News

Team annual trip

Preventing global warming is a shared challenge for all businesses, organizations, public institutions, and individuals. The Seiyo Group is also making every effort to reduce CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions. Our company does not directly emit greenhouse gases from product manufacturing; all emissions stem from energy consumption. Reference Data: Trends in CO2 Emissions and Measures Taken by Our Company Energy-Efficient Headquarters Building In line with the Seiyo Group’s environmental policy of “maximizing the efficient use of limited resources,” our headquarters building incorporates cutting-edge technologies and methods—such as double-glazed curtain walls that minimize thermal loads and advanced heat‑storage insulation—and is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities designed to actively promote energy conservation. As a result, over its lifecycle, this building reduces CO2 emissions by more than 20% compared to typical structures of similar size. In addition to the “chimney effect” created within the double-glazed curtain wall, which enhances heat removal, natural ventilation can be achieved during mild weather and at night through the atrium skylights, thereby reducing air-conditioning demand. (Top right) Natural lighting provided by the double-glazed curtain wall helps cut electricity consumption for lighting. (Bottom right) Awareness Campaigns Global warming has become a pressing issue. To address this challenge, Seiyo Motor’s headquarters adopted the “Cool Biz” initiative from June through the end of September. As part of broader energy‑saving efforts, the company also encouraged employees to take the stairs instead of elevators—“For your health and the environment! Climb two flights up or descend three flights down”—aiming to reduce CO2 emissions and combat global warming. Moving forward, we will continue to conduct educational and promotional activities on energy conservation, reassess how electrical equipment is used and optimize its functions, and further advance energy‑efficient practices to lower CO2 emissions. Participation in Matsudo City’s “CO2 Reduction Campaign” Located in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, our headquarters has joined the “CO2 Reduction Campaign (*1)” launched in 2009 under Matsudo City’s Regional Plan for Addressing Global Warming. This campaign calls for the early adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), and our company contributed by sponsoring the initiative through advertising placed on one of the three EVs deployed as official vehicles. Proceeds from this sponsorship are being used to support efforts to mitigate global warming. (*1) What is the “CO2 Reduction Campaign”? To preserve our beautiful planet in good condition for future generations, Matsudo City formulated a comprehensive action plan addressing global warming—the most pressing issue of our time—and officially launched the “CO2 Reduction Campaign” in March 2009. Measures in the Logistics Sector For products sold to certain domestic customers, we have chosen to ship via Kobe Port and Kansai International Airport to shorten both distance and transit time between production facilities and end‑users. Additionally, to reduce delivery distances to customers in central Japan, we established a regional warehouse in 2008. Compared with our existing headquarters warehouse, this new facility shortens shipping routes by approximately 400 km. Based on 2007 transportation data, this measure is estimated to cut annual CO2 emissions by about 29.4 tons. Furthermore, by using stackable pallets for transporting goods, we have reduced the volume of return shipments, thereby contributing to lower CO2 emissions during transport. Factory‑Level Measures At our production sites, we have implemented measures to enhance productivity while reducing energy consumption. By reevaluating production processes and optimizing facility layouts, we have improved space efficiency. These initiatives have simultaneously boosted production output and lowered overall electricity and water usage, helping to reduce CO2 emissions. In Dalian, Seiyo has undertaken a comprehensive review of its employee dormitory management and operations. By adjusting the utilization schedules of vacant rooms and equipment, we reduced annual electricity consumption by 16,000 kWh—an achievement equivalent to cutting approximately 9.9 tons of CO2 emissions per year. Regarding Electricity Use and CO2 Emissions Within the Seiyo Group, the majority of CO2 emissions attributable to energy use arise from electricity consumption, accounting for roughly 85% of total energy use. Details on measures to reduce electricity consumption will be provided in the next section, “Efficient Resource Utilization.”

2019-02-27

Annual Company Conference

Our company actively pursues a wide range of initiatives to reduce environmental impact, covering not only motor components but also every stage of the production process—ranging from environmentally harmful chemicals used in manufacturing to energy‑efficient equipment and improved working conditions for our employees. Reducing the Use of Environmentally Harmful Chemicals In motor‑manufacturing processes, organic solvents such as trichloroethylene (TCE) are employed for component cleaning. These substances are difficult to biodegrade and have been identified as potential carcinogens. They also pose risks to user health and can contaminate groundwater and soil. To completely eliminate the use of these hazardous chemicals, Seiyo Motor has replaced TCE with low‑impact alternatives—hydrocarbon‑based solvents—and reconfigured its production lines to utilize hydrocarbon‑based cleaning agents. Upgrading Production Equipment and Machinery By miniaturizing molds and stamping presses used in the fabrication of precision micro‑components, we have reduced the number of parts required, thereby conserving resources and freeing up valuable floor space on the shop floor. This has resulted in a roughly 75% reduction in the footprint of on‑site facilities, an approximately 80% decrease in electricity consumption, and a roughly 30% reduction in noise levels, thus meeting our goal of lowering the environmental impact within the production environment. Noise‑Reduction Measures In compliance with official environmental laws and regulations, the Seiyo Group implements stringent noise‑control measures. Equipment subject to these requirements—including stamping presses and air compressors—is fitted with sound‑proof enclosures and other noise‑mitigation devices from the time of installation. RoHS Compliance in Manufacturing Processes Addressing environmental concerns solely at the component and material level is insufficient. The processing oils, release agents, cleaning solutions, and inks used in machining and finishing—along with other auxiliary materials—are incorporated into finished products and shipped to customers. Accordingly, our company mandates that even auxiliary materials used in the production process undergo rigorous environmental screening, ensuring that only environmentally friendly products are employed.

2019-02-27

Team-building activities

Resources are a finite, shared asset of humanity. Guided by this principle, Seiyo Motor is actively implementing measures to conserve resources and energy. Efficient Use of Water Resources To safeguard water resources, the Seiyo Group makes proactive and effective use of rainwater. Since 1991, the head office has been collecting and utilizing rainwater, and in recent years, other group companies have also embraced this practice. Dalian Seiyo Construction has installed rainwater collection systems, using collected rainwater to replace tap water in its production processes. Furthermore, plants including Jiangsu Seiyo, Dongguan Seiyo, Dalian Seiyo, and Daojiao Seiyo have constructed wastewater treatment facilities, reusing treated effluent for purposes such as irrigating greenery and flushing toilets. Reference: Trends in Water Resource Usage Improving Yield in Press‑Working Operations Our company uses tens of thousands of tons of steel annually to manufacture housing components—the motor casings. These steel parts are produced through press‑working processes, including blanking and drawing. With a focus on resource efficiency, we aim to maximize material utilization by minimizing blanking widths according to material thickness and grade, while also refining feed accuracy and optimizing other process steps. As a result, material utilization rates have improved by 5%. Additionally, all scrap generated during press‑working is fully recycled. Saving Electrical Energy Reducing electricity consumption helps cut CO2 emissions, making energy conservation one of our top priorities. To date, we have undertaken large‑scale initiatives—such as consolidating production facilities and reorganizing manufacturing areas—which have yielded measurable results. We believe that, beyond major overhauls, it is equally important to steadily accumulate small, incremental improvements. At Jiangsu Seiyo, to lower air‑conditioning energy use in the employee cafeteria during summer, a specialized thermal insulation layer was installed on the cafeteria roof. This measure reduced indoor temperatures by up to 3.7°C during peak heat periods, cutting annual air‑conditioning electricity consumption by approximately 30%. Similarly, at Vietnam Seiyo, to reduce electricity usage for cafeteria air conditioning, a rainwater‑based sprinkler system was installed on the roof. This system lowered indoor temperatures by roughly 5°C, resulting in an annual reduction of approximately 143,000 kWh of electricity. Reference Data: Trends in Electricity Consumption

2019-02-27

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