●Accelerate development and manufacturing of in-house lubricants that meet individual needs in small amount

"Metalworking lubricants are backseat players. In order to maximize the performance of machines and tools, suitable lubricating fluids are indispensable." That's what Toshiyuki Ryu, president of Kansai Special Machine Lubricants Co., Ltd. Says.

Taking CEO office Ryu was accelerated the development and manufacturing of its own products. "I thought it was our way to survive by providing small amount that could not be handled by major specialized manufacturers and that was thoroughly tailored to user needs," says Ryu.

In the metalworking industry, there are many cases where metalworking lubricants mismatched with machines and cutting tools are used. KANSAI's strength was to repeat trial and error while always listening to the voice of the user, and to produce in small amounts even at 20 litters. Switching to a suitable lubricant, users dramatically improve accuracy and usability. In addition, a system for collecting and storing waste oil was established.

"Now we can buy metalworking lubricants online. That's why I think it is the value KANSAI can offer to propose suitable products to meet the individual needs of our customers." Such detailed response is well-accepted, and Ryu has currently about 600 customers. Some users continue to use the company's products for 40 to 50 years, while making improvements.

●Metalworking lubricants derived from vegetable oil is the first product nationwide

The most revolution in the development of in-house products was the production of lubricants derived from vegetable oil.

Difficult machining such as deep hole machining cannot be performed satisfactorily unless oil-based cutting oil is used. However, water-soluble cutting fluids are often used at the machining site because the amount of dangerous materials such as oil-based lubricants is strictly limited by the Fire Service Act. The fire department pointed out to a customer that "there is too much lubricants on the site". It was a consultation about how to manage it.

Then Ryu has challenged the development of cutting lubricants derived from vegetable oil, which had been envisioned for many years, in order to achieve a high flash point that would not be caught by the Fire Service Act, and to achieve low viscosity and high lubrication.

The raw material was an ester synthesized from rapeseed oil. However, synthetic oil derived from vegetable oil is expensive and oxidatively deteriorates quickly. After making the sample, the actual machine test was repeated over and over at the customer's factory, and the ingenuity was repeated with the raw material manufacturers involved. After making the sample, the actual machine test was repeated over and over at the customer's factory, and the ingenuity was repeated with the raw material manufacturers involved. In 2003, about a year and a half later, KANSAI finally succeeded in commercialization.

Metalworking lubricant derived from vegetable oil, which was pioneering in Japan, has been attracting attention from many metalworking sites where water-soluble lubricants were used unavoidably.

●"I want to be helpful to this person", the idea of creating new products and people

Ryu is hearing remarks by his customers that switching to KANSAI's new lubricants, accuracy has been improved, machining that has never been possible has been achieved, tool life has been improved significantly, rough hands have been reduced, and the turnover rate has decreased -------- "I am glad to hear the voice of joy. I am devoted to work." The personality of the president Ryu oozes out.

In addition, Ryu believes that the metalworking lubricants derived from the vegetable oil can become a product that will be highlighted in the environment. While crude oil is finite, vegetable oil is an infinitely easy resource, biodegradable to return to the soil, and less CO2 emissions when burned.

From "for customers" to "for the earth". Metalworking lubricants derived from vegetable oil that have revolutionized the industry is about to open the second chapter for the next era.