Company visit: PIM International, Vol.2 No. 2 June 2008, pages 41-44, 1583 words

Author: Nick Williams, PIM International, Shrewsbury, UK

Located on the outskirts of Osaka, Taisei Kogyo Co., Ltd is a precision plastics injection moulding company that successfully diversified into the MIM sector some fifteen years ago. Nick Williams reports on a company that, in addition to operating a successful MIM business, is committed to commercialising a number of related cutting edge innovations, including the production of MicroMIM, porous MIM and composite MIM components

Taisei Kogyo Co., Ltd. has over 30 years experience as a precision plastic injection moulding company. Its operation has developed not only to include the plastic moulding process, but final assemblies of complex finished precision plastic products, in particular those used in purifiers and hygiene products. The plastic moulded products made at Taisei Kogyo are mostly custom-made according to clients’ specifications and the company does not manufacture non-technical plastic products for the general market.

The story of MIM at Taisei Kogyo

The company developed an interest in MIM technology 15 years ago and commercial production started after a 4-5 year development period. Dr. Shiego Tanaka, President of Taisei Kogyo, told Powder Injection Moulding International, 'We have considerable experience in plastic moulding for precision applications and applied our expertise in mould design and injection moulding technology to develop our own proprietary MIM process. Our wide range of local customers indicated that there was a market for MIM components and the business followed'.

Following the development of its thermoplastic binder system for MIM feedstock the company has continued to invest heavily in research into novel and cutting edge MIM process ......

Further sections of this article include:

- Production facilities

- Sales and market development

- A commitment to R&D

- Outlook

Figures and Tables:

Fig. 1 The Battenfeld System 50 microMIM injection moulding machine, foreground, with standard injection moulding machines in the background

Fig. 2 Furnaces for debinding and sintering of MIM components

Fig. 3 Hand (clamping arm) for medical appliance; weight: 9g, size: 12mm x 74mm, material: stainless steel 630

Fig. 4 Cam for medical instrument; weight: 27g, size: 20mm dia. x 34mm height, material: stainless steel 316L

Fig. 5 Double gear for camera; weight 0.4g, size: 6mm dia. x 4mm height, material: stainless steel 630

Fig. 6 Planetary Gear used in the gearbox of a micro actuator. Weight: Sun gear (centre) 0.095g, Planetary gears (surrounding) 0.010g. Size: Sun gear(centre) 3.8mm dia., Planetary gears (surrounding) 1.7mm dia. Material: stainless steel 630

Fig. 7 Connector for IT/communications application; weight: 5g, size: 13mm x 13 mm x 12mm height, material: Stainless steel 316L

Fig. 8 Left, porous MIM bar, and right, multi-layer MIM bar with porous outer layers and dense inner layer

Fig. 9 Micro flow channels for use in microfluidic devices, mould produced using the LIGA process and a plastic substrate. Minimum diameter 50μm, aspect ratio: 4, material: 316L stainless steel