News Release Archives
Note that the releases are accurate at the time of publication but may be subject to change without notice.
Mitsubishi Electric Finishes Construction of Superconducting-magnet Plant
Increased capacity expected to boost sales of superconducting magnets
PDF Version(204KB)TOKYO, March 13, 2017- Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced that it has completed construction of a superconducting-magnet manufacturing plant at its Transmission and Distribution Systems Center in Ako, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The Ako plant will increase the company's capacity to produce superconducting magnets used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, semiconductor-manufacturing equipment and other sophisticated apparatus. Operations will begin sequentially within the month. Mitsubishi Electric is projecting superconducting-magnet sales of nine billion yen by FY2021, up 70 percent from FY2017, supported by an increase in total production capacity by up to 60 percent.
Rendering of new superconducting-magnet plant
Superconducting magnet
for MRI machine
With the demand for advanced medical services continuing to grow, Mitsubishi Electric expects the global market for MRIs to expand at an annual rate of 6 percent in the foreseeable future. The company aims to capitalize on this trend by expanding its superconducting-magnet capacity to respond promptly and fully to growing domestic and international demand.
The Ako plant, which initially will add 25 percent capacity on top of the company's existing plants, will introduce advanced production equipment including a newly designed coil-winding machine and advanced drying furnaces. Equipment to be added later will raise total capacity by as much as 60 percent from FY2017.
Extra-large air-conditioned and dustproof areas will provide ample clean environments that will be used to raise production quality further.
The production facilities and offices, previously dispersed among three buildings in the Transmission and Distribution Systems Center, will be integrated into one building for enhanced productivity.
Outline of New Facility
| Location | 651 Tenwa, Ako, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan | ||||||
| Building area | 1,821.05 m2 (total floor area: 1,917.30 m2) | ||||||
| Structure | Steel frame, 2 stories (2nd floor offices only), air conditioned and dustproof areas | ||||||
| Purpose | Production, development and administration | ||||||
| Main products |
|
||||||
| Operation | Begin late March 2017 | ||||||
| Green measures |
|
||||||
| Production- efficiency measures |
|