Completion Ceremony Held for Second Research Building of Technical Research Laboratory Japan
- Aiming to establish a more rapid R&D structure for high-value-added products -
NSG Group is pleased to announce that it has established a new "Second Research Building" in its Technical Research Laboratory of Japan (Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture), and held a completion ceremony on December 15, 2022.
NSG Group has major R&D centers in Japan, the US, and the UK, and conducts R&D activities on a global basis, taking advantage of the technological and market assets that each region has strengths in. Since its establishment in 1968, the Itami R&D center has contributed to the development and quality improvement of new products and processes based on our core technologies such as glass technology, thin film technology, and analysis and simulation technology.
In the newly completed second research building, we will upgrade some R&D facilities to improve efficiency in R&D and establish a system that can respond quickly to rapidly changing market needs. For example, in the field of sol-gel coating, which is one of our strengths, we plan to introduce a new prototype machine that is close to the actual line specifications to confirm the concept of new products and speed up the deployment of mass production. (Sol-gel coating: a wet coating that forms a highly durable film at low temperatures)
In addition, the windows of the new building are equipped with our highly insulating vacuum glass “Super Spacia®" and " Spacia® 21”. The building has been designed in an environmentally friendly manner, with a BELS rating*1 of 5 stars and a ZEB rating*2 as a building that is 53% more energy-efficient than the base value and has received the “ZEB Ready”.
Also, more than 50 years have passed since the laboratory was established, and by the end of March 2023, we plan to improve R&D efficiency by making existing facilities earthquake-resistant, renovating showrooms and other facilities, and consolidating various testing facilities scattered throughout the site into the new building.
We will continue to accelerate the development of further high-value-added products that meet diverse needs by well-balanced allocation of technical resources where the Group has strengths through the expansion and streamlining of our R&D bases.
■ Outline of the building
| Name |
Second Research Building of Technical Research Laboratory |
| Address |
2-13-12 Konoike, Itami-shi, Hyogo, Japan |
| Number of employees |
80 (as of March 2022) |
| Representative |
Yuko Morohashi |
| Total floor space |
4,396.32㎡ |
| Building structure |
Steel frame, 4 floors above ground |
| Start date of a construction project |
August 15, 2021 |
| Completion date |
December 15, 2022 |
*1 What is BELS Evaluation?
It is a system for evaluating and certifying the energy-saving performance of buildings. It is operated by The Association for Evaluating and Labeling Housing Performance. Energy-saving performance is evaluated by the number of stars, with five stars being the highest rating.
*2 What is ZEB Rating?
ZEB is an abbreviation for Net Zero Energy Building. It is a building that aims to achieve a comfortable indoor environment while reducing the annual primary energy balance consumed by the building to zero. Currently, four levels of ZEB rating (ZEB, Nearly ZEB, ZEB Ready, and ZEB Oriented) are defined qualitatively and quantitatively to realize and promote ZEB rating.
About the NSG Group (Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. and its group companies)
The NSG Group is the world's leading supplier of glass and glazing systems in the business areas of Architectural, Automotive and Creative Technology.
Architectural manufactures and supplies architectural glass as well as glass for the solar energy and other sectors.
Automotive serves the original equipment (OE) and aftermarket replacement (AGR) glazing markets.
Creative Technology comprises several discrete businesses, including lenses and light guides for printers and scanners, and specialty glass fiber products such as glass cord for timing belts and glass flake.
https://www.nsg.com
The NSG Group’s Medium-Term Vision
Under its Medium Term Vision, the NSG Group aims to be a global glass supplier contributing to the world with high value-added glass products and services and has identified the three areas to which it intends to contribute: "Safety & Comfort"; "Eco Society"; and "Information and Telecommunication". The Group will strive to achieve the Vision by supporting the development of information and telecommunication technology that can make people's lives more convenient and advance society, as well as by protecting the environment.
*Revival Plan 24 (RP24)
https://www.nsg.com/-/media/nsg/site-content/ir/ir-presentations/mtprp24presentation2021_e02.pdf
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