The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry introduces Sun Industry Co., Ltd., a Nagano-based company known as the 'refuge' of the plating industry, analyzing their advanced surface treatment technologies and SME support initiatives.
Key Points
1. Company Overview and Industry Position
- Founded in 1968, specializing in surface treatment technologies including plating, coating, and heat treatment
- Known as industry 'refuge' for accepting difficult projects rejected by other companies
- Supporting over 500 SME clients across automotive, electronics, and medical device sectors
- Annual revenue of 2.8 billion yen with 120 employees across three facilities
- Holding 15 patents in advanced surface treatment technologies
2. Technological Capabilities and Innovation
- Proprietary multi-layer plating technology achieving 10x conventional corrosion resistance
- Environmentally friendly trivalent chromium plating replacing hazardous hexavalent chromium
- Precision coating achieving ±0.5μm tolerance for semiconductor manufacturing applications
- Development of composite plating incorporating nanoparticles for enhanced functionality
- In-house R&D facility conducting 200+ experimental trials monthly
3. SME Support Ecosystem
- Free technical consultations helping SMEs solve surface treatment challenges
- Prototype development services with minimum order quantities as low as one piece
- Technical training programs educating client engineers on surface treatment optimization
- Joint development projects sharing intellectual property with partner SMEs
- Emergency response system providing 24-hour turnaround for critical orders
4. Environmental and Sustainability Initiatives
- Zero discharge wastewater treatment system achieving 100% water recycling
- Solar power generation covering 40% of facility energy needs
- ISO 14001 certified environmental management system
- Development of chrome-free plating alternatives reducing environmental impact
- Participation in Nagano Prefecture's carbon neutral initiatives
5. Future Vision and Industry Leadership
- Expansion into aerospace and renewable energy sectors requiring advanced coatings
- Development of IoT-enabled quality control systems for real-time monitoring
- Collaboration with universities on next-generation surface treatment research
- Mentoring program fostering surface treatment specialists for industry succession
- Vision to become Japan's leading surface treatment innovation hub by 2030
The article concludes that Sun Industry exemplifies how specialized technical companies can drive regional manufacturing competitiveness while supporting SME ecosystems through technology sharing and collaborative innovation.