Rokubun Rubber Co., Ltd. will be exhibiting at "INTERPHEX Week Tokyo 2024." Location: Tokyo Big Sight, East Hall 1-8, Booth Number 16-20 We sincerely look forward to your visit.

Rokubun Rubber Co., Ltd. will be exhibiting at the "Disaster Prevention Industry Exhibition 2024." At this exhibition, we will showcase services and products related to the disaster prevention industry under the theme "Realizing a Resilient Society through Disaster Prevention and Mitigation." In addition to being held at Tokyo Big Sight West Hall from February 20 (Tuesday) to February 22 (Thursday), 2024, it will also be held online from February 14 (Wednesday) to February 29 (Thursday), 2024. We sincerely look forward to your visit.

Development of PIP Method Plugs In the pipe-in-pipe (PIP) method, a non-excavation renewal technique for aging existing pipes, there has been a recent demand for safety measures that involve double sealing using two valves instead of a single closure with one existing valve during pipe renewal work. The "PIP Plug Method" developed by Rokubishi Rubber enables double sealing (existing valve + closure plug) by installing a closure plug on the inner surface of the pipe, ensuring the safety of workers. ◆ Construction Achievements ◆ - Tokyo Waterworks Bureau, Wadahori Water Supply Station - Piping: Ductile cast iron pipe 1500A - Pressure resistance: 0.75MPa - Year of construction: July 2017 - Achieved sizes: 1000 to 1800A

Since the Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011, Rokubishi Rubber has been cooperating with the national project aimed at decommissioning the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. So far, we have been involved in the development of important airtight mechanisms, including the closure plug for the X-53 penetration, the gripping mechanism and airtight seal for the X-6 penetration connection, and the sealing mechanism for the isolation chamber within the stage, as part of the internal investigation of the reactor containment vessel (PCV). Recently, we delivered a sealed transfer container (double cover port container) to the project, which will be used for the development of retrieval technology aimed at experimentally extracting and analyzing fuel debris. In response to the unprecedented decommissioning work globally, Rokubishi Rubber will continue to take on challenges with our unique sealing technology.

The November 2022 issue of TIME magazine's Asia edition featured an interview with President Wada in its special issue "The Best Inventions of 2022." It is one thing for a company to know its principal product inside out. But it’s taking it to another level when you understand it so well that you can learn from its properties. Japanese firm Mutsubishi Rubber Co., Ltd. has been working with its titular material for one hundred years.

On November 11, 2022, Rokubun Rubber celebrated its 100th anniversary, and an interview with President Wada was published in the Japan Sewage Newspaper. Manufacturing and Human Development: A Century Ahead On November 11, 1922, we started our business in Kobe, supporting Japan's robust water supply and sewage systems through rubber products. Our technological capabilities are increasingly recognized as core technologies that contribute to one of the most important directions of Japan's infrastructure: resilience. We spoke with President Koji Wada about the company's 100-year journey, the beliefs in technology development and quality management cultivated throughout its history, and the aspirations for the future as we overcome numerous changes.

We exhibited at the Sewerage Exhibition '22 Tokyo (organized by the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, Japan Sewerage Association) held at Tokyo Big Sight from August 2 (Tuesday) to August 5 (Friday) for the first time in three years. The products we showcased are "flood prevention products" designed to protect important infrastructure facilities from water damage, contributing to disaster reduction and prevention measures as part of the national resilience plan in response to increasingly severe natural disasters. Thank you to all the customers who visited us.

In Virginia, United States, the construction of a road tunnel using a shield machine (outer diameter φ13.21m) is underway, marking the first of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic region of the country. The shield launch shaft for this project has adopted our "RIPP Type-A+C" two-stage entrance seal device. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT), which opened in 1964, is a combined road (U.S. Route 13) consisting of a bridge and tunnel that spans 17.6 miles across Chesapeake Bay. In 1999, the bridge was expanded to two lanes to alleviate traffic congestion and ensure the safety of passing vehicles. Approximately one mile of underwater tunnel is planned to be constructed using a shield machine by the contractor Dragados USA-JV (commissioned by the state of Virginia) as part of the two-lane expansion of the tunnel section.

We exhibited at Gastech 2022, held in Milan, Italy, from September 5 (Monday) to September 8 (Thursday). The products we showcased were the "Isolation Balloon Type-2" for tank safety valve replacement and maintenance, the "Hexaplug Type G" for welding piping flanges in oil plants, and the "Hexaplug Type F" for inspecting flange welds. Our booth welcomed over 120 companies and more than 200 visitors. Thank you for your attendance.

From July 13 to 15, we exhibited at the 24th Interphex Week Tokyo held at Tokyo Big Sight. We demonstrated the automated operation of the bandless airtight container system BLAT, developed in collaboration with JGC Corporation, using a robot. By using BLAT instead of a clamp band for opening and closing the lid of the airtight can, we can achieve labor-saving and automation. We would like to express our gratitude to the many visitors who came during the event. Additionally, we received numerous requests for news coverage this time. "Smart Kangaroo" realized by small airtight cans and robots - Automation of solid dosage form factories - Robot Start (robotstart.info) https://robotstart.info/2022/07/26/moriyama_mikata-no155.html For videos of BLAT, please visit the following: Video Library, Mitsubishi Rubber Co., Ltd. HEXA (mutsubishi.co.jp) https://www.mutsubishi.co.jp/movie-library/index.html

In Melbourne, Australia, a shield machine with a diameter of φ15.6m, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, manufactured by Herrenknecht, has begun tunnel excavation work. This project, commissioned by the Victorian Government and constructed by the CPB Contractors and John Holland joint venture (CPBJH-JV), known as the West Gate Tunnel Project, will serve as a crucial alternative transportation route to the West Gate Bridge over the Maribyrnong River, alleviating traffic congestion and changing the routes of thousands of trucks through residential areas, thus contributing to urban development. The first shield machine (Bella) launched in March 2022 and will take 18 months to excavate a 4km tunnel heading out of the city, expected to merge with the West Gate Freeway at North Altona. The second machine (Vida) launched in April of the same year and will excavate a 2.8km tunnel heading into the city over 12 months, set to merge with William Road west of the West Gate Freeway. The entrance seal device "RIPP type-A" has been adopted at the launch site of the shield machines, and the sealing performance at both launch sites was good during the start of the shield machines.

We have developed rubber materials (NBR) that comply with the MIL standards (United States Military Standard) established by the U.S. Department of Defense, using our own unique formulation. This standard pertains to the procurement of materials by the U.S. military, requiring high quality and high reliability that can withstand military specifications. We plan to supply rubber products to the U.S. aerospace industry in the future.

Hexa-Balloon is used as a sealing material to temporarily block pipes during valve replacement and maintenance work in various pipelines. There are also various lineups available depending on the application.

The Fukuoka City Water and Sewer Bureau has adopted the Hexa Gate Plug (hereinafter referred to as HGP) for the construction of the sewer system in the Fukuoka (Imaizumi 2-chome 2) outer area (Contractor: Ando Hazama). This project is part of the "Rainbow Plan Tenjin," a rainwater drainage facility development plan aimed at preventing flooding damage due to expected guerrilla rainstorms in the Tenjin area. The project involves the construction of a rainwater conduit, and this HGP is installed as a temporary wall within the existing Chubu No. 7 main line, where the inspec-through line (shield method) connects, protecting the shield arrival section from rainwater.

【HEXA TIMES】No.4 Since 1970, Rokuriko Rubber has been supplying special O-rings used in cylinder liners for marine diesel engines. When using rubber for gaskets and O-rings, the compression set is a very important characteristic, as a large strain rate can compromise sealing performance. The material MF2702 (fluoro rubber), produced with a special formulation, achieves excellent heat resistance and low compression set, contributing to the longevity of diesel engines. Regarding compression set characteristics, MF2702 has a remarkably excellent property of 4%, compared to the standard value of 40% specified in the old JIS B2401 Type D (heat-resistant O-rings).

In solid dosage form factories, airtight containers made mainly of stainless steel are used for transporting tablets. Traditionally, steel clamp bands have been used for the lids of these airtight containers, making automation of the process difficult. The BLAT (Band Less Air Tight), jointly developed with JGC Corporation, enables the automation of the lid opening and closing operations by combining a tube seal with the lid, thereby improving work efficiency.

【HEXA TIMES】No.2 The isolation balloon type 2, developed for isolation during the maintenance of LNG ship safety valves, has obtained certification from the five major classification societies: NK (Japan), ABS (United States), LR (United Kingdom), BV (France), and DNV (Norway and Germany). This product responds to the revision of the IGC Code, which requires "a means to temporarily isolate safety valves during maintenance," and has become an essential system for LNG vessels constructed after July 1, 2016. Additionally, by using this product, it is possible to reduce costs by eliminating the need for additional valves.

【HEXA TIMES】No.1 The Hexa Gate Plug (hereinafter referred to as HGP) has been adopted for the construction of the No. 3 rainwater discharge pipe of the Tachiaigawa main line ordered by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Sewerage (Contractor: Shimizu Corporation). In May 2021, this HGP was installed on the Hamagawa main line and is being used as a rainwater inflow prevention measure during the removal of the temporary wall at the connection point with the Second Samezu main line. Since the tunnel cross-section is not circular but has a special shape, a pressurized tube seal type was adopted for the water stop mechanism instead of the conventional rubber ring type (Hexa Plug type). Additionally, considering the safety of the workers, a highly operable watertight door has been installed. There have been several heavy rain events since the installation, but the sealing performance has been good, ensuring safety within the tunnel, and the construction has been completed successfully.