Research and development and commercialization of steel pipes, bicycles and welfare equipment

「To reduce costs by improving production efficiency, the company worked to increase the speed of its pipe-forming lines. On the high-frequency line, pipe-forming speed is limited because end deformation occurs when steel pipes are cut. To prevent this deformation, the company reviewed the tool path to improve tool life and increase pipe-forming speed. On the TIG line, pipe-forming speed is slow because of the nature of the welding process, so the company worked to improve speed by fundamentally reviewing the welding conditions.」

「Total R&D expenses for the six-month consolidated accounting period were ¥6 million. There were no material changes in the status of R&D activities.」

「To reduce costs by improving production efficiency, the company worked to increase the speed of its pipe-forming lines. On the high-frequency line, pipe-forming speed is limited because end deformation occurs when steel pipes are cut. To prevent this deformation, the company reviewed the tool path to improve tool life and increase pipe-forming speed. On the TIG line, pipe-forming speed is slow because of the nature of the welding process, so the company worked to improve speed by fundamentally reviewing the welding conditions.」

「Total R&D expenses for the six-month consolidated accounting period were ¥14 million. There were no material changes in the status of R&D activities.」

「For its stainless steel surface treatment technology, the BEP method, the company had previously focused on selling primarily handrails for railway cars. To make greater use of the technology's characteristics, including its design appeal, corrosion resistance and antibacterial properties, it investigated and analyzed the relationships between surface roughness and surface characteristics and performance. Based on the results, including verification of the effects of different levels of surface roughness on slipperiness and slip resistance, as well as corrosion resistance and cleanability, the company is developing products that meet customer requirements for food-related components and other applications.」

「Total R&D expenses for the nine-month period ended 31 December were ¥28 million. There were no material changes in the status of R&D activities.」

「Total research and development expenses for the second quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period were ¥17 million. There were no material changes in research and development activities.」

「Total R&D expenses for the three-month period ended 30 June were ¥8 million. There were no material changes in the status of R&D activities.」

「Total R&D expenses for the nine-month period ended 31 December were ¥23 million. There were no material changes in the status of R&D activities.」

「Total R&D expenses for the six-month period ended 30 September were ¥16 million. There were no material changes in the status of R&D activities.」

「Total research and development expenses for the first quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period were ¥7 million. There were no material changes in research and development activities.」

「The company produced pipes using plasma welding. While implementing measures to prevent oxidation at the weld, improve the method of discharging inert gas, and suppress welding defects, it examined methods for stable production through prototype testing and equipment improvements.」

「Total research and development expenses for the third quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period were ¥26 million. There were no material changes in research and development activities.」

「Total research and development expenses for the second quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period were ¥17 million. There were no material changes in research and development activities.」

「Total research and development expenses for the first quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period were ¥9 million. There were no material changes in research and development activities.」

「Total research and development expenses for the third quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period were ¥21 million. There were no material changes in research and development activities.」

「Total research and development expenses for the second quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period were ¥13 million. There were no material changes in research and development activities.」

「Total research and development expenses for the first quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period were ¥4 million. There were no material changes in research and development activities.」

「Products using the BEP process, which creates a stainless steel surface with excellent cleanability, design properties, and corrosion resistance based on electropolishing, are sold mainly to railway rolling stock manufacturers. To expand sales into new fields, the company conducted tests on the adhesion rate of Staphylococcus aureus and the residual rate after alcohol cleaning. It also produced prototypes of steel pipes made from duplex stainless steel, which offers higher corrosion resistance and strength than SUS304.」

「Total research and development expenses for the third quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period were ¥20 million. There were no material changes in research and development activities.」

「Total research and development expenses for the second quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period were ¥12 million. There were no material changes in research and development activities.」

「Total research and development expenses for the first quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period were ¥5 million. There were no material changes in research and development activities.」

「Products using the BEP process, which creates a stainless steel surface with excellent cleanability, design properties, and corrosion resistance based on electropolishing, are sold mainly to railway rolling stock manufacturers. To expand sales into new fields, the company conducted combined cyclic testing for resistance to chlorine and sulfur and developed a BEP-process treatment method for components other than steel pipes. In the development of steel pipe manufacturing technology, the company developed internal bead-cutting technology to establish stable production of small-diameter pipes, with the aim of expanding sales channels for electric-resistance-welded steel pipes as an alternative to seamless pipes. In the development of high-value-added products, the company strengthened its efforts in shaped pipes and developed products and established technology while comparing the results obtained from analysis software with actual material deformation results. In addition, while investigating customer needs, it produced prototypes of steel pipes made from stainless steel materials with greater strength and corrosion resistance than SUS304, working to improve forming and welding technologies.」

「Total research and development expenses for the third quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period were ¥18 million. There were no material changes in research and development activities.」

「In addition to railway rolling stock, sales of electropolished stainless steel pipes with excellent corrosion resistance, cleanability, and design properties have begun in other fields, including commercial facilities and building materials.」

「Total research and development expenses for the first quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period were ¥7 million. There were no material changes in research and development activities.」

「Products using the BEP process, which creates a stainless steel surface with excellent cleanability, design properties, and corrosion resistance based on electropolishing, were sold not only to railway rolling stock manufacturers but also increasingly to the bus and marine sectors. With a view to sales in the medical and building materials sectors, the company advanced development of products with design properties suited to those industries.」

「In addition to the railway rolling stock sector, sales of the new stainless steel pipe product, which has excellent corrosion resistance, cleanability, and design properties following electropolishing, have also gradually increased in other fields.」

「Sales of the new stainless steel pipe product, which has excellent corrosion resistance, cleanability, and design properties following electropolishing, have gradually increased, particularly in the railway rolling stock sector and other areas.」

「Inquiries concerning the new stainless steel pipe product, which has excellent corrosion resistance, cleanability, and design properties following electropolishing, have increased, particularly in connection with railway rolling stock.」

「Total research and development expenses for the third quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period were ¥53 million. There were no material changes in research and development activities.」

「Total research and development expenses for the second quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period were ¥36 million. There were no material changes in research and development activities.」

「Total research and development expenses for the first quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period were ¥22 million. There were no material changes in research and development activities.」

「The Group's research and development expenses for the consolidated fiscal year were ¥92 million. The research objectives, main issues, research results, and amounts for each segment are as follows.」