Product-related Initiatives for the Environment Back Number (2012)
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Basic Approach
A majority of the products manufactured by the Minebea Group, such as bearings and motors, are components in products sold by our customers, and are not immediately visible. But precisely because our components are incorporated into such a wide variety of products, the Minebea Group believes it is important to offer products that are safe and free from harmful substances that might damage the environment, while contributing to the overall product life cycle by being energy- and resource-efficient as well as long-lasting.
Minebea Green Products
What are Minebea Green Products?
From the development and design stages, the products that the Minebea Group manufacturers and sells are environmentally conscious products, meaning that they satisfy various countries' environmental laws and customers' environmental requirements as well as undergo voluntary product chemical substance evaluations and product assessments.
We are currently formulating certification standards for Minebea Green Products, which demonstrate superior performance and attributes from the perspectives of energy efficiency, contribution to the prevention of global warming, resource efficiency, and contributions to a recycle-oriented society.
Product Example: Aircraft Bearing Requires No Lubricants
Lubricant-free sliding part (product image)
In collaboration with the Nagano Prefecture General Industrial Technology Center, the Minebea Group developed a lubricant-free sliding part for an aircraft bearing which has a low coefficient of friction despite requiring no lubricant such as oil. Minebea's highly durable PTFE* fabric liner and the Nagano Prefecture General Industrial Technology Center's titanium alloy fortified with carbon nanotube particles were combined to form an exceptionally strong part which demonstrates two-to-three times the life span of conventional products despite being 30% lighter. The product is ideal for contributing to the energy efficiency of aircraft.
*PTFE(Polytetrafluoroethylene): A resin comprised of fluorine atoms and carbon atoms which shows superior heat and chemical resistance.
Product Example: Small Digital Converter Module Reduces Energy Consumption by about 85%
Small digital converter module CSD-892-73
The Minebea Group has developed and begun selling a digital converter module, the CSD-892-73, which is one-quarter the size of the Group's previous models and cuts energy consumption by about 85%.
Used in control boards, this digital indicator digitally converts electronic signals from sensors incorporated into factory automation and other equipment and displays the numbers on small modules.
We succeeded in reducing the size and energy consumption of the module by greatly reducing the converter module's operation functions.
Management of Environment-affecting Substances Incorporated in Products
The Minebea Group publishes the Minebea Group Green Procurement Standard and requests that suppliers provide products (raw materials and components) that are free from harmful substances, as well as data and documentation verifying their adherence to the standard. Furthermore, XRF (X-ray fluorescence spectrometers) are used in the Minebea Group's inspections of goods received to confirm that they do not contain any substances subject to the RoHS directive.
- Note 1. MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet):A data sheet covering information required for safe handling of chemical substances (ingredients, characteristics, handling methods, emergency coping methods).
- Note 2. MSDSplus: A data sheet recommended by the Joint Article Management Promotion Consortium (JAMP) to communicate basic information regarding chemical substances and compounds. Contains information not included in the MSDS that is required for management of toxic substances incorporated in products.
- Note 3. AIS (Article Information Sheet): A basic sheet recommended by JAMP for communicating information on toxic substances incorporated in product molds. Compiled based on MSDS, MSDS Plus, etc.
- Note 4. JGP File: A standard format file stipulated for Green Procurement inspection by the Japan Green Procurement Survey Standardization Initiative (JGPSSI).
Future Issues and Goals
The Minebea Group will continue to accurately grasp the needs of society to make contributions to the development of safe, energy-efficient, and resourceefficient products.
In FY2012, the Group will continue to formulate criteria for selecting Minebea Green Products.
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