Development of environmentally friendly products (green products)

Reducing the weight of discs for EVs

In the automotive industry, as the shift to BEV (Battery Electric Vehicles) accelerates in order to reduce the environmental impact, efforts are being made daily to improve the cruising distance of vehicles, including improving electricity consumption. In addition, wheels are required to be lightweight, have aerodynamic performance, and have a high design. Our passenger car steel wheel "Ultra Super Square Wheel" is a technology that achieves both weight reduction and high rigidity by expanding the window of the current product (Ultra Square Wheel) that has a vertical wall standing vertically on the outer periphery of the disc, by extending the window toward the design surface and securing the axial length of the vertical wall. This technology can reduce the amount of material used for the disc by about 10% compared to the current product, and contributes to reducing the environmental impact by reducing the amount of material used and improving the fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

Succeeded in the industry's first chromium-free processing

The surface treatment of Aluminum wheel is designed with a focus on preventing rust and discoloration over the long term, and chromium treatment has been considered essential for rust prevention. However, in response to environmental regulations in Europe, each automobile manufacturer is paying attention to surface treatment technology that does not use heavy metals such as chromium. In response to these needs, we have repeatedly studied alternative metals for chromium and developed technology, utilized our own special treatment, and succeeded in developing chromium-free processing for the first time in the industry.

Contributing to significant reduction of environmental impact

環境負荷の大幅な削減に貢献建設機械用の足回りに使われる履帯は防錆などの目的で塗装されて使用されます。従来は溶剤系塗料が用いられてきましたが、2019年に豊橋製造所の新履帯組立ラインが新設されたことに合わせて水溶性塗料に切り替えました。これによりVOC（揮発性有機化合物）の排出量を大きく抑制することができました。また、同所における履帯の素材から製品までの一貫生産を実現し、輸送量を大幅に削減することで、CO_{2}排出量の削減に貢献しています。

The world's largest wheel for efficient mining and transportation of ore
 

The world's largest wheel streamlines ore mining and transportation
SGOR ® (Super Giant Off the Road Rim) is ultra-large wheels for mining equipment. This wheel is used at large-scale ore mining sites overseas. The world's largest wheel has a rim diameter of 63 inches (approximately 1.6 meters), a width of 44 inches (approximately 1.1 meters), and weighs 2.83 tons, making it approximately five times larger in diameter than wheels for passenger vehicles. By satisfying both the mobility and transportation power required by mines, we are contributing to reducing the environmental impact associated with ore mining.

Seven of our products, including flat steel bars, have been certified with the environmental label "SuMPO EPD"* (formerly EcoLeaf), which is certified by the Sustainable Management Promotion Organization (SuMPO). SuMPO EPD is one of Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certification system. This certification allows customers to quantitatively and objectively evaluate the environmental impact of the products they use, and can use it as a basis for making decisions when purchasing environmentally friendly products.

Promoting the use of new technologies

"TACoil®," reinforced concrete steel bars, has been recognized for its improved processing productivity and reduction in material waste during processing, and has been registered in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's new technology information system, "NETIS (New Technology Information System)."

TACoil® is a compact coil made by winding reinforced concrete steel bars at high density. When used in conjunction with NC processing machines, it significantly improves the productivity of rebar processing and minimizes loss during processing by allowing the rebar to be cut to any length.

Taking advantage of these features, this product will contribute to solving issues in the construction industry, such as labor shortages caused by the declining birthrate and aging population.

Promoting the use of renewable energy

In order to promote the use of renewable energy as part of our efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, our group has decided to introduce solar power generation equipment using an on-site PPA model from May 2025. We expect Toyohashi Plant to generate 1,700 MKh of power annually, which will reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 770 tons per year. Our group has formulated a long-term sustainability vision for the realization of a sustainable society in 2050, and as part of our efforts to combat climate change, we aim to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050. Starting with the installation at Toyohashi Plant, we will consider installing the equipment at our group company bases in Japan and overseas.

In September 2024, we began joint research on the new Kinotech method (direct alkaline leaching electrolysis method) developed by Kinotech Inc., which recycles zinc from electric arc furnace dust. This technology recycles zinc directly from electric arc furnace dust generated when melting steel scrap in an electric arc furnace.
This is an innovative method for regenerating high-purity zinc, and is expected to significantly reduce the environmental impact and costs compared to conventional methods. Through joint research, we will work toward practical application and contribute to the realization of a sustainable resource-recycling-based society.

Akemi Recycle Center, a consolidated subsidiary with one of Japan's largest shredding plants, uses a shredder to shred scrapped automobiles and other miscellaneous goods, and recycles them into steel scrap and nonferrous scrap, as well as converting shredder dust made of plastics and rubber into carbonaceous material. We are building a recycling system that minimizes waste generation, such as using it in our electric furnaces as a substitute.