[pageLogInLogOut]

#Composites

Toray becomes joint winner in Japan’s Sixth Infrastructure Maintenance Awards

Toray Industries, Inc., announced today that it was one of three joint recipients of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award in the Electricity category of the Sixth Infrastructure Maintenance Awards. This is in recognition of the development of a carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) technique employing in-situ vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VaRTM) technology. Toray, Tokyo Electric Power Grid, Inc., and Yasuda Seisakusho Co., Ltd. deployed that technique to repair steel pipe corrosion on transmission towers.

This technology eliminates the need for special jigs and methods in replacement work by reinforcing pitted and corroded pipes. It can thus reduce lead times for strength assessments and cut construction costs. Another key factor in receiving this award was the broad social benefits that could accrue from applying this technology to steel-framed buildings and other structures. 

The Infrastructure Maintenance Awards recognize outstanding initiatives and technology developments related to social infrastructure maintenance in Japan at facilities under the jurisdiction of a range of government bodies. These are the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Defense. Experts from a range of fields screen candidates for the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award, the Special Award, and the Award for Excellence.

© 2023 Toray
© 2023 Toray


The awards debuted in 2016 to foster Japan’s maintenance sector and recognize best practices among businesses, organizations, researchers in that field.

Award details are as follows.


1. Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award

For the development of a CFRP technique employing in-situ VaRTM technology to repair steel pipe corrosion on transmission towers

2. Joint recipients

Tokyo Electric Power Grid, Yasuda Seisakusho, and Toray

3. Award-winning technology

This patented in situ VaRTM technology entails placing CF sheet “TORAYCA® CF fabric” on a steel structure requiring repair, applying a film over the sheets, using a pump to create a vacuum, and injecting and curing epoxy resin. Over time, internal corrosion causes pitting and wall thinning on the steep piping of transmission towers. The conventional repair process is very labor-intensive and expensive, as it entails replacing these pipes. The three companies jointly developed a CFRP repair technique that applies in-situ VaRTM technology to corroded steel pipes that normally need replacing. This setup eliminates the need for special jigs and methods in replacement work, and can reduce lead times for strength assessments and cut construction costs.

(Photos courtesy of Tokyo Electric Power Grid, Inc.)
(Photos courtesy of Tokyo Electric Power Grid, Inc.)


4. Progress and potential

Applications to date for in situ VaRTM to repair steel infrastructure have included transmission towers in Japan and floating production storage and offloading facilities overseas. Work is under way extend applications to repair and reinforce steel bridges, steel-framed buildings, and other structures. Toray will keep striving to create technologies and build a value chain in which TORAYCA cloth can significantly extend the service lives and resiliency of domestic and overseas infrastructure.




More News from Toray Engineering Co. Ltd.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

Toray develops recycling technology that retains carbon fiber strength and surface quality

Toray Industries, Inc., announced today that it has developed a recycling technology that can decompose diverse carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) made from thermosetting resins while retaining the strength and surface quality of those fibers. The company drew on this technology to create a nonwoven fabric employing recycled carbon fibers.

#Composites

HEAD launches more sustainable(1) BOOM RAW racquet on Earth Day by using Toray’s bio-circular carbon fibers

HEAD continues to innovate with the launch of the BOOM RAW tennis racquet, an encouraging development in the search for a more sustainable future for racquet sports. All of the carbon fibers are bio-circular carbon fibers in the limited-edition and highly innovative BOOM RAW racquet, which offers the same explosive power - along with the same fun, feel and easy playability - as the regular, in-line BOOM racquet. The bio-circular carbon fibers are manufactured by Toray and its subsidiary Toray Carbon Fibers Europe.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

Companies in Japan initiate demonstration to expand the automotive recycling process

DENSO CORPORATION and other partners have been chosen by an industry-government-academia collaborative project aiming to expand the recycle content for automobile in the fiscal year 2023 supported by Ministry of the Environment, Japan.

#Yarn & Fiber

Toray develops durable reverse osmosis membrane

Toray Industries, Inc., announced today that it has developed a highly durable reverse osmosis (RO) membrane (see glossary note 1). This innovative offering guarantees the long-term provision of high-quality water. It also maintains the superior removal performance of Toray’s existing membranes vital for reusing industrial wastewater and treating sewage.

More News on Composites

#Knitting & Hosiery

KARL MAYER at JEC: Multiaxial reinforced CFRP pultrusion profiles are picking up speed in the mobility sector

KARL MAYER Technical Textiles will be showcasing exciting new application potentials for multiaxial non-crimp fabrics in combination with the pultrusion process at the upcoming JEC in Hall 5, Booth C 46. The advancement of the tried-and-tested pultrusion process enables the cost-efficient production of complex CFRP multi-chamber profiles, which are used in the CETROVO high-speed metro. The world's first carbon-intensive lightweight rail vehicle of this type is designed for speeds of up to 140 km/h.

#Associations

Engineering depth and diversity for composites

Airbond is the latest member of the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) to receive recognition for contributions to the composites industry. The engineering firm based in Pontypool, South Wales, has just received the Make UK Energy and Sustainability Award for its Lattice 3D Printing project.

#Composites

Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp expands bio-materials presence at JEC World 2026

The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp is pleased to announce its participation at JEC World 2026, featuring a significantly expanded presence and an enhanced offering for the global composites industry.

#Composites

Breaking new ground in Technical Textiles: Stäubli at JEC World 2026

Stäubli, a global leader in industrial and mechatronic solutions, will showcase its cutting-edge weaving machinery solutions for technical textiles at JEC World 2026, from 10 to 12 March in Paris-Nord Villepinte.

Latest News

#Research & Development

Fabolose: Fabricating vegan and circular leather alternatives from bio-tech-derived cellulose

Fabulose is an EU funded project coordinated by the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF). Its consortium consists of leading research institutes, biotech innovators, and industry stakeholders who aim to create high-performance, biobased and recyclable leather-like fabrics, using efficient biotech production routes for bacterial cellulose, cyanophycin and bacterial pigments

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Connecting the ASEAN textile sector: sustainability, trends, and technology take centre stage at this week’s VIATT 2026

Opening this week Thursday, the Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles, and Textile Technologies (VIATT) is set to welcome visitors from ASEAN’s dynamic textile market and beyond. From 26 to 28 February, VIATT 2026 – the fair’s third editions – will reinforce its strategic proposition with an integrated showcase of the three core sectors of the entire textile value chain. Beyond new sourcing opportunities in Apparel Fabrics & Fashion, Home & Contract Textiles, and Technical Textiles & Technologies, the fair will present an expanded fringe programme.

#Spinning

Measure and control the fiber – optimize yarn quality

Producing consistent yarn quality is an everyday challenge – and a very difficult one. Detailed knowledge and understanding of the fiber raw material is absolutely critical to achieving the best possible quality in the yarn. To help spinners, Uster experts have put together guidelines for avoiding yarn irregularity claims, in a special edition of the Uster News Bulletin.

#Software

Coats Digital appoints Himanshu Mehrotra as Managing Director to lead next phase of cloud and AI-driven innovation

Coats Digital is delighted to announce the appointment of Himanshu Mehrotra as Managing Director to lead the company’s strategic direction, innovation agenda, and global growth as it accelerates the development of its cloud-native, AI-powered software solutions for the global apparel and footwear supply chain.

TOP