▲ Kinoshita SGM who just arrived in Thailand (left) and Miyauchi GM (right)
We are Hirata Engineering (Thailand), the Thai subsidiary of Hirata Corporation (Hirata Corporation, Head Office: Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture), a system integrator that builds production equipment and transport equipment that meets customers' needs by combining excellent equipment from various manufacturers. <
We asked Yasuyoshi Miyauchi, General Manager (GM), who will return to Japan in October 2021, and Yoshiaki Kinoshita, Senior Manager (SMG), who has just arrived in Thailand, to talk about our "aspirations for ‘manufacturing’ in Thailand" and the "latest trends in the equipment industry”.
Hirata Engineering (Thailand) aims to build a system that facilitates work through collaboration between humans and machines.
Miyauchi ： Mr. Kinoshita, who was newly assigned to Thailand, has been in charge of automobile-related production equipment at the Business Division in Japan. He specializes in all aspects of electricity and control, but we expect him to play an active role in a wide range of areas in Thailand, including sales, equipment design, production, installation, and after-sales support.
Kinoshita：I have just been assigned to Hirata Engineering (Thailand). I look forward to working with you all in the future. I would like to help our customers in the Thai manufacturing industry improve their production efficiency and maintain their health by improving their working conditions.
Kinoshita：To "improve customers' production efficiency," we propose automation equipment that incorporates industrial robots and visual devices. To "improve working conditions," we propose to replace low-productivity and 3D (Dangerous, Dirty, Demanding) work, such as working in a prolonged bending posture, carrying heavy objects, and repetition of simple tasks, with machines, and to distinguish between tasks that are better done by humans, such as tasks that require delicate judgment, and tasks that are better left to machines that can accurately perform a predetermined process. We propose to build comprehensive production equipment.
The power that replaces air is electricity! Total proposal for all-electric equipment
Kinoshita："Safe and ECO" is the latest trend in the equipment industry. In the past few years, all-electric equipment that does not use plant air has been introduced.
Miyauchi：More than 20 years ago, air cylinders powered by air became popular because using a lot of electric parts such as motors was expensive. Nowadays, with the development of technology, motors and control boards have been reduced in size, and it has become possible to manufacture electric-powered devices at a low cost. Compressed air (pneumatic) consumes energy unnecessarily as the air compressor must be operated to maintain a constant pressure at all times, while electric components such as motors use energy only when they operate.
Kinoshita：We manufacture and sell products that can easily replace conventional air cylinders with low-thrust electric actuators as the "electrification series". Electrification of equipment can reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions in factories. We provide safe and eco-friendly equipment.
Miyauchi：If you have any concerns about new equipment, process improvement, or energy saving, please feel free to contact us. Our staff will work together and will do their utmost to support any business.
Lastly, on a personal note, I have finished my term in Thailand and will be returning to Japan. Thanks to the support of our customers, subcontractors, suppliers, and our staff, I was able to get through my five and a half years in Thailand. I'm really thankful to all of you.
I will be returning to the Hirata Corporation’s Division 2 (Department in charge of automobile-related equipment) in Kumamoto Prefecture. I believe that the relationship with Thailand, where the automotive industry is thriving, will continue in the future. I will carry on the work with the staff in Thailand to create equipment that will be useful to customers operating manufacturing businesses here. I look forward to your continued support of Hirata Engineering (Thailand).
Hirata Corporation's electrification series
Eco electric stopper CG
Since it is powered only by 24V DC, no air equipment such as a compressor is required. No complicated settings are necessary, and installation on the production line is completed in a short time.
Electric Traverser ETV600-2300
Since it is powered by 24V DC, there is no need for a large power supply unit. Electric traversers that can stop safely with low thrust (approx. 75N or less). Accurate positioning with the conveyor transfer part is possible.
Free flow conveyor [CV50C].
An electric conveyor (free flow conveyor) that can carry heavy loads of up to 280kg, yet transport can be stopped instantly with one hand. No safety sensors are required, enabling collaborative work with machines.
