In 2020, Kenta Osugi assumed the role of the third-generation president, marking a new beginning for Daimol. The company embodies a spirit passed down through generations and technologies acquired through new challenges.
Daimol was founded in 1948 as a sole proprietorship by Kenta's grandfather, Michio.
Michio's father was a shrine carpenter, and Michio worked in a factory after the war. He began manufacturing wooden patterns by combining the woodworking skills inherited from his father with industrial techniques he acquired himself.

"My grandfather was a craftsman who made wooden patterns by hand and had apprentices. Once the apprentices became proficient, they were given a share of the business and became independent."
In 1978, when Kenta's father, Tadao, took over as president, the company shifted from wooden patterns to dies/molds.
"My father was the type who stoically pursued precision in manufacturing."
To produce more accurate dies/molds, the company was the first in Hokuriku to introduce 3DCAD and 3DCAM. This enabled precise die/mold manufacturing and expanded the range of customers to include automotive-related industries and lost-wax casting.

Casting patterns include wooden patterns, dies/molds, and resin patterns, depending on the material, but dies/molds and resin patterns became the main focus. Kenta joined Daimol in 2014. Before that, he worked as a system engineer in Tokyo.
"My father told me to join the factory floor, but I thought it would be better to understand management if I were to take over the company, so I joined the accounting department. Now I handle sales, accounting, human resources, and other duties."
Daimol, which has evolved from wooden patterns to dies/molds, is currently focusing on manufacturing patterns using 3D printers.
The business has been passed down through generations, continuously incorporating new technologies and adapting.

One reason customers choose Daimol is its spirit of challenge.
As the company was passed down from Michio to Tadao and then to Kenta, each generation brought new vitality to the company. This culture is deeply ingrained in the employees.
"We have absolutely no hesitation in taking on challenges. For miscellaneous goods projects, we sometimes receive requests without drawings or to reproduce a design. Perhaps this culture was born from our willingness to try and take on such challenges!"

About 20 years ago, there was a consultation regarding turbine blades used in thermal power plants.
Turbine blades are made of Inconel, which is extremely hard and difficult to machine. The request was to machine them using an electrical discharge machine.
At the time, it was not yet known that machining Inconel with an electrical discharge machine was the best method. It was a completely unknown territory, but Daimol reportedly accepted the challenge, saying, "Theoretically, it's possible, so let's try it!"

Furthermore, taking on 3D printer processing was also a challenge. Initially, they thought 3D printers could process easily and without waste. However, upon processing, the accuracy was only about 5/10. For normal processing, it would be within 3/100. If the precision level differs by an order of magnitude, practical use is impossible. However, they did not give up and repeatedly experimented, managing to improve the precision to 5/100.

One of Daimol's major strengths is its high level of consultation skills.
The specifications for casting patterns vary subtly among different foundries. Even if a product is manufactured exactly as requested, vague improvement requests like 'it's not quite right' or 'it's a bit inconvenient to use' may sometimes arise.
In such cases, they thoroughly engage with the customer and carefully listen to understand how improvements should be made.

"Customers sometimes tell us, 'This is the first time we've encountered a pattern maker who listens so thoroughly.'"
The stance of carefully listening to customer feedback has reportedly remained unchanged since the company's founding.
"My grandfather was skilled at listening to customers and creating exactly what they truly wanted."
Even as the products and technologies have changed from wooden patterns to 3D printers, the attitude of listening has continued to be passed down from Michio like DNA.

There are also practices in place to preserve the culture passed down through generations.
One is to have on-site employees consider what kind of machinery to introduce for capital investment.
"My role is only to decide on capital investment; the selection of machinery is left to the employees. I want them to discover innovative equipment and consider what can be achieved with it."
This might be something Kenta can do precisely because he hasn't experienced the factory floor firsthand.

And another is education.
They are focusing on training in problem identification, problem-solving, project management, and communication.
"New challenges arise through communication with customers, and taking on challenges improves our technical capabilities. That's why it's important for customers to feel that they can consult with us."
The spirit of challenge and communication skills deeply rooted and inherited within Daimol are connected by a single thread.

Daimol has applied for a patent regarding the manufacturing of casting patterns using 3D printers.
"We applied for the patent to properly establish the technology and demonstrate it to other companies. We do not intend to collect patent fees."
This reflects Kenta's perspective as a former system engineer.
In the software world, there is a concept called 'open source.' Instead of keeping developed work secret, it is made public to allow many people to use it, thereby accelerating its spread and growth.
"I hope that by improving transparency, new ideas will emerge, efficiency will improve, and the entire casting industry will thrive."

And another dream is to build a platform connecting craftsmen and designers. This platform would match young product designers with ideas with craftsmen who possess technical skills but find it difficult to develop their own unique products.
"I believe the skills of Japanese craftsmen and their dedication to manufacturing are among the best in the world. If design is combined with that, I think the strongest products in the world can be created."
If new products can be created by combining refined skills from various fields, it might open a new path for Japanese manufacturing.