Press release
- LIMEX
- Tagajo Factory
Completed construction of LIMEX's second plant "Tagajo Plant", which uses limestone as the main raw material.
- Creation of jobs in Miyagi Prefecture to support reconstruction, enhancement of in-house production system, and model for overseas technology licensing -
TBM Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Nobuyoshi Yamasaki; hereinafter "TBM") held a ceremony on February 5, 2021 (Friday) to mark the completion of its second plant in Japan, Tagajo Plant (Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture), which was under construction. Tagajo The plant will serve as a mass production base for LIMEX, a composite material developed by MCC that uses limestone as its main raw material, and is scheduled to go into full operation in April 2021. With the start of the plant's operations, TBM will not only improve the production system and quality stability of LIMEX sheets and pellets manufactured at its own plant, in addition to the conventional fabless material production in cooperation with partner plants, but also promote the spread of LIMEX in Japan and accelerate the global expansion of LIMEX through technology exports modeled after the Tagajo plant. We will accelerate the global expansion of LIMEX through the export of technology modeled on the plant.
Characteristics of the second plant in Japan, Tagajo Plant
In 2015, the construction of this factory was adopted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as part of the Subsidy for Creating Employment Tagajo Areas Affected by the Tsunami and Nuclear Disaster (Project to Support Establishment of Manufacturing Industries, etc.). We have secured a site area of 27,500 m² in the "Sanmirai Tagajo / Reconstruction Complex (Ipponyanagi Industrial Complex)", which is positioned as a recovery driving base, and have been proceeding with construction work since August 2019.
At this factory, we have built a production system that employs 68 people in the prefecture to help with reconstruction support. Mass production of “LIMEX pellets” processed into shapes will start in April 2021 (planned).
(1) Mass production of LIMEX sheets and expansion of applications by making them thinner
At the Tagajo Plant, we have improved the efficiency of LIMEX sheet production, which can be used as an alternative to paper and film, and have established a film formation process that enables the strengthening of product properties and improved quality stability. By reducing costs through mass production, we will promote the further spread of conventional menu charts, posters, and other planned printed materials, as well as the development of new applications such as packaging. In addition, we will start manufacturing LIMEX sheets with a thickness of 100 μm or less, and aim to expand their use in new applications such as labels and flexible packaging materials.
(2) Started in-house production of high-quality LIMEX pellets
Until now, our company has been producing LIMEX pellets, which are alternative materials for plastics, through an OEM system in Japan and overseas, but with the high-performance compound production line at the Tagajo Plant, we have realized the production of high-quality LIMEX pellets. To do. Like conventional plastics, LIMEX pellets can be used in a variety of molding methods. 2 emissions can be reduced. Going forward, we will strengthen sales of environmentally friendly, high-quality LIMEX pellets to domestic and overseas trading companies, processing manufacturers, and business companies that handle plastic products.
(3) Strengthen production system and accelerate global expansion through technology licensing
As a mass production base for LIMEX, an environmentally Shiroishi composite material made mainly from limestone, the main plant has production facilities that enable an annual production of 23,000 tons. ), we will increase the production volume of our own bases by about five times. In addition, the technology and system for LIMEX manufacturing at this factory will be deployed around the world through technology licensing, accelerating the global expansion of LIMEX.
(4) Promotion of sustainable technology development utilizing our own bases
With the start of the operation of the Tagajo Plant, we will strengthen cooperation with Shiroishi Plant, the No. 1 Plant, and promote technological development of high-performance and high-value-added LIMEX sheets and LIMEX pellets with the aim of realizing a sustainable society. .
Overview of TBM Tagajo Plant Completion Ceremony
On February 5, 2021 (Friday), the completion ceremony for the Tagajo Factory was held. In addition to the attendance of our CEO Nobuyoshi Yamasaki and other executives, about 60 people, including Governor Yoshihiro Murai of Miyagi Prefecture, Mayor Kosuke Fukaya of Tagajo City, construction companies and equipment manufacturers, participated as guests. The chief priest of a local shrine held a Shinto ritual and toured the inside and outside of the factory. At the ceremony, our representative director and CEO Yamazaki expressed the following aspirations.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who was involved in the project, and that we were able to safely celebrate this memorable day. With the strength of materials and craftsmanship that Japan should be proud of, we want to help with the recovery from the earthquake disaster, and the LIMEX mass production factory will finally start up with the members who agreed with this idea and jumped into the challenge ship. Clean technology that achieves both economic growth and climate change to reduce CO2, response to the SDGs, and the efficient and cyclical use of resources from a linear economic model of mass production, mass consumption, and mass disposal. Responding to environmental problems is required all over the world, such as a paradigm shift to a circular economy and a circular economy, etc. Based on these global trends, TBM aims to "Bridging today and the future we want." As a mission, we aim to "realize Sustainability Revolution" globally. Together with the people of Miyagi Prefecture and Tagajo City, who have survived the reconstruction, all employees will work together to spread LIMEX to the Tohoku region and the world. ”