HI-Mecha Corporation

HI-Mecha Corporation (ハイメカ株式会社) is a Japanese manufacturer of custom-designed automated production and inspection equipment, headquartered in Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture. The company develops, manufactures and sells production machinery for industrial electronic components, semiconductors, secondary batteries and medical products, and is best known as a leading brand in tantalum capacitor manufacturing equipment. Its core technologies are dissimilar-metal resistance welding, high-speed conveyance and precision positioning, complemented by a patented weld-penetration control technology. The company traces its origins to 1970, when Hi-Mechanic Kogyo Co., Ltd. was established in Yamagata City with capital of 10 million yen. In 1972 its manufacturing division was spun off as Hi-Mecha Koki Co., Ltd. (the present HI-Mecha Corporation) in Yonezawa, and this 1972 founding is the date the company now celebrates. It began by developing tab-terminal welding machines for aluminium electrolytic capacitors, and over five decades built a portfolio of more than 600 equipment models delivered on a fully custom, made-to-order basis. HI-Mecha's product lines include semiconductor manufacturing equipment (notably final-stage inspection and taping machines), capacitor manufacturing equipment (tantalum, aluminium electrolytic and multilayer aluminium capacitors), lithium-ion battery and resin assembly machines, and welding power supplies. The company handles design, parts machining, electrical assembly and final assembly in-house, which it presents as a way to protect customers' confidential information and to respond flexibly to requirements. It markets itself as a full-order-made (フルオーダーメイド) equipment partner covering everything from design to installation and start-up. While rooted in Yonezawa, the company has extended its reach internationally, establishing a Korean subsidiary in 1994, opening offices in Chongqing and Chengdu in China in 1992, and founding Qingdao Hi-Mecha Machinery Co., Ltd. in China in 2011. It has received recognition including selection in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's 2006 list of 300 vibrant small and medium-sized manufacturing companies supporting Japan's future, and Yamagata Prefecture's Industrial Award in 2001. The company marked its 50th anniversary in July 2022 and states an ambition to become a "100-year company," guided by its management philosophy of "Creation of Harmony."

HI-Mecha Corporation's history begins in 1970, when Hi-Mechanic Kogyo Co., Ltd. (ハイメカニック工業株式会社) was established in Nakasakurata, Yamagata City, with capital of 10 million yen. In 1972 the manufacturing division was spun off and incorporated as Hi-Mecha Koki Co., Ltd. (株式会社ハイメカ工機) in Marunouchi, Yonezawa City, with capital of 5 million yen; this is the founding date the company now commemorates. Capital was increased to 8 million yen in 1973 with a factory expansion, and to 20 million yen in 1980, the year the tantalum capacitor welding machine series was completed. In 1981 the company completed a new head office in the present Kubota Industrial Park and relocated there entirely, expanding machinery and production capacity. A chip tantalum capacitor production line was developed in 1983, capital rose to 40 million yen in 1985 with an assembly plant extension, and in 1986 an in-house kitchen and employee cafeteria were established. In 1988 the Hi-Mechanic Human College (now the Hi-Mecha Training Center) was completed in Nanyo City, and in 1989 the company began accepting technical trainees from China and developed the HIC series of chip tantalum capacitors. In 1991, marking its 20th anniversary, the company changed its name to Hi-Mecha Co., Ltd. (ハイメカ株式会社), received the Small and Medium Enterprise Research Center Award for the Hokkaido/Tohoku region, completed an extension of the head office assembly plant, opened the Kubota Clinic on its premises, and developed the Clean Spot high-performance welding power supply. In 1992 it accepted technical trainees from South Korea, opened representative offices in Chongqing and Chengdu, and began a special study-abroad program with Southwest Normal University. A Korean subsidiary, Hi-Mecha Korea Co., Ltd., was established in 1994, and a tantalum capacitor forming and taping machine was developed. In 1997, its 25th anniversary, the company developed a new aluminium chip electrolytic capacitor production line. In 1998 it was certified as a comfortable workplace by the Yamagata Labour Standards Bureau, completed environmental improvements across all buildings, and developed a prismatic lithium-ion battery manufacturing system. ISO 9001 (1994 version) certification was obtained in 2000, along with the APC series multilayer aluminium capacitor assembly machine. In 2001 it received the Regional Revitalization Contribution Enterprise Award from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Yamagata Prefecture Industrial Award, and developed an aluminium V-chip capacitor assembly machine. ISO 9001:2000 certification followed in 2002. A battery business was established in 2003, with development of a large multilayer lithium-ion battery production line and a high-speed multi-purpose handler. In 2005 the company developed IC tag manufacturing equipment and a large-capacity automatic capacitor stacking machine. In 2006 it was selected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry among 300 vibrant small and medium-sized manufacturing companies supporting Japan's future, and developed a semiconductor wafer pick-and-taping machine. In 2007 it improved its machining plant environment, introduced new equipment, completed a multi-purpose ground, and developed LED inspection taping and marking appearance inspection machines. ISO 14001 certification was obtained in 2008, along with the Kira-yaka Industrial Award, a new Clean Spot welding power supply, and a laser peeling machine. In 2009 the company opened a Korean office and developed an LED map sorter and high-speed LED inspection taping machine. In 2010 it integrated ISO 14001 with ISO 9001, developed a new welding head, and accepted overseas interns from China through Yamagata University's MOT program. In 2011 it established Qingdao Hi-Mecha Machinery Co., Ltd. in China and developed an automatic soft capsule appearance inspection machine. Further overseas interns were accepted in 2012, and in 2013 the company marked its 40th anniversary. In 2014 it reorganized into a unit structure and developed a multi-wire welding machine. The company celebrated its 50th anniversary in July 2022 and continues to pursue its goal of becoming a "100-year company."

• 2010

  ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 integrated; new welding head developed.

• 2009

  Korean office opened; LED map sorter and high-speed LED inspection taping machine developed.

• 2008

  ISO 14001 certification; new Clean Spot welding power supply and laser peeling machine developed.

• 2007

  LED inspection taping machine and marking appearance inspection machine developed.

• 2006

  Selected among METI's 300 vibrant SME manufacturers; semiconductor wafer pick-and-taping machine developed.

• 2005

  IC tag manufacturing equipment and large-capacity automatic capacitor stacking machine developed.

• 2003

  Battery business established; large multilayer lithium-ion battery line and high-speed multi-purpose handler developed.

• 2002

  ISO 9001:2000 certification obtained.

• 2001

  Received Regional Revitalization Contribution Enterprise Award and Yamagata Prefecture Industrial Award.

• 2000

  ISO 9001:1994 certification; APC series multilayer aluminium capacitor assembly machine completed.

• 1998

  Certified as comfortable workplace; prismatic lithium-ion battery manufacturing system developed.

• 1997

  25th anniversary; new aluminium chip electrolytic capacitor production line developed.

• 1994

  Hi-Mechanic Korea Co., Ltd. established; tantalum capacitor forming/taping machine developed.

• 1992

  Opened representative offices in Chongqing and Chengdu; began study-abroad program with Southwest Normal University.

• 1991

  Renamed Hi-Mecha Co., Ltd.; developed Clean Spot welding power supply; received SME Research Center Award.

• 1989

  Began accepting technical trainees from China; developed HIC series chip tantalum capacitors.

• 1988

  Hi-Mechanic Human College (now Hi-Mecha Training Center) completed in Nanyo City.

• 1985

  Capital increased to 40 million yen; assembly plant extended.

• 1983

  Chip tantalum capacitor production line developed.

• 1981

  New head office completed in Kubota Industrial Park; full relocation.

• 1980

  Capital increased to 20 million yen; tantalum capacitor welding machine series completed.

• 1973

  Capital increased to 8 million yen; factory expanded.

• 1972

  Manufacturing division spun off as Hi-Mechanic Koki Co., Ltd. (present HI-Mecha Corporation) in Yonezawa.

• 1970

  Hi-Mechanic Kogyo Co., Ltd. established in Yamagata City with capital of 10 million yen.

Full-order-made (custom) equipment maker and top brand in tantalum capacitor manufacturing equipment, emphasizing in-house integrated production, confidentiality protection and 'beautiful equipment' design.

• Semiconductor manufacturing equipment

  Inspection and taping machines for the final semiconductor process, tailored to workpieces and inspection items.

• Capacitor manufacturing equipment

  Tantalum capacitor manufacturing equipment, aluminium electrolytic capacitor assembly machines and multilayer aluminium capacitor stacking/welding machines.

• Lithium-ion battery and resin assembly machines

  From manual units to fully automatic machines for lithium-ion battery production and resin assembly.

• Welding power supplies

  Resistance welding power supplies built on the company's dissimilar-metal welding core technology, including the Clean Spot series.

• FA equipment

  Factory automation equipment for various fields.

1. 1ハイメカ株式会社 公式サイトhi-mecha.co.jp
2. 2会社沿革 | ハイメカ株式会社hi-mecha.co.jp
3. 3会社情報 | ハイメカ株式会社hi-mecha.co.jp
4. 4ご挨拶 | ハイメカ株式会社hi-mecha.co.jp
5. 5HI-Mecha Corporation (Japan) - Wikidatawikidata.org