TBM Starts Efforts to Utilize MI in Material Development

-Aiming to accelerate the development of environmentally friendly materials such as the new material "LIMEX" and the recycled material "CirculeX"-

TBM Co., Ltd., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Nobuyoshi Yamasaki, hereinafter referred to as TBM) has announced that it will apply information science (informatics) such as statistical analysis to the development of materials. We are pleased to announce that we have started efforts to utilize “Informatics” (hereinafter referred to as “MI”).

Since its founding, TBM has been working on the development, manufacturing and sales of LIMEX, a new environmentally friendly material made mainly from limestone, and LIMEX products. We have been focusing on material development according to the physical properties that can be obtained. Regarding the thermoplastic resin, which is a secondary raw material for LIMEX, we have already developed raw materials that are plant-derived, biodegradable, and marine biodegradable, as well as technologies to replace them with recycled resin. increase. In order to respond to the rapidly increasing demand for environmentally friendly materials around the world, it is essential to realize shortening and sophistication of material development and improvement of manufacturing quality. Going forward, TBM will promote the practical application of MI, an advanced technology, with the aim of dramatically improving the efficiency and sophistication of the development of environmentally friendly materials such as LIMEX and the recycled material "CirculeX." Through this initiative, we will establish a technical data base for development and manufacturing, and as a start-up working on the development of new materials, we will strengthen our competitiveness for global business expansion.

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Background

MI is an initiative to improve the efficiency of materials development through informatics methods such as statistical analysis. Materials development has traditionally required a great deal of time and money. Materials manufacturers are starting to pay off. In Japan, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry formulated the "Material Innovation Enhancement Strategy" in the "Integrated Innovation Strategy 2020" approved by the Cabinet in July 2020, and the Cabinet Office's "Strategic Innovation Creation Program ( SIP) and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)'s Fundamental Technology Project for Ultra-High-Speed Development of Ultra-Advanced Materials. It is In recent years, even major domestic companies have begun using machine learning to analyze data related to material design and physical properties, and to efficiently search for new materials.

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Overview

In the development of LIMEX, which is a composite material that can be recycled as well as a single material, and Shiroishi, which is a recycled material, R&D members from major material and chemical manufacturers play a central role. Quality control such as material design, establishment of manufacturing conditions, physical property evaluation, etc. is performed at the factory, Tagajo factory, and Yokosuka Plant. In addition, we are promoting research and development aimed at further improving the environmental performance of the current LIMEX, developing next-generation materials, and increasing the added value of recycled materials. So far, we have been selected by NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) for the Strategic Energy Conservation Technology Innovation Program, and received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award for Intellectual Property Merit Award, which evaluates the use of intellectual property. Our research and development has been highly evaluated both domestically and internationally, including the TOP20 selection in China's "100 Best Industrial Innovations for International Technology Transfer," an award that evaluates the world's innovative technologies.

As the need for eco-friendly materials accelerates in various industries, TBM aims to expand its business globally with overwhelming scale and speed. We aim to shorten the development period, improve functionality, and improve quality stability.

This time, we have introduced the "Materials Informatics Acceleration Program" provided by Enthought, a US MI venture that has a track record of introduction by Japanese companies. We will promote the following initiatives for the practical application of MI.

<This initiative>
・In-house MI capability development and human resource development
・Building a systematic data management system
・Construction of MI solutions to solve material development issues