The Group focuses on “Enhancement and Evolution in Manufacturing” under the mid-term business plan BF-2, works to develop innovative production methods and build automated production lines, improves capital and labor productivity, and reduces material loss and energy use, with the aim of contributing to sustainable development of society.
SDG to which
the Bando Group contributes
Example of use of
industrial toothed
rubber belts:
Resin injection molding
machine
Industrial toothed belt line
at Wakayama Plant
In fiscal 2020, we worked to develop innovative production methods in Wakayama Plant and
designed new processes of industrial toothed rubber belts. As a result, we were able to
reduce both material loss and energy consumption by approximately 40%, doubled labor
productivity and improved capital productivity by 1.5 times compared to the conventional
production lines.
The newly developed innovative production methods can manufacture any size of belts without
a mold for each belt size, shortening the time required for test production. While improving
efficiency, we maintain the same level of functions and precision of products as the
conventional methods by improving design precision for each process and using new
technologies.
In fiscal 2021, we will work on mass production with these innovative production methods and
proceed with the consolidation of the conventional production lines.
Industrial toothed belts
In fiscal 2020, we thoroughly reviewed the conventional methods such as surface treatment and visual inspection of automotive wiper blade rubbers at Nankai Plant, restructured processes, introduced automation, and optimized conditions, and as a result, we were able to reduce loss of surface treatment agent by 75% and improved labor productivity by 2.8 times in target processes. In fiscal 2021, we will work on mass production in this production line and aim to further improve productivity by introducing robots.
Automotive wiper
blade rubbers
Visual inspection device
for the products
Fiscal 2018 Ashikaga Plant
―Polyurethane belts―
Established innovative production methods by
reviewing
compounding design of materials, shortening a cross-linking process
(reaction that changes physical and chemical properties of
polymers by linking them) and introducing robots
Labor productivity
Approximately
doubled*
Material loss
Reduced by
20%*
Energy consumption
Reduced by
80%*
Ashikaga Plant
(external view)
Fiscal 2019 Nankai Plant
―Accessory drive power transmission belts for
automobiles―
Nankai Plant
―Rubber belts for
agricultural machinery―
Developed new production methods by thoroughly reviewing the conventional methods
Acquired a patent for the process which not only reduced energy consumption but also contributed to the improvement of environment of high-temperature work site
Developed a molding machine compatible with automation and multiple models of products
Achieved a people- and environmentally- friendly method not requiring organic solvents
Productivity
1.3 times*
Material loss
Reduced by
60% or more*
Energy consumption
Reduced by
50% or more*
Labor
productivity
2.5 times*
Capital
productivity
1.4 times*
* Comparison with the conventional methods