Message from President
Shigeru TsunokakeRepresentative Director and President
Japan Metals & Chemicals Co., Ltd.
Since the establishment, our company has grown thanks to the support of many people, including employees, their families, customers, business partners, local communities, and government officials. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for your cooperation so far. It’s the spirit of pioneering and taking on challenges to trigger innovation that has supported over 100 years of history of our company and was handed over by the founder to us. While maintaining the core principles inherited since the inauguration of our business, we are operating the three core businesses: “ferroalloy business,” “functional material business,” and “energy & environment business.”
- Ferroalloy business
- Functional material business
- Energy & environment business
- Ferroalloy business
- Functional material business
- Energy & environment business
Ferroalloy business
The joint venture company in Brazil manufactures “special ferrosilicon,” which is used for the motors of electric vehicles, the transformers of electric power grids, etc., while the subsidiary Bozel in Brazil manufactures “calcium silicon.” Both companies are highly regarded by customers, because they supply high-quality products in a stable manner. Their ferroalloy factories consume electric power generated from water power, etc. so as to provide “clean & green” environment-conscious products.
Functional material business
We produce environmentally-friendly rechargeable batteries for consumer use and high-performance battery materials used for in-vehicle batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles (HVs), which are expected to increase further. We are striving to improve the performance of nickel-hydrogen batteries and lithium-ion batteries together with consumers while utilizing our original technologies. In addition, in the battery recycling business aimed at circulating resources within Japan, we recover valuable rare metals from used in-vehicle batteries so that they can be utilized by customers.
Energy & environment business
The expectation toward geothermal power generation is growing further, as the source of energy to be generated and consumed inside Japan and a trump card for decarbonization. As a pioneer that built Japan’s first geothermal power plant (Matsukawa Plant), our company has established a system for offering one-stop services, including surveys on geothermal resources and the operation of power plants.
The “hydrogen energy-based society,” which is attracting attention today, is the society the founder of our company aimed for. Our company is promoting the utilization of the “hydrogen storage system,” which is safer and more compact, while hoping to make “hydrogen more available.”
For business administration, it is considered important to “adopt new things while sticking to the basic principles.” Our basic principle is the stance of putting importance on the environment, which has been unchanged since the inauguration of our business. This stance is in line with ESG management, which is the new standard demanded in the present age.
Based on ESG management, we will reform technologies while promoting digital transformation (DX), and hone our capability of giving original forward-looking proposals to meet the needs from customers in the turbulent times.
We keep supporting the lives of people in the world with materials and services. We contribute to the global environment. As a vigorous company in which employees have pride in their jobs and can work cheerfully and enjoyably, we aim to grow further and improve our corporate value and will continue tireless endeavors involving all executives and employees.
