History

Declared “we’ll manufacture head plates by ourselves!”
to the employees.

The following statement was made by the founder, Yasutoshi Hayashi.

In the late 1950s, our company’s main business was manufacturing cans (tanks for pressure vessels), and had difficulties every time we made a tank. It was because we used to purchase head plates from a supplier at that time, but the quality was bad, delivery schedules were unstable, and it was very expensive.

Revolution in manufacturing head plates

I couldn’t stand that situation and finally declared “we’ll manufacture head plates by ourselves!” to the employees without a detailed plan. Without budget or technique the company decided to make a head plate manufacturing machine, this first in the world. We spent 3 years completing the large double-action oil hydraulic press, called a “6000-ton press machine.”

As a result, processing time was reduced to 1/30 and productivity increased 30 times, compared to before. Because of using a mold for press processing, quality (roundness, shape, and size) became uniform, and we could promise our customers “delivery within 3 days of order” and “half the price of before.” This was even called a “revolution in head plate production.”

We also joined to work on JIS-standardization of head plates and after our suggested “proposal for head plate shape and size” was adopted, even major manufacturers with their own large press machines to manufacture head plates switched to purchasing our head plates.

Expanding our business with the 6000-ton press machine

6000-ton press machine

Because of development of this 6000-ton press machine, we proceeded and focused on merchandising standard head plates and became a major head plate manufacturer, with 60% of domestic market share, contributing to the development of industries. Today, almost a half-century after our production revolution, our bending process technology has reached its highest level, and other companies can’t compete with us.

One such technology was proved with our spherical head plate, made with a material very difficult to process, for fuel tanks loaded onto spacecraft. This challenge was introduced in NHK’s TV show “Project X, Challengers” (#112 Go to Halley’s Comet, a one-time challenge in 76 years) broadcast in 2003.

We cannot talk about our company’s history without the 6000-ton press machine. I have also walked with this machine and have a strong attachment to it.

6000-ton press machine, the key to success

At the end of 2007, the main cylinder of the 6000-ton press machine ruptured. The cause was metal fatigue after long years of use. In August of the following year, we were able to restart the machine after temporary repairs, but it took 3 years to make complete repairs. If we had performed careful, daily inspections of the machine, the damage could have been fixed at an early stage. We exhibit the ruptured cylinder at our company so that everyone can look at it and learn the lesson of how important daily inspection is.

Ruptured cylinder

Founder, Yasutoshi Hayashi

History of Hokkai Group, with Hokkai Iron Works Co., Ltd forming a core part

Hokkai Co., Ltd.
Hokkai Iron Works Co., Ltd.
Hokkai Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Kansai Stainless Center Co., Ltd.
Hokkai Ltd.

April	1946	Founded Hayashi Yosetsu-Kogyosho (Welding Workshop) in Nishinari-ward, Osaka.
April	1955	Reorganized into Hokkai Iron Works Co., Ltd. with 1 million yen capital and Yasutoshi Hayashi as CEO.
April	1962	Constructed a 6000-ton large double-action oil hydraulic press and began manufacture and sales of head plates.
June	1968	Exported a 7000-ton press and related facilities to the Union Tank Car Company in the U.S.
August	1970	Started manufacture and sales of head plates using a flanging machine at Kishiwada Factory.
September	1970	Founded Kansai Stainless Center Co., Ltd.
December	1972	Integrated headquarters factory into the Kishiwada factory for a centralized production system.
December	1972	Separated the sales department from the company and founded Hokkai Ltd.
March	1977	Founded Hokkai Co., Ltd.
June	1982	Increased capital to 286 million yen.
March	1989	Introduced an independent management system to Hokkai Ltd. and separated its businesses into 5 sales companies.
February	1994	Founded Yixing Hokkai Head Plate Co., Ltd. in Yixing City, Jiangsu Province, China.
April	1996	50th anniversary of the founding Hokkai Iron Works Co., Ltd.
March	2003	Founded Hokkai Co., Ltd. as a Hokkai Group’s controlling company.
May	2004	Integrated the sales companies to introduce a new sales system as Hokkai Ltd.
March	2005	Integrated Tokyo Iron Works Welding Association into Hokkai Iron Works Co., Ltd.
July	2005	Started a factory specializing in railway cars.
May	2009	CEO Yasutoshi Hayashi is awarded “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays” medal by the Japanese Emperor.
October	2009	Completed “Tetsujin 28-go life-sized monument” for the KOBE Tetsujin Project in Nagata-ward, Kobe City.
May	2016	Yasutoshi Hayashi became the chairman of representative board
June	2016	The chairman of representative board and founder, Yasutoshi Hayashi passed away at the age of 93, on June 10th, 2016.
June	2016	Founder, Yasutoshi Hayashi was appointed to Junior Sixth Rank.
March	2017	Integrated Hokkai Manufacturing Co., Ltd. to Hokkai Iron Works Co., Ltd.
March	2019	Establishment of the In-House Training Institution Polaris Academy
March	2020	Three Divisions : Head Plates, Parts of Railroad carriage, and Cityscape
April	2021	75th anniversary
April	2023	Craft Beer Brewery Completed, In-House Brewing Begins