Founded in 1919, Enatech Corporation specializes in precision machining using materials such as cast iron and aluminum die castings. They manufacture high-performance exhaust-related components for agricultural and construction machinery, as well as undercarriage parts for tractors and similar equipment. Although cast materials are prone to significant individual variations, they have successfully overcome these challenges by managing the entire process—from jig design to manufacturing—in-house. This integrated approach enables the stable and rapid supply of high-precision components with complex geometries. Notably, they also offer flexible process design and actively propose cost-reduction solutions to customers through the optimization of machining processes and labor requirements. In addition, they are engaged in the design, development, and manufacture of automation equipment for the medical, electronics, and FA (factory automation) sectors. They have proactively expanded into new business fields by independently developing equipment that automates and ensures uniform coating on the edges of printed circuit boards and package substrates. With regard to quality management, they have established a system that quantitatively evaluates the achievement of target defect rates set for each operation. Through an annual awards program, they promote greater awareness of quality, resulting in enhanced company-wide motivation and a measurable reduction in defect rates. Leveraging machining technologies cultivated over their long history and a foundation of stable quality, Enatech Corporation has earned high recognition for their ability to balance steady profitability with bold initiatives in new fields, leading to their selection for this award.

ritical infrastructure, including saddle-type branch valves for water distribution pipes, fittings, shut-off valves, meter units, and emergency water supply valves for disaster response. They have established an integrated production system encompassing all stages from development and design through casting, machining, assembly, and inspection. This enables them to manufacture products tailored to a variety of materials, including metal and polyethylene pipes, while maintaining the flexibility required for high-mix, low-volume production. Products that leverage their patented technologies—such as telescopic shut-off valves with check valves that combine shut-off functionality with flow control and backflow prevention, as well as rotary saddle-type branch valves featuring a rotatable structure designed to suppress water leakage during major earthquakes—have been adopted by local governments within the prefecture and are highly regarded. They are also engaged in the development of automatic opening and closing valves (smart valves) that can be remotely operated via PCs or smartphones. These systems enable valve operation and residual chlorine management without the need for on-site access. In addition, for temporary piping used during water main replacement work or in disaster situations, they employ water pipes made of high-density polyethylene, which offer excellent workability and durability. They have also commercialized a reuse system in which these pipes are collected, cleaned, and reused after deployment, thereby contributing to the reduction of environmental impact. Although they received the predecessor to this award in fiscal year 2005, they have since continued to ensure a stable supply of products in critical fields supporting essential infrastructure, while proactively pursuing the development of new products and services. Their sustained technological innovation and contributions to society have been highly evaluated, leading to the present award.

Founded in 1979, Nakagawa Factory Co., Ltd. is a machining manufacturer engaged in the processing of a wide variety of materials. They handle a broad range of materials—from metals such as brass, aluminum, and stainless steel to resins—and are capable of machining diverse shapes, including round bars, plates, blocks, and polygonal forms. They can accommodate everything from highly challenging prototypes and small-lot production to mass production runs of several hundred thousand units, and currently supply products to a wide range of fields, including components for opening and closing devices, engine parts for agricultural machinery, and components for telecommunications equipment. Their key strength lies in their machining technology, which achieves extremely high precision, such as inner diameter tolerances of 0.01 mm and outer diameter tolerances of 0.005 mm. To maintain this level of accuracy, they demonstrate a strong commitment to craftsmanship throughout the manufacturing process, including the in-house regrinding of worn drills and the fabrication and use of custom-made boring bits produced from cemented carbide materials. They are also actively engaged in passing on these technologies and this mindset to the younger generation. After receiving the Excellence Award under this program in fiscal year 2022, they have placed particular emphasis on the recruitment and development of younger personnel. In addition to training aimed at advancing technical skills, they conduct a wide range of programs, including safety and health education. Furthermore, they actively utilize social media as part of their public relations efforts to raise their profile and expand opportunities for engagement, demonstrating a continued willingness to take on new challenges. Their ongoing efforts to further refine their technical capabilities, invest in human resource development, and pursue new initiatives such as strategic public relations have been highly evaluated, leading to the present award.

Founded in 1948, SOHWA SEISAKUSHO Co., Ltd. manufactures functional fastening components, such as anti-loosening nuts, based on metal stamping technologies cultivated over many years and developed in-house. They have established an in-house system that fully covers die design, fabrication, and maintenance, enabling rapid, flexible, and cost-effective processing. Their dies incorporate mechanisms that prevent misalignment between the upper and lower dies, ensuring stable and highly precise press forming. In addition, they are capable of producing dies that allow the simultaneous pressing of multiple parts, enabling them to propose an optimal balance between quality and cost in accordance with customers’ required production volumes. As proprietary products, they have developed the “Super E-Nut” and “E-Nut,” which utilize deep-drawing—a press-forming process requiring advanced technical expertise, distinct from forging or machining. These products are lightweight and feature a hollow structure, and through the elasticity of spring materials, they provide self-locking functionality as standalone components. They also manufacture highly distinctive functional parts such as the “Stable Nut,” which integrates a specially designed spring-metal ring with a nut. Furthermore, they are working to improve production speed and reduce labor requirements by developing in-house tapping machines capable of threading ultra-small nuts, as well as by modifying press machines to simultaneously manufacture anti-loosening components and integrate them with nuts. Through these initiatives, their advanced technical capabilities and innovative approach to product development have been highly evaluated, leading to the present award.

Founded in 1964 as a manufacturer of corrugated cardboard products, Daiichi Omiya Co., Ltd. currently produces plastic corrugated cardboard (Pladan) and protective materials. In addition to standard polypropylene (PP), they manufacture high value-added Pladan boxes and dividers using a wide range of materials, including polyethylene (PE) and polycarbonate (PC). While these material sheets have high resilience and are typically difficult to bend, they have developed proprietary equipment that enables them to be formed into box shapes. In the past, metal staples were used to fasten the sheets; however, to facilitate recycling, they now employ heat bonding and ultrasonic bonding using proprietary equipment. With a total of 20 types of such in-house developed equipment, they demonstrate a high level of technological development capability. One of their flagship products, the “Do-Cellar Box,” is a hygienic plastic corrugated box made from low-foamed sheets featuring a durable antistatic layer on the surface, and its adoption is expanding primarily within the food industry. Another representative product, the “FC-3,” is a foldable box made from ultra-lightweight hollow polypropylene honeycomb sheets. It is lighter than injection-molded containers and is also used in the apparel industry. Without relying solely on traditional sales channels such as the automotive industry, they have proactively identified new market needs and responded to market demands through proprietary technological development and product innovation. These efforts have been highly evaluated, leading to their selection for this award.