year.」

「Using the mass-production technology for nanofibers established by the Company as a foundation, we will advance the development and supply of nanofiber hydraulic filters as the next-generation global standard for major construction machinery manufacturers.」

「As one type of air-filter material, nanofiber filter media for PM2.5 were commercialized in the current period. The Company also developed an oil-mist filter using nanofibers as a replacement for existing glass fiber, taking advantage of a manufacturing process that does not use adhesives.」

「As another application of YAMASHIN Nano Filter™ in industrial materials, the Company began selling the oil-absorbent product Absorbal. through the official Yamashin Filter online shop on 28 June 2021. Sales are also scheduled to begin successively through trading companies handling various industrial materials. Absorbal. is a new product intended mainly for industrial applications, including recovering oil leaked from machinery and floating oil and preventing marine and river water pollution caused by such oil. Compared with commercially available products, it absorbs approximately twice as much oil per kilogram of absorbent and at approximately 1.5 times the absorption speed, based on the Company's tests, and can rapidly absorb approximately 20 times its own weight in oil using fewer sheets, making it an economical and efficient product.」

「In addition, drawing on technology developed over 70 years since its founding as a specialist filter manufacturer, the Company began selling in November 2020 Zexeed, its flagship consumer model, which achieves at medical-use levels the three key performance requirements for high-performance masks based on the N95 standard of NIOSH (the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health): ① filter performance, a collection efficiency of at least 95% (Note 2); ② sealing performance, a face-to-mask fit rate of at least 90% while worn (Note 2); and ③ breathability, including ease of breathing during extended wear.」

「In addition to these initiatives, the Company has continued since the previous period to mass-produce and supply YAMASHIN Nano Filter™ to several major domestic apparel manufacturers as filling material for fall and winter clothing, highlighting the material's advantages of being lightweight, thin, and warm, and adoption of the Company's new material has progressed.」

「In addition, to address the sustained increase in mask demand accompanying the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Group commercialized masks and replacement inner sheets using its proprietary synthetic polymer nanofiber technology and began selling them through its e-commerce site in May 2020. Drawing on technology developed over 70 years as a specialist filter manufacturer, the Group will also begin full-scale sales in September 2020 of the YAMASHIN original mask, the world's first consumer mask to achieve the three key performance requirements for masks based on the performance standards of N95 masks (Note 1), one of the standards of NIOSH (the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health): ① filter performance, a collection efficiency of at least 95% (Note 2); ② sealing performance, a face-to-mask fit rate of at least 90% while worn (Note 2); and ③ breathability, ease of breathing during extended wear. N95 masks are designated by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for protection against SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome), novel influenza, and tuberculosis bacteria.」

「In response to mask shortages resulting from the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Company commercialized masks and replacement inner sheets using its synthetic polymer nanofiber technology. It will proceed with preparations for mass production and supply systems to expand supply in Japan and overseas.」

「As another initiative to expand its business portfolio, the Group began mass-producing and supplying YAMASHIN Nano Filter TM to several major domestic apparel manufacturers for use as filling material in fall and winter clothing, and continues to actively propose new materials for the next season.」

「As another initiative to expand its business portfolio, the Company began mass-producing and supplying YAMASHIN Nano Filter TM to a major domestic apparel manufacturer for use as filling material in fall and winter clothing, making use of its three characteristics of thermal insulation, moisture control, and thinness.」

「By deploying synthetic polymer nanofibers and YAMASHIN Nano Filter TM across a range of fields, leveraging the mass-production technology established by the Company, we will launch a new business portfolio.」

「Filter media made from synthetic polymer nanofibers were commercialized during the current period and adopted by a construction machinery manufacturer.」

「The purpose of developing the new research and development center is to consolidate the research and development sites currently dispersed across Yokohama, Yokosuka, and Saga, thereby rationalizing and improving the efficiency of the research and development structure, promoting research and development toward commercializing synthetic polymer nanofibers based on the Company's proprietary mass-production technology, and strengthening efforts to expand its lineup of high-value-added products.」

「The company is actively working to build next-generation growth pillars independent of construction equipment filters by expanding its business portfolio and accelerating entry into new business fields through M&A, centered on the Group's established mass-production technology for synthetic polymer nanofibers.」

「The company is actively working to build next-generation growth pillars independent of construction equipment filters by expanding its business portfolio and accelerating entry into new business fields through M&A, centered on the Group's established mass-production technology for synthetic polymer nanofibers.」

「During the consolidated fiscal year, the Company successfully established a completely new mass-production technology for synthetic polymer nanofibers as a new filter medium to replace conventional natural-material glass-fiber filter media.」

「① Investment in the purchase of land and buildings for a new research and development center to develop and commercialize new materials and improve the efficiency of the research and development structure by consolidating sites; ② capital investment in production facilities, research and development equipment, and other assets related to existing businesses and the development and commercialization of new materials」