2023.10.10
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Visiting a Town with Mitsubishi Materials 〜MMC Tooling edition〜
Ms. Stride, a woman traveling around the world, visits a town where a Mitsubishi Materials Group hub is located.
Navigator
Ms. Stride
A woman in her late twenties who enjoys factory tours and strolls around town.
MMC Tooling edition
In this edition, we will introduce two towns in which MMC Tooling, a company involved in the cutting tools and related businesses, is located.
MMC Tooling’s Main Plant is located in Akashi City, Hyogo, and their Kyoto Plant is in Ujitawara Town, Kyoto. With “Super first-class manufacturing through participation by all” as their management policy, MMC Tooling is contributing to parts manufacturing with sophisticated technology.
Responsible for resharpening tools!
About the Main Plant
At the Main Plant, cemented carbide drills and end mills used by customers are resharpened, bringing their perfor- mance up to the same level as that of new products. The shapes and conditions of the tools’ blades differ depending on how the customers use them, so MMC Tooling is required to have advanced processing technology to flexibly handle any situation.
About the Main Plant
At the Main Plant, cemented carbide drills and end mills used by customers are resharpened, bringing their perfor- mance up to the same level as that of new products. The shapes and conditions of the tools’ blades differ depending on how the customers use them, so MMC Tooling is required to have advanced processing technology to flexibly handle any situation.
Akashiyaki
A specialty dish tasting of fluffy eggs
A specialty dish tasting of fluffy eggs
Akashi is famous for octopus. Akashiyaki is a lo- cal food in which octopus, the local specialty, is wrapped in an egg-rich batter. It is eaten while still very hot and after being dipped in dashi, a Japanese soup stock.
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
A spectacular view of a grand bridge and a blue sea
A spectacular view of a grand bridge and a blue sea
A bridge crossing the Akashi Strait, con- necting Honshu to Awaji Island. It’s one of the world’s longest bridges, measuring a total 3,911 m in length. Visitors can enjoy see- ing it lit up at night.
The bridge can be seen from many places throughout Akashi City!
Tool inspection
We inspect the tools received from customers before resharpening them. After confirming the condition of the blades, we begin surface treat- ment and sharpening.
Improving performance with detailed handwork
Detailed processing is not done with machines, but each and every cut is made by hand. Measuring with a ma- chine after making fine adjustments with a slight force is linked to quality assurance.
Manufacturing special tools!
About the Kyoto Plant
At the Kyoto Plant, special tools are manu- factured to meet the numerous orders of customers. The plant produces a wide range of tools in small amounts, making them perfect examples of custom-made products. In contrast to mass-production plants, more sophisticated technology is required. The Kyoto Plant mainly manufactures tools for cutting automotive engines.
About the Kyoto Plant
At the Kyoto Plant, special tools are manu- factured to meet the numerous orders of customers. The plant produces a wide range of tools in small amounts, making them perfect examples of custom-made products. In contrast to mass-production plants, more sophisticated technology is required. The Kyoto Plant mainly manufactures tools for cutting automotive engines.
The birthplace of Japanese green tea
Relaxing tea farms stretching far
Relaxing tea farms stretching far
Ujitawara Town is often referred to as the birthplace of Japanese green tea since Nagatani Soen, a local tea farmer, invented and popularized the method of producing green tea leaves for sencha. With numerous tea farms, the town has become a central hub for tea production in Kyoto.
The town of hearts
A heart at a temple And even the town’s shape is a heart!
A heart at a temple And even the town’s shape is a heart!
Looking at a map, Ujitawara Town is in the shape of a heart. It has recently gained attention as a town of hearts, and the local Shoju-in Tem- ple is popular for its heart- shaped window. In Uji City, located next to Ujitawara Town, visitors can see famous heart-shaped hydrangeas at Mimuroto-ji Temple.
Byodo-in Temple
A familiar, magnificent world heritage site on the 10-yen coin
A familiar, magnificent world heritage site on the 10-yen coin
Located near Uji Station, the closest station to the Kyoto Plant, is Byodo-in Temple, opened by Fujiwara no Yorimichi in 1052. It is said the temple was built to represent the paradise of the Pure Land. Houou-do (Phoenix Hall) is especially famous for the its depic- tion on the 10-yen coin. Visitors can also enjoy the nature and flowers during each of the four seasons.
Programming with CAM
In order to process complicated shapes, CAD data is used to cre- ate an NC program (a processing program used to operate machin- ing centers, a type of machining equipment). By doing this and smoothly passing the baton on to the machining center operator, a short delivery time can be realized.
Handmade with highlyaccurate skills
Of all the processes, from cutting materials to assembly, the grind- ing process is the most difficult. The sizes of the objects handled can range from the size of a human palm to more than 1 m. Large tools particularly demand precise adjustments compared to mass-produced items, so time is taken to perfect and finish the grinding process by hand.
This is what I call craftsmanship! The longer the tool, the more advanced technology is required!
Guide
Administration Dept.
Serika Watanabe
Joined the company in 2017. Mainly in charge of accounting. She recommends seeing the illumina- tion at Akashi Castle in Akashi Park. Her favorite local food is the parfait at GF Kitchen, a café in Akashi City. In her spare time, she also hosts cosplay events at Akashi Park!
Guide
Administration Dept.
Kuniko Kono
Joined the company in 2011. Mainly in charge of general affairs, accounting, public relations, occupational health, and more. Her local recommenda- tions are Mimuroto-ji Temple and Uji City Botanical Park, famous for their flowers. She likes to visit temples in Kyoto. Her favorite place is Uji Kochakan.
