Design, manufacture, processing and sale of machinery, equipment, parts for power transmission V pulley

Growth of its own brand

The production of the company’s in-house brand V pulley started in 1951.   In 1973, after adjusting the dimensions, diameter and the groove shape, the manufacturing standards for the “Kinsei Industrial V-Pulley” was set. The catalog contains a list of more than 500 products at all times, and are sold all over Japan and abroad through authorized distributors.. It has been a long-selling product for more than 40 years.

Although the company has standardized products, they also offer meticulous services so that they can customize their products according to their customers’ needs.  “We have utilized our experiences in responding to the needs of our demanding customers in our OEM products.” says Mr. Hisayuki Nagamori, the 39-year old President of Kinsei.

Strengths of the integrated production process from casting to assembly

The company started 86 years ago as the town’s iron works. Afterwards, major domestic manufacturers started calling on the company to manufacture engine pulleys for agricultural machinery, thus the company launched a new division for casting. At that time, factories were specialized for cast manufacturing and for fabrication, so that customers had to go to the cast manufacturer if they wanted a cast built for them, and vice-versa.  Factories that can do casting and fabrication in-house to complete the order were uncommon, so the company’s integrated production system became its greatest strength.

Companies that have an integrated production system has increased in recent years, however in many cases, these companies became dedicated subcontractors of major companies. Kinsei, with its wide range of machine configurations and experienced engineers, can offer a variety of technical proposals ranging from small lots to unit production.

“My grandfather was a person with a one-track mind and likes challenges.  He traveled nationwide when he was selling the V pulley to distributors. For us, the integrated production system that he created is our greatest weapon.  We are actively involved in the product development of our customers. While listening intently regarding the required functions of the final product, we take into consideration every aspect ranging from technological properties to efficiency of assembly.  We offer proposals that optimize the design and shape of the casting at high performance and low cost.” – President Nagamori

Production line is also in our hands

The strong spirit of independence that characterizes the company’s management style is the driving force to produce their own products.

First, in the casting division, there is the casting production line with a total length of 150 meters. Here, there is a monorail used specifically to air-transport sand mold reversing gear, molding equipment, and molten metal. This original production line was designed and constructed in-house, under the motto “we make our own equipment.”

In addition, in the fabrication division, the high-precision NC machine was combined with a fabricating machine that the company has built in-house.  This way, the fabrication division is set up in such a way that the machine layout can be freely changed to match the items produced.

The whole factory, with an area of 3,500 square meters, in both the casting and fabrication division, packs the ingenuity and wisdom of its engineers.

Also, the simulation software used in the design department is customized using the company’s own rich database, and so it is possible to introduce know-how and expertise gained in years of experience, and actively incorporate new technologies in the field at all times.

President Nagamori says “It is important to evolve constantly. After evolving there are good and bad effects, but we have to improve on the bad effects in order to grow.”  The strength of the company, its integrated production system is still being polished and continues to evolve until today.

Expanding to the world by research and development

Based on the company’s strengths in design that has been cultivated through its in-house production line, more emphasis will be on developing the next original products in the coming years. Together with (in-house or external) young designers, Kinsei will develop new industrial products that are highly artistic. Aside from this, from 2013, an autonomous robot that performs automatic geometry inspection and finishing of castings will be developed.

Currently, Kinsei has been carrying out research and development of a special three-dimensional data processing technology and mechanical design. The company is also considering cooperation with companies not only in Japan but also overseas with regard to robot integrators and software houses,. If commercialization is realized, then not only will the work environment in the field be greatly improved, but it will also enable casting products to be more highly-precised, and for new products to have higher reliability, which can be useful in the field of manufacturing.

“Rather than the mass-produced goods which have less value-added, we would prefer higher quality unit products even though they have a higher degree of difficulty.  We would also like to extend our business partnerships overseas. We will be making use of the best casting processes we have developed, and we are committed to answering challenges in the field of manufacturing.”

The maverick in the industry, “revolutionary casting” by President Nagamori has just begun.