From Noto, linking critical minerals
with Japanese engineering.
Built on decades of large-machine manufacturing, we work on a stable supply of critical minerals, power equipment, timber construction and energy. While rebuilding our head-office factory, destroyed in the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, we connect industry in Japan and the world.
Photo: large lathe made by Froriep (Germany), owned by HIMECHIMEC today: four key points
A Noto manufacturer whose head-office factory was destroyed by the earthquake is rebuilding through national projects and international partnerships.
75 of 234
In progressSelected for a feasibility study (FS) by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). We are studying how to deliver tantalum and niobium from the DR Congo to Japan reliably.
approx. ¥1.36 billion
Grants approved Factory plannedFour national and prefectural grants approved. A new factory will be built at Wakabadai, Shika Town (Noto Chukaku Industrial Park).
20+ years
Track record (CEO's previous roles)In his previous roles, our CEO manufactured large machinery for Hitachi Power Solutions, a relationship of more than 20 years. We apply that experience to cables and transformers.
Wood and power, made locally
Wood dehydrators, the BOAZ and Tate-log building systems, hydrogen energy, and lithium titanate (LTO) batteries.
Not restoration, but creation.
The Noto Peninsula Earthquake of January 2024 destroyed our head-office factory. Even so, our aim is not "restoration" to the way things were, but "creation" of new value that only Noto can offer.
Building on some 40 years of large-machine manufacturing, we will bring critical minerals from the DR Congo to Japan through ethical and transparent routes, develop refining skills in Noto, and train people.
Photo: Hidaka in his yellow jacket (No.322)
Noto-ze: the yardstick for every project
Building an Ishikawa where industry and culture thrive together and young people can picture their future.
"Ze" means the basic standard we return to when in doubt. We judge every project by one yardstick: does it help create Noto's future?
Four business areas
Large industrial machinery and power equipment
Retrofitting of machine tools and engineering of large machinery and plant. Drawing on experience with Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Cable, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and others Track record (CEO's previous roles), we are proposing the manufacture of transformer components to power utilities Planned.
In 2023, at a test mining site in Sierra Leone, we tested a high-pressure pump unit for breaking up hard-to-dissolve soil clods Field test.
Owned: Froriep (Germany) 50-shaku large lathe Owned
HIMEC purchased this large lathe, made by Froriep of Germany, from Hitachi, Ltd., where it was used to machine turbine rotors. In 2001 it was retrofitted with hydrostatic spindle bearings, a new tool post and saddle, and an updated CNC system. It can machine long, heavy shafts.
| Max. distance between centers | 12,000 mm |
|---|---|
| Swing over carriage | 2,200 mm |
| Faceplate diameter | 2,200 mm |
| Max. load | 60 t (two steady rests) |
| Spindle speed | 0.3–80 rpm |
| Spindle drive | DC 60 kW |
| CNC | FANUC 15-TB |
| History | Used by Hitachi, Ltd. → purchased by HIMEC |
| Spindle bearings | Hydrostatic (radial and thrust) |
| Machining accuracy (OD runout) | 0.005 mm (0.014 mm before retrofit) |
Source: Froriep 50-shaku lathe operating manual (July 2001) and post-retrofit accuracy inspection data. The 2,500 mm swing on the plate is the swing over the bed; the table gives the swing over the carriage.
A separate booklet with full specifications is in preparation.
Critical minerals (DR Congo)
Japan is short of about 314 tonnes of tantalum each year, and about 52% of world mining output comes from the DR Congo. We have signed a five-party non-disclosure agreement with four partner companies Done, and under METI's FS program we are checking quality, traceability, logistics and economics with actual samples In progress.
Energy
Our main battery is the lithium titanate (LTO) battery, which offers long life, fast charging, high safety and good low-temperature performance Planned. With Mitsubishi Kakoki we are advancing a plan to build hydrogen infrastructure on the Noto Peninsula Planned.
New factory in Noto
With the Nariwai reconstruction grant, we will build a new factory at 40-4 Wakabadai, Shika Town (Noto Chukaku Industrial Park, site area 7,311 m²) Planned. It will make and test large machines and parts, produce wood products, host trainees, and receive minerals and copper materials from the DR Congo.
Location: 40-4 Wakabadai, Shika Town (Noto Chukaku Industrial Park)
On land already acquired in the industrial park (7,311 m²), we plan a wood-products building and a power-equipment building Planned.
| Building | Floor area |
|---|---|
| Wood products building | 1,296.00 m² |
| Power equipment building | 1,296.00 m² |
| Office building | 109.31 m² |
| Materials yard | 133.32 m² |
| Total | 2,834.63 m² |
Site area 7,311 m². Source: HIMEC business overview (July 2026), p.10.
Sierra Leone: field test at a test mining site
In 2023 we visited a test mining site in Sierra Leone, West Africa, and tested a unit that uses high-pressure pumps to break up hard-to-dissolve soil clods Field test. Photos and videos of the installation and the site.
Videos
Milestones
- Company founded Done
- Field test of a high-pressure clod-breaking unit at a test mining site in Sierra Leone Field test
- Head-office factory destroyed in the Noto Peninsula Earthquake
- Nariwai reconstruction grant (buildings) approved Done
- Memorandum of cooperation at TICAD9 (DRC Ministry of Vocational Training, HIMEC, mes) Done
- Attended the TIC General Assembly (South Africa) Done
- Nariwai reconstruction grant (equipment) approved Done
- MMR and mes send a letter of cooperation on the FS to METI Done
- Selected for METI's FS program (75 of 234 applications) Done
- Power of attorney from MMR for sales in Japan and the US Done
- FS grant approved Done
- Five-party non-disclosure agreement takes effect Done
- FS interim report In progress
Grants approved
| Program | Approved | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nariwai reconstruction (buildings) | 25 Mar 2025 | ¥728 million |
| Nariwai reconstruction (equipment) | 10 Oct 2025 | ¥539 million |
| Business restart support | 25 Dec 2025 | ¥3 million |
| FS program (METI) | 3 Apr 2026 | ¥90 million |
| Total | approx. ¥1.36 billion |
All grants are paid after the project is completed.
HIMEC in pictures
Blog "Noto Genjin"
The diary of CEO Akihiro Hidaka: thoughts from the field, people he meets, and Noto today (in Japanese).
Downloads
Key documents. All documents are in the Library.
HIMEC
NOTO Lab: Kou-150, Zitou-machi, Togi, Shika-machi, Hakui-gun, Ishikawa 925-0446, Japan
E-mail hidaka@himec.co.jp
https://himec.co.jp/