2020.05.28
EBARA CORPORATION
EBARA Corporation (EBARA) Group’s EBARA Environmental Plant Co., Ltd.（EBARA Environmental Plant）has entered into a Capital and Business Agreement with HiBot Corporation, underwriting the third-party allocation of HiBot’s shares.
1. Background
EBARA, based on its mid-term management plan “E-Plan2022”, aims at creating new businesses and strengthening existing businesses by searching needs of society from the market-in perspective, in order to provide our customers with solutions utilizing EBARA’s technologies. In terms of creating new businesses, we are proactively considering means such as tie-ups, investment, acquisitions with research institutions and other companies including joint ventures.
2. Overview of Business Agreement with HiBot
HiBot owns cutting-edge technologies related to small-sized robots that can travel through narrow and tight spaces. EBARA Environmental Plant and Hibot jointly developed a small size travel robot “SQUID” equipped with a water-immersion ultrasonic sensor (flaw detector). When SQUID is maneuvered to enter the inspection hole of heading piping of boiler water pipes, and after travelling to the water pipe to be measured, it inserts the sensor into the water pipe to automatically and continuously measure the thickness of the pipe from inside.
In December 2020, our joint team was successful in the proving test of measuring boiler water pipe thickness. This will eliminate preparatory work of cutting part of the boiler water pipe, shortening required working time and reducing material and equipment, which will lead to both improving safety of workers and reducing wastes.
SQUID：Exterior of the small-sized traveling robot for automatic continuous measurements of boiler
In light of this success, we will work on efficiency of inspection and measurement works utilizing SQUID in the area of inspection/maintenance management business of boiler water pipes, inspection services such as highly accurate life expectancy diagnostics using captured data, and “RaaS” (Robot as a Service).
3. Future plan
EBARA Environmental Plant, taking advantage of our rich experience in delivering more than 400 solid waste process facilities inside and outside of Japan, aspires to operate social infrastructure facilities that are safer, more secure and assuring and contributes to a sustainable society.
The EBARA Group will achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and further enhance the corporate value through tackling the ESG materiality in accordance with our long term vision and medium term business plan.
Achieving higher level economic productivity through creative innovations
Contributing to building infrastructure that is high quality and reliable as well as sustainable and robust
Promoting firmly effective partnerships based on our resource strategy
Chinese version available / 中文版