【Background of the Exhibition】
Kawamura Kikai Co., Ltd. exhibited at SAMPE JAPAN, held at Tokyo Big Sight.
This exhibition focuses on advanced materials and brings together composite materials, new materials, processing technologies, and environmentally conscious solutions. During the event, the booth attracted strong interest from professionals in design, development, manufacturing technology, and research fields.

【CFRTP Molding Technology That Drew Attention】
At the booth, prototype composite products made from carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTP) were showcased.

CFRTP has gained attention for:
Combining lightweight properties with high rigidity
Allowing reheating and re-forming
Enabling recyclability

Its ability to balance environmental considerations with mass production potential was highly evaluated. Many visitors approached the booth with concrete application ideas in mind.

【Demonstrating Practicality Through Prototypes】
Rather than presenting CFRTP merely as a material sample, the exhibit featured prototypes shaped to resemble actual end-use products.

This approach helped spark discussions about:
Design-stage challenges
Replacing metal components
Mechanical strength and surface appearance

By presenting CFRTP molding as a technology suitable for both prototyping and mass production, visitors were able to recognize it as a realistic and practical option.

【Interest in Molding Methods and Material Selection】
Explanations were also provided regarding the differences between hot press and cold press molding methods, as well as material selection strategies based on application requirements.

Visitors showed particular interest in how resin systems and intermediate materials can be selected according to:
Heat resistance
Appearance requirements
Cost considerations
Weight reduction goals

There was strong demand for consultation beginning from the early design stage.

【Comparison with Metal Press Processing】
Drawing on many years of experience in metal press processing, the company also discussed how to differentiate between metal components and CFRTP molded parts, especially in lightweighting projects.
Clear explanations of the advantages and considerations compared to metal processing helped visitors view CFRTP molding as a viable alternative during the conceptual planning phase.

【Insights Gained from the Exhibition】
Through participation in SAMPE JAPAN, it became clear that CFRTP molding technology is transitioning from the research stage to practical and mass-production consideration.
Amid growing societal demands for lightweight solutions and environmental responsibility, consultations directly connected to real product development are steadily increasing.

【Future Initiatives】
Based on feedback and challenges identified during the exhibition, the company plans to:
Propose prototypes closer to final product specifications
Develop application-specific molding technology proposals
Strengthen technical support from material selection to prototyping and mass production launch

By providing practical, field-oriented engineering support, the company will continue advancing the real-world implementation of CFRTP molding technology.