H-IIA/B and KOUNOTORI Assembly

Tohmei Industries, founded in 1965, is a mid-sized firm that designs and manufactures original and order-made equipment for materials, impact and performance testing and is also involved in general logistics by manufacturing reinforced cardboard and special containers. In the aerospace sector, Tohmei has performed assembly for the H-IIA/B Launch Vehicles, the large rocket, and the KOUNOTORI supply ship for the International Space Station (ISS).

While recently acquiring carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) molding manufacturers, Tohmei is building a coating plant as part of its efforts to add more high-value added processes on top of aerospace equipment assembly.

Tohmei’s aerospace equipment manufacturing is based at its Chita Plant in Chita, Aichi Prefecture. A team of young employees averaging 30 years in age assembled KOUNOTORI in a temperature and humidity-controlled factory building.

The first thing new hires do is take around three weeks of instruction at the Training Center built next to the factory in order to acquire the advanced skills demanded by the aerospace field. The training is severe and some quit before they finish.

Tohmei Industries is a particularly fine manufacturer, even among others in Aichi, where the value of goods shipped is more than in any other Japanese prefecture. In 2008 Tohmei was designated an Aichi Brand Company.