ShinMaywa Aircraft Industries, Ltd.
ShinMaywa is the prime manufacturer of the world's only amphibian aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water in the open sea. The US-1A and US-2 STOL Search and Rescue Amphibians are currently being used by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, and are demonstrating their remarkable capabilities in transport of emergency patients from outlying islands and rescue of victims of disasters at sea. ShinMaywa takes full advantage of the sophisticated technical know-how acquired through development of flying boat in developing and manufacturing components for overseas manufacturers of civil aircraft. The "US-2" is our new STOL search and rescue amphibian (amphibious aircraft) with significantly improved performance over its successor "US-1A," which has a proven history of saving many lives. Efforts are under way to expand the scope of operations of the US-2.
ShinMaywa was involved in the production of commercial aircraft products for the first time in a project to develop the Boeing 767. After commencing production of some components for the aircraft body in 1979, we have since successfully taken orders from leading aircraft manufacturers, delivering wing-to-body fairings for Boeing 777 and fillet fairings for Airbus A380. Creating "strong" and "light-weight" composite materials, our proprietary processing techniques enjoy the high confidence of aircraft manufacturers. For a project to develop the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, it was responsible for the development and production of main wing spars. ShinMaywa was involved in the project to develop and produce Boeing 777. In 1992 the company began producing wing-to-body fairings, which cover the joint between the wing and the fuselage. This component uses a composite material that chiefly combines carbon fiber and glass fiber with epoxy resin, and its processing technology is highly acclaimed. Our wing-to-body fairings are now used in every one of these models flying the skies all around the world. In December 2011, ShinMaywa shipped the component for 1,000th Boeing 777.
ShinMaywa's origins as a manufacturer can be found in aircraft production technologies, which date back to the foundation of the former entity Kawanishi Aircraft Company Limited. ShinMaywa originated from Japan's first aircraft manufacturer. However, the turning point in the business came with the ban on manufacturing aircraft after the war. Cherishing the sincere hope that "someday we will make aircraft again," the company began to diversify business for the sake of survival. After making a fresh start as Shin Meiwa Industry Company Limited (later renamed as ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd.), the company has tapped into manufacturing prowess amassed through aircraft production to develop products that meet the demands of the times in an ever-expanding business field. With an "engineering spirit" brought into full play in businesses other than aircraft manufacturing, ShinMaywa has grown in parallel with various developments in the society, developing products that would eventually lay the foundation for current mainstay businesses.
Japan's first aircraft manufacturer, Nippon Aircraft Manufacturing Company was founded in May 1918 by Seibe Kawanishi, the founder of Kawanishi Aircraft Company Limited, and Chikuhei Nakajima, the founder of Nakajima Aircraft Co., Ltd. (now Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.). This company was dissolved in February 1920, but Seibe later founded Kawanishi Machinery Company, appointing his second son Ryozo as its top manager. In response to young engineers' ardent zeal for "another chance to manufacture aircraft," Kawanishi established an Aircraft Department within the company a few years later, setting about the independent design and manufacture of aircraft.
In June 1923 Kawanishi then established a commercial aviation company, the third of its kind in Japan, rendering service to the private air transportation business of the country for the six years until he transferred airline routes to Japan Air Transport Co., Ltd. in line with national policy. Being fascinated by the aircraft business, in November 1928 Ryozo established Kawanishi Aircraft Company by takin over the Aircraft Department business of Kawanishi Machinery Company. His new company produced a series of aircraft that have become legendary in aviation history.
During World War II company products included the Kawanishi H6K5 Navy Type 97 flying boat, code-named Mavis, and the Kawanishi Type 2 (H8K) flying boat. The Kawanishi H6K Mavis appeared in January 1938 to serve as a long-range maritime reconnaissance bomber with a maximum speed of 529 Km/h (329-mph) and an endurance of 26 hours. Lack of armor protection and self-sealing fuel tanks made them extremely vulnerable to Allied fighters. Nevertheless, in reconnaissance or transport roles they proved to be very effective and remained in service until the end of the war. The limitations of the H8K caused the Imperial Japanese Navy to issue specifications for a new flying boat with a maximum speed of 276 mph and amaximum range of 5,182 miles, superior to US and British seaplanes. In response, Kawanishi developed the H8K, which also had four engines, but partially self-sealing tanks, a carbon dioxide fire-extinguishing system, a 20mm cannon, and five machine guns. The first flight was made in January 1941 and a total of 167 planes were eventually produced. The H8K is remembered in Japanese aviation history as its best and largest flying boat.
The N1K2-Ja Shiden Kai (Japanese for "Violet Lightning--Improved") was the best fighter used in significant numbers by the Japanese Navy during World War II. Known by the Allies as the "George," this maneuverable, heavily-armed fighter was a formidable opponent in the closing months of the war. The Shiden Kai was considerably better than the Japanese Navy's most common fighter, the A6M Zero. Unlike the A6M Zero, the Shiden Kai could compete against the best late-war U.S. Navy and U.S. Army Air Forces fighters. The N1K2-Ja was developed to counter high-flying B-29s. It first entered combat early in 1945, and over 400 were produced before the war ended.
Despite the total ban on aircraft manufacturing, Kawanishi did not give up hope. In February of the following year, he launched a new organization in order to clarify the objectives of his converted business. Tapping into the technology and skills acquired from aircraft manufacturing, the company began manufacturing daily commodities, etc. in the hopes of alleviating the shortage of goods and foods. Shin Meiwa Industry Company Limited (later renamed as ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd.) was established. Based on President Ryozo Kawanishi's guiding mottos (strenuous devotion, harmonious cooperation, service to the country through technology), the new company started up a series of successful new businesses with a focus on "wa (harmony)." As the scope of its business expanded to include the development of social infrastructures, ShinMaywa established three key businesses of special purpose trucks, industrial machinery, and aircraft during the years of rapid economic growth.
In May 1960 it became a member of the Hitachi Group in order to build a solid business foundation with an eye on full-fledged entry into the aircraft business. In February 1962 Toshio Itoh became the 2nd president. True to his words, "Management is courage," Itoh decided in September of the following year to divest the motorbike business, which enjoyed a high market penetration but remained unprofitable. Meanwhile, he established a new factory and expanded a sales office network, exploring new opportunities for future developments.
In January 1966 the Defense Agency (now Ministry of Defense) placed an official order for the first PX-S flying boat prototype. The prototype made its first flight in the following year. In December 2003 came the first flight of the prototype of US-1A Kai (renamed to US-2).
In May 2004 the company became independent from the Hitachi Group.
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