Reserch & Development Organization

Engineering Development Center

Film T-die shape optimization using thermo-fluid analysis
Flow analysis utilizing CAE technology plays a key role in optimizing cap design.

The Engineering Development Center develops core engineering technologies for use in production facilities, such as equipment to manufacture high-performance film, CFRP, and LCD color filters. Toray employs these technologies in such equipment as coaters, detectors, CAE software, precision caps and dies, and medical devices. Such technologies are also used at other Toray Group companies.
The Center has three development laboratories that are engaged in developing production equipment and technologies.
Fundamental technologies are developed and improved upon at the labs to enable timely, steady development. These include key technologies in: mechanical design, high-speed rotating object analysis, mechatronics, plastic molding 3D design, thermo-fluid analysis,

structural analysis, winding, wet coating, vapor deposition, plasma processing, micro-machining, instrumentation and control, image processing, electrostatic control, and other areas. Recently the Center has been focusing on "green innovation" - environmental, energy-saving development to help deal with environmental issues.

We are currently working on fundamental technology research and applied technology development, along with the development of production processes related primarily to engineering, CAE, instrumentation and control, image processing, and surface processing, as listed below.

1.R&D on original machinery, equipment, and production technologies for in-house manufacturing processes

Examples include: equipment to produce synthetic fibers, films, carbon fibers, other composite materials, LCD color filters, medical devices, water treatment membrane modules, etc.

2.Enhancement of CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) technologies and R&D on applied technologies

Examples include: CAE to design plastic resins and CFRP, CAE to design processes and production equipment, etc.

3.R&D on the instrumentation, inspection and control technologies, and electrostatic and surface processing technologies needed for in-house production processes

The development of instrumentation and inspection equipment for films, carbon fibers, LCD color filters, etc. and R&D on technologies for inspection and image processing, instrumentation and control, electrostatic and surface processing, etc.

Car hood impact analysis
CAE structural analysis technology enables the design of automotive parts using Toray's composite materials.
Development of the artificial kidney module
Toray uses blood and dialysate flow analysis to design artificial kidney modules. We have also developed production equipment based on advanced automation technologies to assemble the modules.

Nanoimprint Equipment

The center has developed thermal nano-imprint equipment for forming nano-pattern on film continuously, commercialized by Toray Engineering.

LCD Color Filter Coating Equipment
The center has developed extremely fast, uniform paste coating technology for very large glass substrates, commercialized as coating equipment for LCD panels.
Moth eye structure on film
Examples of nanoimprinted patterns