Product-related Initiatives for the Environment Back Number (2014)
Back to Latest Product-related Initiatives for the Environment
Basic Approach
Since its products are utilized in many different kinds of end-products, the Minebea Group believes that it has an especially important role in providing parts that contribute to environmental consciousness throughout the product life cycle. This responsibility extends from ensuring that its parts are free of materials hazardous to the environment, to energy-efficiency, resource-efficiency, and long-life.
Minebea Green Products, which we have been developing based on this approach, will continue to be promoted as part of the "Five Arrows" strategy aimed at making contributions to the development of "Smart Buildings" and "Smart Cities" through the promotion of "smart" product development.
Minebea Group's Environmentally Conscious Products
The products that the Minebea Group manufactures and sells are environmentally conscious products. This means that they satisfy various countries' environmental laws and customers' environmental requirements from the development and design stage as well as undergo voluntary product chemical substance evaluations and product assessments.
Development of high heat-resistant ball bearing unit for turbochargers
High heat-resistant ball bearing unit for turbochargers
The Minebea Group has developed a high heat-resistant ball bearing unit for turbochargers for automobile engines. Turbochargers have become increasingly popular as a device to improve automobile fuel efficiency and save energy. The extreme temperature of the engine exhaust gas entering the turbocharger has made it difficult to use conventional ball bearings. The new ball bearing unit reduces the frictional resistance to improve the operational efficiency of the turbocharger.
Developing thinner light guide plates for smartphones
Light guide plate for LED backlights measuring less than 0.3 mm in thickness
The Minebea Group has developed light guide plates measuring less than 0.3 mm thick for use in LED (light-emitting diode) backlight systems illuminating smartphone and tablet screens.
The light guide plate is critical to spreading LED light evenly over the screen. The new plates are about 30% thinner than Minebea's previous models.
Besides smartphone and tablet devices, our new light guide plate is also used in automobile indicator panels and other products, helping to make a wide range of products thinner and lighter.
Management of Environmental Impact Materials Included in Products
The Minebea Group has issued the Minebea Group Green Procurement Standard requiring suppliers to supply products (raw materials and parts) free of hazardous substances along with data and documentation verifying their products' safety. We also conduct our own verification tests of suppliers' products using XRF (X-ray fluorescence spectrometers) to ensure the products are free of hazardous materials subject to RoHS regulations.
Management methods for chemical substances contained in products
- Note 1. (M)SDS ((Material) Safety Data Sheet):
A data sheet covering information required for safe handling of chemical substances (ingredients, characteristics, handling methods, and 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 (M)SDS that is required for management of toxic chemicals incorporated in products. - Note 3. AIS (Article Information Sheet):
A basic sheet recommended by JAMP for communicating information on toxic chemicals incorporated in product molds. Compiled based on (M)SDS, MSDSplus, etc. - Note 4. JGP File:
A standard format file stipulated for Green Procurement inspection by the Japan Green Procurement Survey Standardization Initiative (JGPSSI).
Future Goals and Issues
The Minebea Group will continue to accurately grasp the detailed needs of society in order to develop products that can contribute to safety, energy-efficiency and resource-efficiency.