New Applications for Proprietary Technologies and the Challenge of Developing New Businesses

「The Business Development Strategy Center is advancing research and development into basic technologies related to the steel business and the automotive and industrial machinery components business. At the same time, it is focusing on company-wide research using AI. It is also actively pursuing research and development in new fields outside the businesses mentioned above and in the circular economy through industry-academia collaboration and other means.」

「From the first quarter of the current fiscal year, the method of presenting the reportable segment formerly disclosed as “Business Development” was changed to include it in “Other” because its quantitative materiality had declined.」

「From the first quarter of the current fiscal year, the method of presenting the reportable segment formerly disclosed as “Business Development” was changed to include it in “Other” because its quantitative materiality had declined.」

「From the first quarter of the current fiscal year, the name of the reportable segment formerly called “Science” was changed to “Business Development.” This was a change in the segment name and had no impact on segment results.」

「Executive Officer, Head of Business Development Strategy Center Executive Officer, General Manager of Technology Department Kano Aijin (加納 愛仁) 1 October 2021」

「The Group decided to establish a Business Development Strategy Center to create new businesses by centrally and consistently managing the basic research and commercialization phases of new strategic products and technologies.」

「In addition, the Group advanced various measures aligned with the medium-term management plan “Growth & Change 2021,” including developing and expanding sales of proprietary products that address customer and societal needs.」

「In addition, the Group advanced initiatives including considering optimization of its group production structure in the automotive and industrial machinery components business and developing and expanding sales of proprietary products in the steel business, thereby advancing the medium-term management plan “Growth & Change 2021.”」

「The Science Division developed a new synthetic mica product for gas-barrier applications. It also developed new functions for crawler robots equipped with a crawler mechanism that enables forward, backward, left, and right movement.」

「Regarding its new businesses, the Group prepared for the start of mass production at expanded facilities for synthetic mica used in cosmetics and other products and worked to expand domestic and overseas sales. For crawler robots, it will begin sales in 2020 of the new transport-support AGV product Sekishu Crawler, developed through collaboration with NEC Corporation and 日本通運株式会社.」

「The Group prepared for the start of mass production at expanded facilities for synthetic mica used in cosmetics and other products and worked to expand domestic and overseas sales. For crawler robots, it proceeded with establishing a full-scale sales structure for crawler mechanisms capable of moving forward, backward, left and right.」

「Regarding its new businesses, the Group prepared for the start of mass production at expanded facilities for synthetic mica used in cosmetics and other products, while focusing on expanding domestic and overseas sales. For crawler robots, it prepared for full-scale production of crawler mechanisms capable of moving forward, backward, left and right, and worked to establish a sales structure.」

「The crawler robot features proprietary functions including a high ability to overcome steps, mobility over rough terrain, unrestricted forward, backward, left, and right movement, and autonomous driving. The Group will make a full-scale entry into the AGV (automated guided vehicle) market, where demand is expected to expand against a backdrop of labor shortages, with the crawler robot as an alternative to conventional wheeled systems.」

「The Group expanded domestic and overseas sales of synthetic mica used in cosmetics and other products. For crawler robots, it accelerated development of crawler mechanisms capable of moving forward, backward, left and right for various business fields, including agriculture and logistics, and worked to establish a sales structure.」

「The Group continued efforts to expand domestic and overseas sales of synthetic mica used in cosmetics and other products, while accelerating development of crawler mechanisms capable of moving forward, backward, left and right for agricultural and logistics applications.」

「The Group continued efforts to expand domestic and overseas sales of synthetic mica used in cosmetics and other products, while accelerating the development of crawler robots with omnidirectional mobility for agriculture, logistics and other applications.」

「The Group will deploy crawler robots, which leverage its long-cultivated manufacturing technology for undercarriage components for construction machinery, in applications including disaster response and seabed surveys. It will also commercialize an innovative mobility mechanism capable of automatic and autonomous travel and expand sales into service and agricultural fields, where demand is expected to grow. In addition, the Group will further expand sales of synthetic mica, developed using electric-furnace melting technology, for cosmetic applications and expand sales for industrial applications such as food packaging films.」

「To encourage many investors to continue investing in the Company over the medium to long term and to enhance corporate value and, consequently, the common interests of shareholders, the Company has undertaken initiatives including formulating and implementing the medium-term management plan “Growth & Change 2018” (G&C 2018) since fiscal 2016, aimed at accelerating global business expansion and creating new applications for its proprietary technologies.」

「The Group will create new applications for its proprietary technologies and pursue new businesses.」