Shiga Prefecture. Group of specialists challenging the impossible and creating unique products. Developing and producing original LCD systems

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1 I.S.T. Corporation (Otsu City) Group of specialists challenging the impossible and creating unique products Mold Research Co., Ltd. (Kusatsu City) Producing high precision parts by powder injection molding technology Tecnart Co., Ltd. (Konan City) Developing and producing original LCD systems Eiritsu Electric Co., LTD (Moriyama City) Producing AOI (Automatic Optical Inspection) tester for the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) having components mounted Kohoku Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Ika Gun) Producing lead terminals for aluminum electrolytic capacitors 221

2 Group of specialists challenging the impossible and creating unique products I.S.T. Corporation Ichiriyama, Otsu City Established in 1983 TEL Isamu Sakane I.S.T. is an R&D oriented company, where one third of it s 600 employees are engaged in R&D, developing unique products and commercializing them. I.S.T. has a wide variety of products including toner fixing parts used in about 60% of laser printers in the world, noncombustible fabrics, and biotechnology products. Developing high value added products no other company can produce. I.S.T. Corporation is a company conducting original R&D of functional materials that are used in various areas such as electronic equipments, fibers, space/aviation. Many products developed in the 24 years since I.S.T. s foundation have superior qualities and are maintaining their superiority in their respective markets. I.S.T. employs 10% of new workforce annually. One third of I.S.T. employees are always engaged in R&D and continuing the development of high value added and unique products. Realizing breakthrough materials with a state-of-the-art composite materials technology A toner fixing roller I.S.T. developed has immensely contributed to the development of copiers with high durability of 500,000 sheets and ultra high speed of 100 sheets/minutes, thus contributing to the foundation of IT era today. The product was developed by using I.S.T s unique processing technology which enables the bonding of fluorine resin on a rubber surface without deteriorating the rubber structure. This is a technology other companies cannot copy, even today, 20 years after its commercialization. I.S.T. has also developed a toner fixing tube made with ultra heat-resistant polyimide resin. The product is used in 60% of laser printers in the world. At present I.S.T. produces about 1.4 million polyimide tubes per month. Noncombustible, smokeless interior fabric used in bullet trains One of I.S.T. s products is a completely noncombustible fabric. The product was developed by combining various noncombustible materials including glass and fluorine resin. It is used as a wall covering materials in bullet trains, and sound facilities such as movie theaters and music studios. In addition, a noncombustible curtain was developed as a fire prevention product that can be used for evacuation and fire extinguishing, of which commercialization for public use is currently underway. Rollers for copiers Polyimide tubes Wall covering for trains Noncombustible curtain 222

3 Producing high precision parts by powder injection molding technology Mold Research Co., Ltd Aoji-cho, Kusatsu City Established in 1998 TEL Yoshimitsu Kankawa Succeeded in developing organic binder (molding agent) that made mass production by powder injection molding technology possible of micron-size precision parts that were difficult to produce by machining. Production of precision parts that the world is paying attention now Powder injection molding technology is very much like the process to make a pottery from earth and water (earth as metal and water as organic binder). It is the technology to add organic binder to powder (metal, ceramics) and make product after the process of injection molding and sintering. Development and supply of good organic binder for metal powder was the key point for mass production. Pioneer of powder injection molding technology Mold Research Co., Ltd. is an R&D type venture company in the 8th year from its foundation, which started from consulting business for other companies on powder injection molding technology. By integration of metal field and chemical engineering field, it succeeded in developing organic binder (molding agent), original product of the company. It is a pioneer that opened the door for mass production and industrialization of powder injection molding technology for the first time in Japan. Recently, this technology has been rapidly increasing, being adopted for digital equipments including mobile phones, laptop computers, and digital cameras. Realized cost reduction in production process and rapid delivery In addition to the original organic binder, the company has developed single step system to continue sintering process and debinding process in powder (metal, ceramics) injection molding. Compared to traditional technologies, it can cope with complicated sizes and shapes and get high precision, time reduction, cost reduction, and rapid delivery. Metal molded object and sintered object Height 1.5 mm, Diameter of the hole 300 µm Ceramics object and sintered object Diameter 100 µm Sintering facility (single step system) 223

4 Developing and producing original LCD systems Tecnart Co., Ltd Hiramatsu, Konan City Established in 1989 Tel (Address after May 1, 2006) 2-21 Nishiohji-cho, Kusatsu-shi, TEL Yoshinori Fujii Developing and producing LCD systems to cope with market needs in industrial equipments and equipments for public use, and has 70% share in Japan for train ticket vending machines, 50% share in Japan for ATMs in post offices and banks, and 100% share in Japan for display system for airport traffic control towers. LCD development aims thinner and lighter ones, and is contributing to energy saving On the opportunity of receiving order for liquid crystal shutter to be used for display control for 3-D display for home use by paying attention to liquid crystal monitors, the company succeeded in developing original image processing board for LCD and began the production. The reason why LCD system is used in many areas In this area, CRT display played a major role. Analog RGB board of this company, which is thin and light, with small consumption of electric power and small amount of electromagnetic wave, can reduce parts and cost by the development of custom signal semiconductor, has changed the market drastically. 70% share in Japan for train ticket vending machines Dual display board The image processing board of the company has diffused in many areas including ATM of banks and cash register of convenience stores. LCD display system has 70% share in Japan for train ticket vending machines. Thus, it has large shares in industrial equipments and equipments for public use. LCD display system 224

5 Producing AOI (Automatic Optical Inspection) tester for the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) having components mounted Eiritsu Electric Co., LTD 107 Harimada-cho, Moriyama City, Established in 1974 TEL Akira Enda Has the top level in Japan for multi-functional visual tester for printed-circuit board that has combination of various testing methods including the original technology for three-dimensional testing for image processing. Realized multi-functional AOI (Automatic Optical Inspection) based on its 35 years experience and original technology Eiritsu Electric Co., LTD has achieved the development of AOI (Automatic Optical Inspection) for the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) having components mounted, based on its electronic equipment assembly technology it had cultivated for 35 years. Features of the tester This tester was developed on the concepts of how to prevent defective products from going out, how to make programming fast, how to make operation easy for everyone, and how to reduce manpower on AOI testing. It is multi-functional visual tester for printed-circuit board that has combination of various testing methods including the original technology for three-dimensional testing for image processing. Got high appraisal by a third party As the result of having developed the tester to inspect printed-circuit board in 3 dimensions as the result of long-term technology development in electronic equipment assembly, it is gaining high appraisal from regional industrial supporting organization about the possibility of the business including the needs for commercialization, innovation of the technology, originality and expansibility of the know-how. AOI tester for printed-circuit board EVT5000 series 225

6 Producing lead terminals for aluminum electrolytic capacitors Kohoku Kogyo Co., Ltd Takatsuki, Takatsuki-cho, Ika Gun, Established in 1959 TEL Futoshi Ishii Producing lead terminals which is the major part of aluminum electrolytic capacitors that is mounted not only in digital appliances such as flat-screen TV and information and telecommunication equipments but also recently for electronics equipments for automobiles. Has 40% share in the world. Original technology realized full automation from manual labor Kohoku Kogyo Co., Ltd. paid attention to the demand for capacitors by rapid spread of electric and electronic equipments. It succeeded for the first time in Japan in full automation of production of lead terminals for aluminum electrolysis condenser that had been done manually. Established the world's best mass production and quality control technologies By mechanizing the complicated process of press work after welding different kinds of metals such as iron, copper and aluminum, the time required for the process has been dramatically shortened and overwhelmingly smooth metal junction compared to traditional products has been realized. The technology to form chemical film on aluminum was developed. By these, the world's best mass production and quality control technologies were established. Lead terminals for aluminum electrolytic capacitors Amazing technologies play active roles in the world The company has achieved high quality and low cost by developing original machines and equipments. It is producing 6 billion lead terminals for aluminum electrolysis condenser monthly by using its supply network system of many offshore bases (including China and Malaysia). It has 40% share in the world and 50% share in Japan, and supplying KOHOKU brand products in various regions in the world. Welding and pressing machine Full automatic chemical equipment 226