Evolution of new business and Enhancement of core businesses | Special Feature | Sustainability

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Evolution of new business and Enhancement of core businesses

We are accelerating our value creation initiatives toward solving social issues by continuing to focus on both new and core businesses and combining the needs with our technologies accumulated in our business activities over the years.

写真：Unique structure combining a water-repellent coating and a water-permeable layer — Unique structure combining a water-repellent coating and a water-permeable layer

WillTier^®sheets- Make the impossible possible through “joint creation” within the Group-

The civil engineering industry in Japan is facing issues such as chronic labor shortages and aging workforce, and there is a need to maintain and improve construction quality, consider the environment, and further improve the construction work efficiency. “WillTier^® sheet” is a water-repellent and water-permeable sheet for concrete formwork, and when used in concrete formwork construction, it is expected to improve concrete quality by suppressing surface bubbles formed when placing concrete, save resources through repeated use, and improve workability due to its low-tack adhesion. We are also promoting the joint creation with group companies, and for example, we are using the construction industry network of Bando Industrial Components & Services, Ltd. in promoting products. We will continue to work on joint creation within and outside the company and strive to develop new products that contribute to solving social issues.

写真：Osteogenesis-promoting effect by modifying the surface of artificial bones — Osteogenesis-promoting effect by modifying the surface of artificial bones

Absorbable bone regeneration materials-Try to shorten treatment time through “joint creation” with academia-

An absorbable bone regeneration material, launched by our group company Aimedic MMT in April 2023, was developed through an industry-academia collaboration using our core technologies. This product modifies nitrogen, a component of amino groups, on the surface of artificial bones using the plasma technology. Unlike existing artificial bones, this product is expected to promote bone formation after it is implanted inside the body and was used in approximately 1,400 bone grafting surgeries by the end of 2023. In Japan where the rapid aging of the population is accelerating, shortening the treatment period is an urgent issue. The product’s osteogenesis-promoting effect is expected to accelerate bone adhesion, enable rehabilitation to begin at an early stage, improve ADL^*1 and QOL^*2 by ensuring early recovery of walking ability, and shorten the time required to return to work as well as to create social values by mitigating burdens of nursing care on medical personnel and patients’ family members and reducing overall medical costs. *1 ADL: Activities of Daily Living
*2 QOL: Quality of Life

Heavy-duty double cog belts-Expand value creation domains through “joint creation” with customers and research institutions-

写真：Significantly improve power transmission capacity and increase lifespan through low heat generation property — Significantly improve power transmission capacity and increase lifespan through low heat generation property

In response to customer expectations for higher quality of power transmission belts as a consequence of the recent trend toward larger engine capacity and higher engine power in large buggy cars, large motor scooters, etc., we launched “Double cog belts,” the world’s first^* cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-compounded rubber belt for high-load application in April 2024. CNF is a cutting-edge biomass nanofiber material that is one-fifth the weight of steel but more than five times stronger.After we developed the nanofiber dispersion technology that exploits the characteristics of CNF, we were able to successfully combine CNF as rubber reinforcement materials and achieve “higher transmission capacity,” “higher transmission efficiency” and “longer lifespan with low heat generation property” compared to the conventional carbon black-reinforced rubber. By taking advantage of these features, we will reduce the use of raw materials through a reduction of belt width and achieve high fuel efficiency and energy savings, contributing to the reduction of CO₂ emissions. For commercial mass production of power transmission belts using CNF, we used a part of the results of “Cellulose Nanofiber-related Technology Development to Contribute to a Carbon Cycle Society/Research and Development [1] Development of Innovative CNF Manufacturing Process Technology,” a project subsidized by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and conducted in collaboration with a Japanese chemical manufacturer Tosoh Corporation.
* The world’s first power transmission belt using cellulose nanofibers (according to our survey)