Wamen Techno Co., Ltd., located in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture which is next to Osaka Prefecture, is a manufacturer that produces the world’s only materials using the papermaking technique known as “Shozo technique”.
Utilizing our unique Shozo technique, we have successfully achieved the composite of resin materials and chemical fibers. Our innovative fiber-reinforced resin has been highly acclaimed for its high strength with heat resistance, and has been finding applications in automotive components and specialized thermal insulation materials.
Strengths of Wamen Techno
Shozo Technology
“Shozo” is a traditional Japanese papermaking technique that involves extracting raw materials in water to produce paper, and is also known as “Kamisuki” tecunique. The key feature of “Shozo” is the ability to uniformly disperse and mix various materials in water.
In Wamen Techno, we apply Shozo technology for the sheet formation process by uniformly mixing materials such as resins, fillers, and chemical fibers in water.
Business overview
Wamen Techno provides technical support from new material development to production engineering and know-how. Our support is offering full or partial solutions based on your requirements.
Selection of material: Providing technology for composite of various materials according to your specifications
Design of shape: Proposing shapes in accordance with characteristics of resin materials
Design of production process: Offering optimal conditions for the product
Evaluation of prototype: Providing physical properties and miniature samples realized by our laboratory with sufficient facilities
Supports for mass production: Offering assistance of troubleshooting by support of self-production and/or outsourcing
Introduction of our products
Various material characteristics and product examples realized by the Shozo technique are shown as follows.
Material
Sliding or friction material
Sliding properties using Teflon composite or high friction properties using aramid fiber composite.
Sliding materials/friction materials
Sliding properties using Teflon composite or high friction properties using aramid fiber composite.
Low linear expansion material
omposite material with a low thermal expansion rate.
Environmental purification material
Adsorption material utilizing know-how and expertise through the Shozo technique.
Material
High-strengthened material
Composite of aramid and carbon fibers for enhanced strength.
Sliding or friction material
Sliding properties using Teflon composite or high friction properties using aramid fiber composite.
Low linear expansion material
Composite material with a low thermal expansion rate.
Environmental purification material
Adsorption material utilizing know-how and expertise through the Shozo technique.
Products
Our Shozo technique provides a high degree of applications into materials, and is deploying various products in industries.
Gears with high-strengthened resin
Aramid fiber enables enhancement of strength, wear resistance, and dimensional stability.
Insulation products with carbon
Carbon fiber enables insulation from high-temperature areas.
Wear-resistant products
Friction materials with high wear resistance by composite of aramid fiber.
Inorganic insulation products
Heat-resistant materials combining glass fiber and inorganic filler.
Smoke/odor absorption products
Material with catalyst such as platinum added into a ceramics made substrate maximizes catalytic capabilities.
Target industry sectors to activate the Shozo technique
| Industrial sectors | Applications | Required characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Automotive and vehicles | Body outer panels and panels for railroad car | High strength, heat resistance, fatigue resistance, vibration damping |
| Construction and Civil Engineering | Reinforcement of concrete floor slabs, Sidewalk decks, Pedestrian bridges, Decks, Cables, Rods, Formwork | High strength, Rigidity, Corrosion resistance, Weather resistance |
| Electronics and Acoustics | Housings for laptop computers and tablets, Audio components, Printer parts | High strength, Rigidity, Vibration damping, Electromagnetic shielding |
| Medical care & healthcare | Top panels, Wheelchairs, Staves, Heaters | High strength, Rigidity, X-ray transparency, Physical tiredness |
| Industrial machinery | Robot arms, Blade springs, Gears, Fiber components | Rigidity, Fatigue resistance, Vibration damping |
| Others | Umbrellas, Suitcases, Tables, Chairs, Eye glasses | High strength, Physical tiredness, Corrosion resistance |
Facilities
Hydraulic press equipment
Owned by the Development Department
| Hydraulic press (150-ton) | 1 unit |
| Hydraulic press (70-ton) | 1 unit |
| Hydraulic press (37-ton) | 1 unit |
| Hydraulic guillotine | 1 unit |
Owned by the Manufacturing Department
| Hydraulic press (300-ton) | 1 unit |
| Hydraulic press (10-ton) | 2 units |
| Hydraulic press (1.8-ton) | 2 units |
| Hydraulic guillotine | 2 units |
Shozo (papermaking) machines
Owned by the Development Department
| Shozo machine (450 mm sq.) | 1 unit |
| Shozo machine (400 mm sq.) | 1 unit |
| Shozo machine (300 mm sq.) | 1 unit |
| Shozo machine (150 mm sq.) | 1 unit |
| Spin shozo machine (Φ700) | 1 unit |
Owned by the Manufacturing Department
| Shozo machine (650 × 950 mm) | 3 units |
| Shozo machine (1350 × 1550 mm) | 2 units |
| Spin shozo machine (Φ900) | 1 unit |
Other equipment
Owned by the Development Department
| Mixer | 1 unit |
| Sandblaster | 1 unit |
| Homogenizing mixer | 1 unit |
| Dissolving machine | 1 unit |
| Extrusion molding machine | 1 unit |
| Drying oven | 2 units |
| Firing furnace | 1 unit |
| Universal / tensile testing machine | 1 unit |
| Specific gravity meter | 1 unit |
| Microscope | 1 unit |
Owned by the Manufacturing Department
| Drying oven | 5 units |
| Hammer crusher | 1 unit |
| Sandblaster | 1 unit |
Greetings from the CEO
From the Taisho era (1912-1926) to the Showa era (1926-1989), our company has been engaged in the business of traditional Japanese cotton dyeing. Since our establishment in 1998, we have focused on the Shozo (papermaking) technique, and have been developing and manufacturing products for the automotive and industrial sectors with a commitment to contributing to society during those periods. Starting on a small scale, we have overcome challenging periods caused by societal changes and have sustained the traditional papermaking technique.
Our business is about entering a phase of major change by aiming to realize products, which the other companies have not yet, with our accumulated expertise and unique technology as we enter the era of an environmentally friendly society, SDGs, and decarbonization. We are keen to invade new territories in alignment with requirements from the society, our customers, and employees, and are aspiring for further growth and development.
I appreciate your continued support and look forward to working with you.
Koji EMOTO
President and CEO of Wamen Techno Co., Ltd.