Shikoku Welding Electrode: Fusing innovation with quality

An object is only as strong as its weakest link, and for thousands of years humans have been working to strengthen these links through welding metals together. At an industrial scale, welding is impera­tive to keeping the global supply chain moving, especially through its contribution to shipbuilding, and Japanese firm Shikoku Welding Electrode is one of the firms push­ing this sector forward with its innovative solutions.

Founded in 1947, the company is oriented towards large-scale projects such as shipbuilding and construction, providing state-of-the-art welding solutions for its customers. A good example of its for­ward-thinking prod­ucts is the TAS-10 flux cored wire for all-position weld­ing. Applicable to both ship and bridge building, the TAS-10 uses low-hydrogen type flux, mainly rutile, and was created for speed of use and a wide current range. The product also works to tackle spat­ter, a prominent problem in weld­ing, and Shikoku Welding president Yuichi Murakami explains that the company offers more services to help improve its customers’ experi­ence: “Our staff sometimes go to shipyards to teach workers about how to use the product properly.”

Headquarters

Various welding materials

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Shikoku Welding has expanded from its original base in the shipbuilding city of Imabari, building a factory in Vietnam as the company looks to expand its presence in South­east Asia with the help of sales part­ners. Vietnam is in a period of rapid industrialization and reviving its shipbuilding industry for the future. And so the Southeast Asian country particularly suits Shikoku Welding and its broad goal to contribute to society with its products by providing solutions in developing countries.

Welding has traditionally been a male-dominated industry, but Shi­koku Welding is working to address this imbalance especially in the face of Japan’s aging population. Mr. Murakami says: “I’ve held meetings to discuss bringing in more women to our staff, asking what kind of a working environment would be best for them to feel comfortable and to work most efficiently.”

This commitment to ensuring safe working conditions extends to Shikoku Welding acting as a trading company that purchases PPE, including specialized masks for welding. Through its fusion of inno­vation, quality and diversity, Shikoku Welding aims to continue making a positive impact as it expands.