Tile manufacturing was carried out at the head office factory in Owariasahi City, but production increased to the point where it could no longer be handled. Therefore, the production base was moved to the Kakino Factory in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture.

The first building was completed in 1984, and the second building in 1986.
At that time, production was planned for these two buildings, but due to insufficient production capacity compared to demand, additional factories had to be built.

“It seems there was a lot of momentum, with factories being built almost every year, and new employees quickly becoming factory managers.”

The more tiles they manufactured, the more they sold, and although the work was tough, it was very fulfilling.

“People who were there at the time say that they learned a lot from INAX (formerly Ina Seito), and the human relationships were very close and it was a good era.”

Then, in 1991, the fifth building was completed, but the rapid progress stopped with the collapse of the bubble economy.

Shinko Yogyou manufactures porcelain tiles using dry pressing, and it is said that only one or two other companies besides Shinko Yogyou and LIXIL can blend multiple raw materials in-house.

“It's a method of mixing raw materials in a dry state. You have to properly face and manage the clay, and there's also compatibility with the kiln. You can't produce high-quality products without paying attention to various points and controlling them.”

It seems there used to be many ceramic manufacturers that performed dry blending.
However, most of them entrusted the blending of raw materials to raw material manufacturers.

At Shinko Yogyou, everything from raw material blending to molding and firing is done in-house. Furthermore, maintenance of the kiln (furnace) for firing is also performed in-house.

“We have the experience and data on what state things will be in under what conditions, including blending ratios and firing methods. Therefore, we can determine what to do to create what we want, such as colors, dimensions, and designs.”

Kenta Tsuda, who became president in 2021, originally developed diesel engine parts at Denso.

Since he was involved in the development of core engine components, he was able to actively interact with engineers from automobile manufacturers and participate in many situations.

Later, when he was seconded to the labor union, he heard about Shinko Yogyou while talking with someone involved in ceramic-related development at Denso.

“I heard that Shinko Yogyou has better firing technology than Denso. I was surprised because Denso also prided itself on being able to make anything. But when I thought about it, even in engines, the combustion of internal combustion engines cannot actually be seen. I realized that to understand that state, the intuition of experienced and skilled craftsmen is necessary.”

Thus, Tsuda became interested in Shinko Yogyou.
After that, he researched Shinko Yogyou, visited the company several times to check the atmosphere, and also spoke with the current chairman, Yoshiaki Matsubara.

He decided to change jobs, considering Shinko Yogyou's manufacturing approach, his own interest in earthquake-resistant housing construction due to his experience with the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and the possibility of utilizing his development experience at Denso.

One of the products that showcases Shinko Yogyou's technology is the fine-split border tile. The coloring achieved through dry blending and the technique of splitting after molding are difficult for other companies to imitate.

With similarly shaped tiles made using molds, it is impossible to express the edges and discontinuous textures created by actual splitting.

“This tile was developed about 20 years ago, but I think only one or two other companies can do something similar even now.”

This is because this tile is packed with extensive knowledge and technology, including blending to achieve desired colors, the technique of splitting it into thin strips while it's still fragile after molding, and the know-how to fire and finish it.

“We also develop our own tile-splitting equipment. Our company has a culture of developing equipment and devices in-house. That is precisely what adds high value to our products and is a strength that other companies cannot imitate.”

Utilizing the advanced technology and extensive experience cultivated in tile manufacturing, we are also engaged in solution businesses such as contract processing and recycling.

“Firing is the process of creating new materials by causing chemical changes through heating raw materials. This technology can also be utilized in other companies' product development.”

For example, Shinko Yogyou's experience and technology are utilized to mass production materials developed through research.

“What works in small quantities is completely different when scaled up. The power to think through things that cannot be understood through simulation, such as how the furnace temperature rises, the quantity and arrangement of items placed inside, gases generated by heating, and air convection within the furnace, is necessary until the goal is reached.”

This is the power that Shinko Yogyou possesses precisely because it has continuously faced materials, technology, and kilns.

Therefore, companies that want support in creating new materials or those that want to proceed to the mass production stage while avoiding the risk of capital investment request Shinko Yogyou's services.

Shinko Yogyou's sales breakdown is approximately 7:3 for the tile business and non-tile businesses. Tsuda aims to shift this ratio to around 5:5.

“It doesn't simply mean reducing the tile business. In fact, we are actively introducing new technologies such as DX and inkjet into the tile business.” This is because both the tile business and contract processing business are essential dual engines for Shinko Yogyou.

“Supporting customers in creating what they want is a socially valuable business that accelerates innovation in society. Experience in the tile business is indispensable for this.”

Solution business is possible precisely because we have the technology and experience in tile manufacturing and mass production. By feeding back ideas and challenges born from solution business into tile manufacturing, we further enhance our technology and experience.

Tsuda aims for further growth, with tile manufacturing and solution business as dual engines.