SDGs Initiatives TAKANO CO.,LTD.

SDGs Initiatives

・ "Mirai (or Future) Creation Project" Vol.10 for manufacturing activities

Company Introduction, Department Introduction, and SDGs Case Study Presentation

Here's a report on the event held at Nishiminowa Elementary School in Ina City, Nagano Prefecture.
■Date: November 11 (Mon), 2024
■Location: Takano Shimojima Factory
■Participants: Approximately 50 fifth-grade elementary school students

Following last month's sixth-grade visit, we welcomed fifth-grade students. The company introduction was given by a Takano employee who graduated from Nishiminowa Elementary School, creating a warm atmosphere. This time, we introduced the Exterior and Furniture divisions. The Exterior Division presented their awning and parasol manufacturing processes and SDGs contributions, including Ruby Bags made from parasol fabric remnants.

Factory Tour Details

Students observed [Chair Assembly, Sewing, Leg Robots, Urethane Production, and Cutting processes].
They watched intently as workers rapidly assembled chairs to meet daily production targets and schedules. When they unexpectedly encountered an AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) automatically entering the elevator during the tour, students expressed various reactions like "Amazing!" and "I wish we had this at school!"

Learning that Changes the Future Through Manufacturing

After the factory tour, we received many questions and comments. Here are some examples:

"Q: What's the annual electricity cost?"
"A: About 130 million yen. We plan to continue implementing energy-saving measures and promote the use of solar power and Shinshu Green Electricity."

"Q: Why were there different shapes of urethane?"
"A: We make different shapes to match our various chair designs."

"Q: How many chairs do you make in a year?"
"A: We produce approximately 680,000 chairs, including swivel chairs, fixed chairs, and folding chairs."

As part of our SDGs initiatives, we provided students with fabric and urethane end materials from the factory for a manufacturing consideration lesson.
The Exterior Division presented coasters made from parasol manufacturing end materials and 3D-printed Nishiminowa Elementary School logo keychains as gifts.

We will continue to value our community connections and share the appeal of manufacturing with children. We sincerely thank the teachers and students of Nishiminowa Elementary School for their participation!

・"Mirai (or Future) Creation Project" Vol.9 for manufacturing activities

Company Introduction, Department Introduction, and SDGs Case Study Presentation

■Date: October 11 (Fri) & October 17 (Thu), 2024
■Location: Takano Shimojima Factory
■Participants: 73 sixth-grade elementary school students

The event was conducted over two days, one class per day. We introduced our Healthcare and Furniture divisions. The Healthcare Division presented products and services that bring joy to elderly and disabled individuals. The Furniture Division showcased chair manufacturing processes and our system for utilizing end materials (production remnants). Everyone participated in the chair quiz with impressive accuracy!

On the second day, Takano employees Mr.Hazama and Mr.Yasuhara, who play for VC Nagano Tridents, gave self-introductions and company presentations, creating an even more exciting atmosphere!

Factory Tour Details

Students observed [Urethane Cushion Production, Leg Robots, Chair Assembly, Product Warehouse, and Cutting processes].
They learned about urethane production, automated transport robots, ergonomic assembly lines, and quality control improvements in cutting and chair assembly. Students took detailed notes while listening attentively.

Their thorough note-taking and clear illustrations were impressive!

Learning that Changes the Future Through Manufacturing

After the factory tour, we received many questions and comments. Here are some examples:

"Q: Why spray before adding urethane liquid?"
"A: To prevent dust and debris contamination and to make the finished urethane easier to remove."

"Q: Why are there different chair sizes?"
"A: Chairs serve various purposes. Different eras and work styles require different chairs - for relaxation, focused work, etc. We provide chairs suitable for various scenarios."

"Comment: It was fun"
"Comment: Seeing it in person was more impressive than watching videos"
"Comment: It's amazing how people and machines work together to create comfortable chairs"

We're pleased if we could convey our manufacturing passion and efforts.
As part of our SDGs initiatives, we provided students with fabric and urethane end materials from the factory for a manufacturing consideration lesson.
We sincerely thank the teachers and students of Nishiminowa Elementary School for their participation!

The Exterior Division presented coasters made from parasol manufacturing end materials and 3D-printed Nishiminowa Elementary School logo keychains as gifts.

"Mirai (or Future) Creation Project" Vol.8 for manufacturing activities

Previously,we had a tour of Takano Shimojima Factory (introduced at the Mirai (or Future) Creation Project vol.2).
At that time, we had a class for children to let them think about what manufacturing is, for which we asked them to carry our end materials (scraps) back to home and find ideas for concrete products.
Since then, they have taken a class called "Exploration" in the school, in which they have tried manufacturing things under SDGs concept with sewing machines.

Presentation of Manufacturing Activities

In this issue, we will report on the day of the event at Miyada Elementary School in Miyada Village, Nagano Prefecture.

■Date : July 3 (Wed) and 5 (Fri), 2024
■Location: Miyada elementary school
■Approximately 70 children in the sixth grade of the school took part in the event.
Using our end materials (scraps), such as fabric and urethane cushions, children discussed ideas about possible products. We would like to introduce some of the presentations.

A wine case with everything
A durable, convenient,
and environment-friendly eco-bag

An elbow rest that can be comfortably
used anywhere
A cushion that makes grandparents comfortable

In addition to these, they thought of a lot of other products such as "Coaster", "Children's Box", "Book Cover", "Pillow", "Floor Cushion", "Children's Apron", "Box", "Children's Skirt", "Target Board", "Sponge Ball", and "Quilt".

Advice from our employees

We introduced wonderful products to children that incorporate a lot of thought and ingenuity, such as how the user can use them easily, how they can be used safely, and how they can be made strong.
From the perspective of how to make it even better, some of the employees who participated gave them some advice.

With serious expression on their faces, they listened to our advice, saying, "In order to make a lot of products, it is necessary for the manufacturer to think about how to make it easier.It would be nice to have a way to wash the whole product so that it can be used in case of spills.", etc.

Move your heart and change your future through making things.

What did you feel when your idea took shape? Were you happy? Was it different from your image? If the product is actually used in some store, you will feel many more things.
There is no end to manufacturing.
There is no correct answer to the question of what should be made to sell without fail.
By thinking about the feelings of people who use and make products, and by thinking about disposal after use, we can make even better products while taking the environment into consideration.
Mirai (or Future) belongs to you.
Takano supports your manufacturing activities.

Mr.Hazama and Mr.Yasuhara,
players of VC Nagano Tridents,
who belong to our company,
adventitiously participated in the presentation.
An emblem of the Elementary School,
which had been made with 3D printers,
was given away in return
for their presentations.

"Mirai (or Future) Creation Project" Vol.7 for manufacturing activities

The following footage shows Introduction of our company, Furniture Division, and SDGs case studies.

In this issue, we will report on the day of the event at Miyada Elementary School in Miyada Village, Nagano Prefecture
■Date : February 28, 29, and March 1, 2024
■Location: Miyada elementary school
■Approximately 100 children in the sixth grade of the school took part in the event in the three days.

This year, we again implemented cushion making using scrap materials, which was implemented last year as the first step of the "Mirai Creation Project" of manufacturing.
First, we provided a corporate briefing so that children could understand our company as much as possible.
We also introduced the chair making process of the Furniture Division in charge of this class, and started making cushions.

Creation of seat cushions

Creating cushion covers within a limited time of two hours.
Children struggled with the sewing method and the sewing machine, but did their best to make it!

The sewing method is
explained using fabric and drawing.
Children are checking sewing areas
together with us.

Move your heart and change your future through making things.

Some of our employees who joined this event are graduates from the school. We think, through the participation of them, children felt closer to us and had more interest in Takano.
When the cushions were completed, everyone was very happy! We think that by making the cushions by themselves, they were able to feel the "joy of making things" again.
We hope that children will be more interested in manufacturing and use the cushions they made with care.
Thank you to all the 6th graders and teachers who cooperated with us.
We hope that the circle of manufacturing will expand in the future.

"Mirai (or Future) Creation Project" Vol.6 for manufacturing activities

This time, we report on the day of the event at Nakazawa Elementary School in Komagane City, Nagano Prefecture.
■Date: Thursday, December 7, 2023
■Place: Takano Ina Factory
■12 children in the fifth grade of the elementary school took part in the event.

In August, we held a manufacturing class for 6th graders at the same elementary school, which was well received.
Because of this connection, we were able to hold a manufacturing class for the 5th graders.
Our employee, Hazama, who is also a V-Leaguer, was in charge of this company explanation.
The company explanation was held more pleasantly than ever.
Our Exterior Division also participated in the project for the first time, and introduced an initiative of making ruby bags or luncheon mats from scraps of parasols.
The children, who knew that Takano made chairs, were surprised to learn that it also made parasols.

Introduction of the manufacturing process of chairs and SDGs initiatives

In a quiz about chairs, children positively participated and answered almost correctly! It's great!
SDGs initiatives provided children with a chance to reaffirm the importance of what we see as garbage.

Factory tours

The children toured [Pipe processing → Welding → Surface treatment (plating) → Painting → Folding chair assembly line → Work pod].
We explained in detail, for example, the production line was designed for smooth operation in a series of flows in consideration of the manufacturing process.

Move your heart and change your future through making things.

After the factory tours, we were asked, "What is the hardest part of working? The person in charge replied, "All the chairs you have seen are all wonderful chairs. However, it takes a year to come up with a new chair and make it. There are many things that don't go well, and we have a lot of trouble. But we are able to complete it by thinking hard together and making it, and I feel the joy of manufacturing.
As part of use of scrap materials, which is one of SDGs's initiatives, we had a class, in which children took away fabric and urethane scrap materials (end materials) and thought about what manufacturing was.

Later, the children thanked us and gave us a lot of ideas using the end materials! Thank you for the wonderful ideas from the children's point of view.

"Mirai (or Future) Creation Project" Vol.5 for manufacturing activities.

As part of our SDGs initiatives, in 2023 we launched the "Mirai Creation Project" to conduct plant tours, and to conduct manufacturing classes using end materials (scraps) from our plants at neighboring elementary and senior high schools.

The following footage shows the company briefing, the manufacturing process of the chair, and the introduction of SDGs initiatives

In this issue, we report on the day of the event at Komagane City Akaho Minami Elementary School in Nagano Prefecture.
■Date : Tuesday, October 31, 2023
■Place: Takano Ina Factory
■64 children in the fifth grade of the elementary school took part in the event.

We had 64 children, the largest number of visitors per each factory tour since the start of the project.
At the company briefing, we were pleased with innocent reaction of children, such as surprise at our company sales amount, active attitudes in participating in quizzes about chairs, etc.
This time, the head of Healthcare Division also participated in the project for the first time, and talked to children about making welfare equipment and wheelchair cushions.

The school emblem of Ako Minami Elementary School, which I was made with 3D printers on the day, will be given away.
When we did the demonstration of our 3D printer, which children have never seen before, they were very interestingly observing it.

Factory tours

This time, factory tours were carried out by dividing them into three groups [A, B, and C] due to the large number of people.
The C group toured [Plating → Painting → Folding chair assembly line → Work pod → Pipe processing].
Children seriously listening to and taking notes of our explanation.

Plating
Painting
Processing

Move your heart and change your future through making things.

Move your heart and change your future through making things.
After the factory tours, many questions were raised by children.
They asked a wide range of questions, from simple questions to about workers.
We would like to introduce some of them to you.

"Q: Why do you have plants in your office?"
"A: It's an office, but it's like a living room.We can work comfortably when we have greenery."

"Q: Don't you run out of the plating solution?"
"A: We are always replenishing it, so we can keep it. Also, we are returning it to the Tenryu River after the purification."

"Q: How do you feel when you work?"
"A:We are working to let everyone enjoy sitting in or make them smile with our chairs."

Finally, we had a class designed to encourage children to take away fabric and urethane scrap materials (end materials) and think about manufacturing.

Comments from the persons in charge

We asked the persons in charge, who participated in this project for the first time , what they thought of today.
One of persons in charge was a graduate of Akaho Minami Elementary School.
Through the children's learning, we employees felt motivated to do our best in their future jobs.
We greatly thank all the teachers and children of Akaho Minami Elementary School for joining us!

"Mirai (or Future) Creation Project" Vol.4 for manufacturing activities.

We conducted manufacturing classes using end materials (scraps) from our plants.
The children toured the factory that manufactures chairs and listened to the explanation with serious expressions on their faces.
Nakazawa Elementary School is engaged in activities to produce charcoal on its own. So, we provided the children with a class in which they were asked to think about how they could use the charcoal and our end materials (scraps) to create something.
Takano will continue to teach children how to make things for their future.

"Mirai (or Future) Creation Project" Vol.3 for manufacturing activities.

We helped students of Ina Nishi High School in Nagano create covers for chairs using our end materials (scraps), as exhibits for the school festival named "Nishi Kosai".
The theme of "Nishi Kosai" this year is "Remake", so our employees visited the school and provided advice about processes from making pattern paper to sewing, so that students can realize the image of seats of the train which appear in the film "Spirited Away".
Takano will continue to teach children how to make things for their future.

"Mirai (or Future) Creation Project" Vol.2 for manufacturing activities.

We conducted manufacturing classes at elementary schools using end materials (scrap materials) from our plants.
At a later date, the children toured our factory that manufactures chairs, and took away the end materials (scraps), so that they can think about how they can create something.
Takano will continue to teach children how to make things for their future.

"Mirai (or Future) Creation Project" for manufacturing activities

We realized manufacturing classes at elementary schools using end materials (scrap materials) in our plants.
"Fun to make things," "Convenience to use things," and "Warmness to give things"
In the classes, we tried to let students learn more about SDGs through experiences, such as manufacturing something, being impressed by that, etc.
Takano will continue to teach children how to make things for their future.

SDGs Initiatives

CSR / Environment Policy

SDGs Initiatives