Alternative materials and joining technology innovations in Tokyo

On July 19, the Ota City Industrial Promotion Organization held the Alternative and Joining Technologies Exhibition (代替合体展) at Haneda PiOPARK in Ota Ward, Tokyo, Japan. The event focused on technologies related to “alternative” materials aimed at reducing environmental impact and improving functionality, as well as the “joining” of dissimilar materials. At the exhibition, 17 companies presented their solutions for alternative materials and joining technologies. 

SEKIDAI KOGYO (Tokyo, Japan; President Tadao Kishinami) specializes in prototype machining and is known for its expertise in machining difficult-to-machine materials. At the event, SEKIDAI KOGYO displayed components made of aluminum and magnesium and proposed the replacement of aluminum with magnesium. A company representative explained, ” Magnesium has a higher material cost compared to aluminum and also requires careful consideration of its strength, but it enables further weight reduction of components.” The company has already had success with this approach in racing car parts. 

OHYA SEISAKUJYO (Kawasaki City, Japan; President & CEO, Kenji Ohya) demonstrated its friction stir welding technology. In friction stir welding, materials are rubbed together at high speed and the resulting frictional heat is used to soften and join the materials. On display were various workpieces joined using this technique, including aluminum with titanium and aluminum with stainless steel. A company representative highlighted the benefits of friction stir welding, stating, “It’s less expensive than cutting and more energy-efficient than welding.”