Feature｜Sources and Foundation of Growth

Both in Japan and overseas, the construction pipeline is filled with major projects that are currently under way or scheduled for the future, creating what can be deemed an extremely positive business environment. The Kanamoto Group will strive to lay a foundation that enables it to firmly meet this growing demand and fulfill the mission of"rentals"as an important social infrastructure, while pursuing technologies that make the best use of the Group's strengths, implementing multiple IT, finance and investment-related strategies and executing its new long-term vision described at the end of this feature.

Technologies that Capitalize on Kanamoto's"Strengths"

Business development that takes advantage of"technology"to create Kanamoto's strengths

Actively developing new products that incorporate the latest technologies is another of Kanamoto's strong points. One example is the"Bridge Dragon,"a highly efficient bridge inspection vehicle based on Kanamoto's original design. We've also introduced a range of construction equipment that is registered in NETIS*, the New Technology Information System managed by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The LED battery floodlight developed by our New Products Office, for example, has already resulted in numerous orders from general contractors because it helps significantly reduce power consumption and CO2. Kanamoto also markets microturbine generators manufactured by the U.S. firm Capstone Turbine Corporation, which have been delivered to domestic biomass power generation facilities and are already producing results. Kanamoto will continue to develop its rental business in other sectors in the future.
Our capabilities in handling systems and work methods for the foundation and ground improvement sector are another Kanamoto advantage. We boast an ample lineup of special construction equipment for ground improvement, plus teams of ground improvement specialists at companies within the Group, enabling us to lend a hand for works at locations such as petroleum industrial complexes where deep underground construction work, underwater work and thorough prevention of ground sinking and subsidence are absolutely essential.
*Database of technical information accumulated in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism"System of Technologies Used for Public Works Etc."

Information-aided construction to achieve highly effective, highly accurate construction

"Information-aided construction"is being promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and expanded use of this technology is forecast in Japan's national resilience plan as well. This new construction method utilizing ICT (Information and Communication Technology) is being introduced to achieve highly effective, highly accurate construction by improving the construction steps that form the construction project process flow, from study through design and construction to operation and maintenance, where adoption of ICT has been slow. Through manpower savings and productivity enhancements, this approach is expected to eliminate the worker shortages that are now a serious problem plaguing the construction industry and have a positive cost reduction effect. It will also help shorten construction time and ensure safety, because the finishing stakes, register marks and other indicator stakes marking off the work area and inspections performed during the project interval are no longer required.
The number of projects utilizing this technology has risen annually as well, increasing about 15 times from 75 projects in 2008 to 1,114 projects in 2013. To address this trend, Kanamoto established an Information-aided Construction Promotion Section within its Regional Special Procurement Sales Division, to strengthen marketing of information-aided construction across all of the Group's companies.
Furthermore, in addition to having a subsidiary within the group that possesses certain technical capabilities in information-aided construction, Kanamoto provides the latest information-aided construction-related devices and construction equipment in cooperation with a firm that specializes in measuring instruments. Kanamoto also is lending its full support to the introduction of information-aided construction by holding management seminars with trained specialists, for example, and assisting firms in all phases, from system adoption through operating startup. This is yet another way in which Kanamoto is demonstrating its"comprehensive capabilities."