environmental and social activity report - kyb · 2016-08-09 · 1977 developed trailer-type cement...
TRANSCRIPT
2016
Environmental and Social Activity Report
Introduction
KYB attained the 80th anniversary of its founding in March 2015.
In October 2015, we changed the offi cial company name and
trade name from Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd., to KYB Corporation in
order to further strengthen our brand image. We want to express
our heartfelt gratitude to all of you who have given your generous
support in various forms to the KYB Group over these many years.
We see the 80th year as a juncture from which the KYB Group
will continue to meet the expectations of our customers and of
society with sincerity. By means of skilled manufacturing, we will
contribute still more toward realization of a society of prosperity
and safety. We look forward to receiving your continuing support.
Looking back at fi scal year 2015
In looking back at the KYB Group’s performance in fi scal
year 2015, we see that while sales increased with the support
of healthy demand for automotive products, at the same time
there were other factors, such as the unanticipated sharp
drop in the construction machinery market in China, and the
protracted economic slump in the emerging countries, that
resulted in consolidated sales reaching ¥355.3 billion, which fell
¥21.7 billion short of the ¥377.0 billion forecast at the start of the
period. Meanwhile, despite management streamlining in China
and our Nagano region bases, and structural reform initiatives
by the entire Group in the form of emergency measures such as
reducing fi xed overhead, our ordinary income was ¥14.2 billion,
a shortfall of ¥200 million from the ¥14.4 billion forecast at the
start of the period.
We will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society by promoting vigorous activity of human resources and by innovation in skilled manufacturing.
Fiscal year 2016 is the fi nal year of the medium-term
business plan that started for the KYB Group in 2014. In fi scal
year 2015, we carried out a drastic business restructuring due
to the downturn in the construction machinery market. In fi scal
year 2016, we intend to take thorough measures to strengthen
our business performance in order to assure profi ts. In this way
we will be certain to reap the effects of that restructuring and
close the gap between our current circumstances and our plans.
KYB Group initiatives for society
1) Compliance education
Last year, KYB reached an agreement with the United States
Department of Justice to pay a fi ne of approximately 7.4 billion
Japanese yen for violation of U.S. antitrust laws. This was
recorded as an extraordinary loss. This is the kind of thing that
must not be allowed to happen, and I extend our profound apology
to stakeholders for causing such concern and inconvenience.
Taking into account our lessons learned to date, we are committed
to further strengthening our systems for promoting internal
control and compliance with a view to preventing recurrence of
the problem and recovering the confi dence of stakeholders. We
will also convey to every individual employee that compliance
with laws, regulations, and accepted practices while engaging
in good-faith activity is the very foundation of the company’s
continuing existence. This also, by extension, leads to our making
a contribution to society. In this way we will seek to reform the
consciousness of our personnel.
Top Message
Yasusuke NakajimaRepresentative Director and President Executive Offi cer
KYB Corporation
2 Environmental and Social Activity Report 2016
Top Message / Contents
Eight Decades of KYB Group History
What KYB Aims to Be
Outline of KYB Group
2
4
6
8
2015 Action Highlights12
Management Report
Contents
10 Safe, comfortable products that are friendly to people and to the Earth
Environmental Report
16
18
Environmental Management
Basic environmental policy
Environmental conservation objectives
Chemical substance management
Initiatives to Reduce Environmental Burden
Activities at plants
Social Report
21
23
24
27
Side by side with the customer
Activities for customer satisfaction improvement
With Business Partners
Establishment of partnership
For the Community
Social Support Activities
With Employees
Human resource utilization and work environment improvement in cooperation
Human resource development and technical capability improvement
Employee communications
Creation of Safe and Comfortable Workplaces
32
33
34
34
Corporate Management
Corporate governance
Internal control / Compliance
Environmental data compilation
Editorial Policy
2) “Jinzai” (human resource) development
In order for a corporation to achieve sustained growth and
development, and contribute to the prosperity of society, it is
important to facilitate activity by its human resources. In the KYB
Group, we promote the creation of a workplace environment that
makes it possible for diverse personnel to function in positions
suited to their capabilities and that is employee-friendly.
KYB Group environmental initiatives
At the KYB Group, we take the view that the links between
energy, waste matter, and water are crucial to the realization
of a sustainable society. Therefore, we provide products
that contribute to environmental protection, and we promote
innovative skilled manufacturing that is oriented to a structural
transition to unprecedented perspectives and thinking. We are
engaged in the global deployment of a variety of programs,
including environmentally friendly technology development for
the reassessment of product construction, for achieving lighter
weight by changing materials, and other similar purposes;
activities for saving energy by improving methods for using the
energy consumed in factories; reduction in waste generation by
improving waste processing methods; and improvement in water
quality by introducing waste water processing equipment.
I will be very pleased if KYB Group initiatives for society and the
environment become better understood through this report so
that we can continue receiving support from increasing numbers
of stakeholders. I also look forward to receiving your comments
on this report, and hope that you will express your frank opinions
regarding the KYB Group.
3Environmental and Social Activity Report 2016
Products
History
1900~
Eight Decades of KYB Group History
1 3 5
2 4 6
KYB HistoryColumn 01
The origins of KYB can be traced back to the Kayaba Research Center, which was founded in 1919.The Research Center was started by Shiro Kayaba when he was 21 years old. He was an
inventor of extraordinary talent and originality who loved freedom and avoided relying on others.The free and creative spirit of Shiro Kayaba was the motivational force underlying the founding
of KYB.“All the things that are currently in use are things of the past that are in the course of
development, and the world never stops demanding more new things.” Words of founder Shiro Kayaba. Shiro Kayaba, founder
1919 Founded Kayaba Research Center
1927 Established Kayaba Seisakusho
1935 Established Kayaba Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
1943 Established Gifu Works (presently Gifu South Plant)
1948 Incorporated Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
1956 Established Kayaba Auto Service Co., Ltd. as a sales subsidiary
(presently KYB Engineering and Service Co., Ltd.)
1959 Company stock listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange
1968 Established Gifu North Branch Plant (presently Gifu North Plant)
1970 Capital participation in KMT (Taiwan)Moved head offi ce to the World Trade Center Building
1971 Established the Kumagaya Plant and Mie Plant (presently KSM)
1974 Established KCA as sales subsidiary (presently KAC (America))
1975 Established Sagami Plant
1976 Established P.T. KYBI (Indonesia) joint venture
1981 Unifi ed production system under KPS name
1983 Established KMSB (Malaysia) joint venture
1985 Changed trade name to Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
1987 Established Kayaba Industries (currently KAC (America))
1989 Established sales subsidiary KGE (Germany)
1992 Set up the Environment and Safety Committee
1993 Held fi rst company-wide sports and culture interactive event
1996 Established Siam Kayaba (presently KYBT (Thailand)) joint venture
Established KHMSB (presently KSMSB (Malaysia))
Established TKI (presently KST (Thailand)) joint venture
Established KSS (Spain) joint venture
1998 All KYB plants acquired ISO 9001 certifi cation
1999 Formulated the Corporate Guiding Principles
1927 Started production of oleo struts for aircraft
1946 Started production of automobile shock absorbers 1, hydraulic jacks, agricultural machinery
1947 Started production of centrifugal pumps
1951 Developed oil damper for railcars
1952 Developed front fork and oil cushion unit for motorcycles
1954 Started production of “high-low” (high-quality and low-cost) mixer trucks 2
1954 Jointly developed power steering with booster 3
1959 Started production of inclined barrel mixer trucks
1961 Developed Ceriani type front fork
1962 Developed inclined axis piston pump, radial piston motor (star-type motor) 4
1962 Started production of accumulators for aircraft use 5
1963 Started production of gear motors
1963 Started production in Japan of granule carriers
1964 Oil dampers of all types for Shinkansen “bullet train” use 6
1964 Developed and started production of rear oil cushion units
1965 Developed integral power steering
1967 Started mass production of strut shock absorbers, developed vane pump for automotive use
1969 Started mass production of stay dampers
1971 Developed hydrostatic continuous variable transmission (HST) with separate pump and motor
1971 Developed ganged valve for hydraulic use and MS valve series 7
1977 Developed trailer-type cement truck, suction pressure transport-type truck
1981 Developed compact vane pump
1982 Developed directly-driven servo valve
1983 KVM series for construction equipment 8
1983 Developed low to medium pressure and high-pressure cylinders
1987 Jointly developed electronically-controlled suspension 9
1986 Jointly developed tunnel boring machine
Column 02
The spirit of creative development is the foundation of KYB technology.
Hydraulic buffers for aircraft use invented by Shiro Kayaba. This hydraulic technology
served as the core concept for vibration control technology and power control technology, which
continued to develop with the times. We provide technology and products for safety and
comfort, such as integrated system technology, electronic control technology, and other such
technologies, to customers in a variety of different fields.
Product History
Kayaba Seisakusho around the time of its founding
4 Environmental and Social Activity Report 2016
2000~
7 9 11 13 15 16
8 10 12 14
We will introduce the 80 years of KYB Group history by dividing it into company history and product history.
2000 Established Arvin-Kayaba Do Brazil LTDA
(presently KMB (Brazil))
2001 All KYB plants acquired ISO 14001 certifi cation
2002 Established Kayaba Vietnam (presently KMV (Vietnam))
Established KIMZ (China)
2003 Established KMCZ (Czech Republic) joint venture
2004 Established KYB Trondule Co., Ltd. (presently KYB-TD) as subsidiary
Established KYB Technical Center (KTCT (Thailand))
Established KSM Co., Ltd.
Established KTS (China) sales company
Established KLA (Mexico) sales company
2005 Established KYBA (Thailand) sales company
Formulated new management principals and management vision
Reorganization (integrated each business under automotive (AC) or hydraulic (HC) component segment)
Established KMF (UAE) sales company
Adopted “KYB” as a shared corporate name
2006 Takako Industries, Inc., made a subsidiary
2008 Established Gifu East Plant
Held company’s fi rst robot contest
Established KWT (China) joint venture
Established KLRC (China) joint venture
Established KAMS (Spain) joint venture
2009 Established KEH DE (Germany) supervisory company
2010 Established KCI (China) supervisory company
2011 Yanagisawa Seiki Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (presently KYB-YS) made a subsidiary
Established Developmental Experiment Center, started operating test course
2012 Established KEH NL (Netherlands) supervisory company
Established KER (Russia) sales company
Established KMEX (Mexico)
Established KMSI (India) joint venture
2013 Established KCME (Czech Republic) joint venture
KCPL (India) made a subsidiary
Established KHMI (Indonesia) joint venture
Established KMS Co., Ltd., joint venture
Established KBR (Brazil) sales company
2014 Established Chennai Branch (India)
2015 80th anniversary of founding
Changed trade name to KYB Corporation
1989 Developed system to correct for uneven settlement 10
1990 Jointly developed electromagnetic proportional directional control valve
1991 Jointly developed large tunnel boring machine (boom header)
1996 Developed semi-active dampers for railroad use
1998 Developed shock absorber for chair skiing 11
1999 Developed semi-active suspension for automobiles
2001 Received Good Design Award for seismic isolation damper (brace damper) for use in buildings 12
2002 Developed motorcycle front fork with DLC coating
2004 Started production of vane pumps for continuously variable transmissions (CVT)
2004 Started production of electronically controlled mixer trucks (e Mixer) 13
2005 Jointly developed semi-active suspension system for Shinkansen train cars 14
2005 Developed DRE-100 drive recorder for on-board automotive use
2009 Developed frequency-dependent shock absorber (HARMOFREQ)
2011 Developed electrically adjustable front fork and rear cushion unit, and pneumatic spring fork for motocross use
2011 Developed Electro-Hydraulic Energy Saving System (EHESS) 15
2011 Developed rotational inertia damper
2013 Developed load sensing shock absorbers
2013 Developed direct adaptive steering (DAS) system 16
2015 Developed lightweight electronically-controlled mixer truck
2015 Developed fl ow control valve-less vane pump for CVT use
Test course on the grounds of the Developmental Experiment Center
Interior of anechoic chamber at the Electronics Technology Center
5Environmental and Social Activity Report 2016
What KYB Aims to Be
Our Precision,Your Advantage
Management principles
The KYB Group contributes to society providing technologies and products
make life safe and comfortable.
1. Challenge higher objectives and construct livelier corporate cultural climate.
2. Maintain grace and good faith, and pay attention to nature and the environment.
3. Always seek creative ideas and contribute to the progress of customers,
shareholders, suppliers and society.
Human Resources DevelopmentTo cultivate the talent to achieve the objectives with a thorough understanding of the principles and the strategy.
Technology and Product DevelopmentTo provide products that are impressive, comfortable and reliable to customers throughout the world.
Monozukuri (Japanese manufacturing expertise)To make our plants enjoyable, dynamic places to work, and at the same time full of discipline based on the field priority doctrine, in order to produce products satisfactory to the customer.
ManagementAlways keep social responsibilities of the corporation in mind and provide efficient group management.
Management Vision
Guiding Principles
The KYB Group aims to satisfy its stakeholders at a time of increasing focus on corporate social responsibility.
Based on KYB’s management philosophy, each employee will maintain an awareness of our responsibility as
a business, and manifest that awareness through actions that will always comply with the law. We will
moreover work to enhance our corporate value so that our company continues to be a trusted.
( 1 ) Establishment and its practice of the corporate ethics
( 2 ) Thorough implementation of slogan of “Customers First”
( 3 ) Pursuit of product safety
( 4 ) Appropriate accounting and account settlement
( 5 ) Disclosure of corporate information
( 6 ) Compliance with laws and order
( 7 ) Dealing with our customers
( 8 ) Dealing with our suppliers
( 9 ) Prompt dealing with customers’ complains
(10) Participation in activities of industry circles and other related organization.
(11) Breaking connection with anti-social power or groups
(12) Prohibition of insider trading
(13) Protection of intellectual property rights
(14) Retention of trade secret
(15) Protection of personal information and data
(16) Protection of other company property
(17) Coexistence with local communities
(18) Preservation of natural environment
(19) Labor - management cooperation
(20) Safety and health
(21) Education and Training and career development
(22) Prohibition of discriminatory actions
(23) Prohibition of harassment actions
(24) Prohibition of child labor and forced labor
(25) Maintenance and improvement of good and healthy workplace environment
6 Environmental and Social Activity Report 2016
KYB Group
Social Responsibility in the KYB Group
Through our business activities, the KYB Group aims to contribute to the
development of our customers, shareholders, suppliers and society
through the constant pursuit of creativity.
Following our Corporate management philosophy and vision, units of the
KYB Group incorporate CSR initiatives into their yearly action plans and
put them into practice. They then follow up on these actions as part of an
ongoing cycle of improvement and reform.
Employees carry the KYB Group’s Action Guidelines with them to deepen
their awareness of the importance of CSR (Corporate social
responsibilities).
By providing technologies
and products
that make people’s lives safe and comfortable,
the KYB Group contributes to society
MissionMonozukuri taken
one step further
VisionMonozukuri for
human happinessValueTechnology for
comfortable livingWhat KYB Aims to Be
VisionKYB’s aim is to support the development of society through the joy of Monozukuri, and make people
happier as a result.
What the KYB brand can do for the world
Monozukuri for human happiness
MissionKYB will remain an enterprise able to bring value to our clients and markets thanks to the reliable
technical expertise we have built up over the years.
Through our own efforts, we take Monozukuri one step further to provide our clients with new value
and greater satisfaction than they have ever known.
The mission of KYB brand
Monozukuri taken one step further
ValueSensory value : comfortable living, the joy of Monozukuri
Functional value : reliable quality
The value KYB promises its end users is a higher level of “comfortable living” that comes from creative
technology and sincere product development.
The value KYB promises its clients is the “reliable quality” that comes from thinking of the end user
as “our client”.
The value KYB promises each employee is “the joy of Monozukuri” that comes from knowing he or she
is changing the world.
Value made possible by the KYB brand
Technology for comfortable living
Relationship between
the KYB Group and
stakeholders
Society
Contribute to the community
Coexistence with suppliers and local communities
Customers
Provide useful technologies
and productsQuality, customer satisfaction
and new product and technology
development
Shareholders
Provide healthy returns on business
activitiesEconomic contribution
and internal control
Global environment
Coexist with the global environmentEnvironmental management,
environmental and social report,
energy-saving plant
Employees
Achieve a healthy workplace
environmentHuman rights, worker safety
and health, human asset development
7Environmental and Social Activity Report 2016
Net sales
0
400.0
300.0
200.0
100.0
0
30.0
20.0
10.0
0
12,000
9,000
6,000
3,000
Non-consolidated Consolidated Non-consolidated Consolidated Non-consolidated Consolidated
Ordinary income Number of employees
2015 (FY) (FY) (FY)
355.3
2015 2014 2015
(billion yen) (billion yen) (persons)
2011 2012 2013 2014
227.7
337.1
191.6
305.7
198.2
352.7
207.4
370.4
14.2
2011
15.8
22.7
2012
13.5
2013
14.0
20.3
2014
8.9
13.015.8
2000
3,679
13,796
2011 2012 2013
3,846
12,306
3,601
13,033
3,661
13,732
8.5
187.0
11,975
3,876
Company overview
Company Name KYB Corporation
Founded Kayaba Research Center, November 19, 1919
Established Kayaba Manufacturing Co., Ltd. March 10, 1935
Incorporated November 25, 1948 (KYB Corporation)
Head Office World Trade Center Bldg., 2-4-1,
Hamamatsu-cho, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6111, Japan
Chief Representative Representative Director, President Yasusuke Nakajima
Capital 27,647,600,000 yen (As of the end of March 2016)
Plants Kumagaya, Sagami, Gifu North, Gifu South, Gifu East
Laboratories Basic Technology R&D Center,
Production Technology R&D Center
Developmental Experiment Center
Machine Tools Center
Electronics Technology Center
Number of Employees 13,796 persons (As of the end of March 2016, consolidated)
3,679 persons (As of the end of March 2016, non-consolidated)
Outline of KYB Group
* For details on sales figures and applicable range, please refer to our financial reports.
AC Operations
67.8%
5.4%
Special-purpose vehicle business and others
26.8%
HC OperationsJapan
45.1%
13.5%
Others
12.2%
United States
6.0%China
7.0%Southeast Asia
16.2%Europe
AC (automotive components) operations
Shock absorbers, suspension systems, power
steering systems, vane pumps, front forks,
oil-cushion units, stay dampers, free locks
HC (hydraulic components) operations
Cylinders, valves, oil dampers for railroad,
collision bumpers, pumps, motors, aircraft
landing systems, aircraft pilot systems, aircraft
control systems, aircraft emergency systems
Special-purpose vehicles, system products
and electronic equipment
Concrete mixer trucks, granule carriers,
special-purpose vehicles, motion simulators,
hydraulic systems, auditorium and stage
control systems, naval ship equipment, tunnel
boring machines, environmental devices,
earthquake-resistant and vibration insulation
dampers, seismic isolation systems and vibration
control dampers, electronic applications
Major Products
Net sales by business segment in fiscal 2015 (Consolidated) Net Sales by geographic region in fiscal 2015 (Consolidated)
355.3billion yen
355.3billion yen
8 Environmental and Social Activity Report 2016
China
Taiwan
Vietnam
MalaysiaIndonesia
India
United States
Mexico
Czech Republic
Spain
Brazil
Thailand
Affiliate companies in JapanKayaba System Machinery Co., Ltd.
KYB Trondule Co., Ltd.
KYB-YS Co., Ltd.
KYB Kanayama Co., Ltd.
KYB Motorcycle Suspension Co., Ltd.
Towa Co., Ltd.
Takako Industries, Inc.
Overseas affiliate companiesAmericas
KAC KYB Americas Corporation TAC Takako America Co., Inc.
KMEX KYB Mexico S.A. de C.V.
KMB KYB-Mando do Brasil Fabricante de Autopeças S.A. Asia
KIMZ KYB Industrial Machinery (Zhenjiang) Ltd.
KWT Wuxi KYB Top Absorber Co., Ltd.
KLRC Changzhou KYB Leadrun Vibration Reduction Technology Co., Ltd.
CKMZ CHITA KYB Manufacturing (Zhenjiang) co., Ltd.
KMT KYB Manufacturing Taiwan Co., Ltd.
KST KYB Steering (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
KYBT KYB (Thailand) Co.,Ltd.
KHMI PT.KYB Hydraulics Manufacturing Indonesia
Kumagaya Plant
• KYB-YS Co., Ltd.
KYB Trondule Co., Ltd.
Sagami Plant
KYB Group production bases
Head Office
•KAC •TAC
•KMEX
•KMB
Kayaba System Machinery Co., Ltd.
Takako Industries, Inc.
EuropeE pp
AmericaasaAsia
•KMT
•KMV •TVC
•KMSB •KSMSB
•KYBT•KST
•KMSI •KCPL
•PT. KYBI•KHMI
•PT. Chita
•KLRC •KWT•KIMZ •CKMZ
•KMCZ •KCME
•KYBSE •KSS•KAMS
PT. KYBI PT. Kayaba Indonesia
PT. Chita PT. Chita Indonesia
KMV KYB Manufacturing Vietnam Co., Ltd.
TVC Takako Vietnam Co., Ltd.
KMSB KYB-UMW Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
KSMSB KYB-UMW Steering Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. KMSI KYB Motorcycle Suspension India Pvt. Ltd.
KCPL KYB-Conmat Pvt. Ltd.
Europe
KYBSE KYB Suspensions Europe, S.A.U.
KSS KYB Steering Spain, S.A.
KAMS KYB Advanced Manufacturing Spain, S.A.U.
KMCZ KYB Manufacturing Czech s.r.o.
KCME KYB CHITA Manufacturing Europe, s.r.o.
• Gifu North Plant
• Gifu South Plant
• Gifu East Plant
• KYB Kanayama Co., Ltd.
• KYB Motorcycle Suspension Co., Ltd.
• Towa Co., Ltd.
9Environmental and Social Activity Report 2016
Agricultural machinery demands high levels of operability and energy saving. Therefore we have developed the HVFD-42F as a hydraulic continuously variable transmission for tractor driving with improved response and higher efficiency, and we have started mass production of this model. We achieved a balance between stable holding in place when stopped and standing start performance, thereby heightening vehicle operability, by adopting the KYB original mechanism for maintaining a neutral position relative to the angle of a sloping surface. Both hydraulic pumps and hydraulic motors also incorporate newly developed rotary components for efficiency improvement up to a maximum of approximately 5% (compared to KYB products). Improved transmission efficiency contributes to the vehicle’s energy saving performance.
Safe, comfortable products that are friendly to people and to the EarthWe pursue excellence in advanced manufacturing technologies in order to give people happy
smiles and comfortable lives.
Here we will introduce the safe and environmentally friendly family of KYB Group products.
Reduced material and power consumption on resin injection molding line
We built an injection molding line to produce KYB’s first resin mechanical parts for use in worm wheels. This achieves a balance between high productivity and the strength and durability required for worm wheels used in electric power steering.
This line incorporates measures and devices throughout to reduce the amount of waste material and shorten the time it is out of operation, enabling skilled manufacturing with less waste of time and resources. We also added a quality inspecting function to the robot that transports work between processes, making it possible to conduct production and quality management completely automatically. This is an innovative line that can provide a stable supply of high-quality products for our customers. Going forward, we intend to continue implementing environmentally friendly production technology development.
HVFD-42F with manual servo for driving tractor
Structure of pinion-type electric power steering
External view of injection molding equipment
Worm wheel
Injection unit (resin melting section)
10 Environmental and Social Activity Report 2016
Recent years have brought demand for mixer trucks with greater raw concrete transportation efficiency to support urban redevelopment. In the MR5040EL lightweight electronically controlled mixer truck, we achieved a significant weight reduction over the previous model MR5020L by updating the frame construction. This further increased the load capacity by 150 kg over the previous model, giving this model a maximum load capacity of 11,600 kg, the largest in its class. Applying electronic control to the hydraulic equipment also realized a reduction in noise and exhaust gases as well as energy saving. We will continue providing environmentally friendly mixer truckers in the future.
Lightweight electronically controlled mixer truck
Developed four-axis vibration tester for use with bicycles
Recent years have brought increasing reports of bicycle frame damage in accidents resulting in injury to humans. One of the main causes is fatigue failure due to road surface impact. When existing test equipment was used, structural factors meant that the tires would suffer damage before the frame, so that fatigue failure of the frame could not be reproduced. Therefore KSM developed a four-axis vibration tester for use with bicycles. In the future, we intend to use the results obtained with the three-axis vibration tester for motorcycles and the technology obtained from the four-axis vibration tester for bicycles to launch products on the multi-axis test equipment market.
11Environmental and Social Activity Report 2016
2015 Action HighlightsWe combine our core competence in vibration control technology and power control technology with systems technology and electronic technology to respond to our customers’ wide-ranging needs in a variety of different fields.
The highlights in this edition will introduce products developed with consideration for safety and the environment, programs for global human resource development, and more.
Highlight 01 Product development
Adoption of a semi-active suspension system on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line
Photo courtesy of East Japan Railway Company
12 Environmental and Social Activity Report 2016
Highlight 02 Product development
The Hokuriku Shinkansen segment from Nagano to Kanazawa entered operation on March 14, 2015. This opened up a trunk line that could link Tokyo and Kanazawa in 2 hours and 28 minutes at the shortest. KYB’s semi-active suspension system had been installed on Shinkansen lines and conventional lines of various railroad companies up to that point, and the record of performance of those systems as well as the high marks accorded them for quality and other factors led to their adoption by the Hokuriku Shinkansen line as well. The system is made up of acceleration sensors, control devices, and variable damping force dampers. A fusion of electronic and hydraulic technologies, the product detects the train car swaying using acceleration sensors, and implements control electrically to limit vibration. It controls swaying that results from going around curves at up to 260 kph, from passing trains going the opposite direction, and from wind pressure when entering tunnels, assuring ride comfort and stability. The Hokuriku Shinkansen line has marked its first anniversary in service, and it has experienced a growth in passengers. Going forward, we intend to continue providing safety and comfort to passengers on the Shinkansen lines, which are the epitome of Japanese technology.
Amid concerns about earthquakes occurring directly below major cities and the predicted Nankai Trough earthquake, renovation work was done on the Tsutenkaku Tower, one of the main sightseeing destinations in Osaka Prefecture, to make it a seismic isolation structure and protect the safety of visitors. The design and construction were carried out by Takenaka Corporation. Renovation involved installing KYB products, which have a record of actual use in numerous high-rise buildings.
Seismic isolation devices were installed between the steel frame members that support the observation deck, making this the world’s first observation tower to be a seismic isolation structure. The seismic isolation dampers used in the tower have hydraulic circuits that are opened and closed by electric signals. These products have circuits that ordinarily remain closed, but when the sensors are activated by the occurrence of an earthquake, the circuits are released.
Models of the seismic isolation devices installed in the Tsutenkaku Tower and models of our company’s oil dampers have been on display on the second observation deck of the tower since July 21, 2015.
The need for seismic countermeasures on existing buildings has been increasing year by year. Therefore we will continue to provide products that make effective use of our capabilities in hydraulic technology as a contribution to people’s peace of mind and safety.
Seismic isolation dampers installed during Tsutenkaku Tower renovation
Semi-active suspension(KYB standard item)
13Environmental and Social Activity Report 2016
Highlight 03 Product development
Developed product
Existing products
Pump speed
Continuously variable transmissions (CVT), which enable use of gear ratios that
allow greater engine efficiency, have vane pumps installed as a hydraulic power
source that creates the control pressure used to make the CVT change gears, shift
between forward and reverse, and so on. The vane pump we developed here is for
use in the new model CVT (photo (1)) from JATCO Ltd., which has eliminated the
flow control valve (photo (2), drawing (1)). Eliminating the need for flow control valve
operating pressure makes it possible to lower the pump’s drive torque (drawing (2)),
and this simultaneously contributes to further heightened fuel economy as well as
to reduced weight and cost. Eliminating the flow control valve necessitates
anti-cavitation* measures. KYB succeeded in developing a flow control valve-less
vane pump that is cavitation-resistant by optimizing the hydraulic fluid intake duct
and the internal pressure.We started production of
these pumps at KIMZ (China) in July 2015.
* Cavitation: The phenomenon wherein
bubbles form and disappear in a short time
due to pressure differences in the flow of a
hydraulic fluid. The disappearance of bubbles
can generate a jetting flow that causes
erosion.
Flow control valve-less vane pump installed in CVT
Photograph (1) External view of new model CVT
Drawing (1) Conceptual interior view showing vane pump
Drawing (2) Drive torque characteristics of existing products and developed product
Photograph (2) External view of new model vane pump that has eliminated the flow control valve
Driv
e to
rque
(N∙m
)
14 Environmental and Social Activity Report 2016
VOICE
ACTIVE overseas trainee dispatch systemAs the global expansion of business advances further
and further, there is a need for global "jinzai" (human
resources) who can play active roles anywhere in the
world. At KYB, we have been implementing an overseas
trainee dispatch system called ACTIVE since fiscal year
2011 for the purpose of global human resource
development. ACTIVE stands for Ambitious and
Challenging Traineeship for Intercultural Value added
Experience.
ACTIVE is now a program that combines language
training and practical training at bases in other
countries. It is aimed at younger employees, and it gives
them early on-site experience while cultivating
communication skills and the ability to deal with foreign
cultures.
Up to fiscal year 2015, 24 trainees have been
dispatched to other countries under ACTIVE. The
trainees have a very hard time at first with an unfamiliar
language and environment, but after completing the
training, they return home greatly matured. We will go
on promoting the ACTIVE program in the future, and
continue developing human resources capable of
playing active roles anywhere in the world.
About the ACTIVE experienceAfter receiving language training in England for half a year, I went
through practical training at the Spain branch of KEH for one year.
When I first started the language training, I had a terrible time every
day because I didn’t know how to say what I wanted to say. Then I
realized that if I didn't talk about something, it was absolutely certain not
to be understood by others, so I made it a point to just go ahead and at
least try to talk, and I think from that point I started to make some
progress.
In the practical training, I worked with local staff members on testing
and measurement. The customers were automobile manufacturers from
many different nationalities, so it was a multilingual workplace where I
would hear people speaking English, Spanish, French, German, and
Japanese around me. Here again I made it a point to just go ahead and
talk, and I tried my best to actively engage
in conversation.
The work I did up to that had almost no
points of contact with other countries, so
the fact that I could receive language
training and then work in another country
in the practical training was a very
valuable experience for me. I am deeply
grateful to everyone who supported my
training.
Friends together in a language school classroom
Maya HasebeSuspension Experiment DepartmentDevelopmental Experiment Center, AC Business Headquarter
Highlight 04 Global human resource development
15Environmental and Social Activity Report 2016