Yahagi Industries’ Manufacturing

Mifune Plant

87 Saruhara, Mifune-cho, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture 470-0371

The Mifune plant has been in operation since 1977 and produces bodies and parts for prototype cars. Work progresses from the south side of the plant (molds/NC) to the north side (laser processing), and the manufactured items are transported to the Fujioka plant for assembly. A major feature of the Mifune plant is that body modification and new and old work is carried out by hand. Other features include large machines such as a 1500t press machine and gantry type MC.

Laser Processing

Press

Precision Machinery Body Modification

Jig

Mold / NC Processing

General Manager, 2nd Manufacturing Department
Miki Hasegawa

The Mifune plant, like the Fujioka plane, specializes in prototyping. The plant is divided into roughly three sections: the Technology Section, the Industrial Machinery Section, and the Parts Section. The Technology Section prepares for production by organizing materials, molds, and jigs, and the Machinery Section then makes the molds and jigs. Once the molds are completed, they are pressed to form the products. The parts section is in charge of trimming and punching the parts to give them the proper shape. After that, the final processes take place in Fujioka. The Mifune plant has been in operation for about 50 years. Each department undertakes interesting tasks, such as combining different engines with bodies on the market in body modification, while using old-fashioned machines and huge machines that are rarely found anywhere else. When a new car model is launched, there is a unique sense of tension as we discover the cars’ quirks and the precision required. That is why I feel relief and excitement when I finally meet the finished car a few years later.

For mold/NC processing, we use a gantry-type MC (machining center) to read data and create molds.

Jig Production. Measurements are taken from all angles to improve accuracy and meet design specifications.

Precision Machinery
Since the T/C (Turning Center) processes extremely precise machining within the engine, the temperature and humidity of the work room itself is controlled.

In body modification, we create the body and parts according to the request before and after delivery.

Three types of press machine from 600t to 1500t are always available. We manufacture parts such as inner door sections used in small lot regular production.

The laser processing machine introduced the year before last has doubled the speed. The data is read into the laser processing machine, and all cutting and processing is done by robot.

Supervision. Checking the ease of movement and design of the finished jig. Further checks are made whenever a revised version is released.

Management team and design P team. The P team designs the press molds.

Design W team. W stands for Welding (integration of metal etc.). Responsible for designing jigs and equipment.