Message from the Head of Development
R&D Policy
Leveraging our proprietary technologies and development expertise, we are committed to addressing the evolving challenges of both society and our customers.
Message from the Head of Development
Our origins lie in the accumulation of technologies for processing and refining platinum group metals—particularly rare and technically demanding materials such as iridium (Ir) and ruthenium (Ru). Since our founding, we have aimed to become the leading company in iridium and ruthenium.
In research and development, we have advanced not only platinum group metal technologies but also processing, refining, and recycling capabilities for a broad range of materials. This evolution is driven by our mission to address uncertainties in the supply of rare materials and to stabilize the global supply chain.
Our R&D efforts focus on four key fields—electronics, semiconductors, environment, and energy—where we apply and extend our core technologies. To accelerate progress in these priority areas, we strategically allocate resources and investments to projects with the greatest potential impact.
To enhance our ability to solve challenges in these critical domains, we have established a tri-axial framework consisting of Materials, Thin Films, and Chemicals:
- Materials covers electronic components and sensor materials.
- Thin Films focuses on semiconductor materials and deposition technologies.
- Chemicals develops materials for environmental and energy applications.
By interlinking these three technological domains, we generate synergies that drive new innovations.
To foster such synergies, we actively promote a spirit of challenge, encouraging our teams to break free from conventional thinking and engage boldly with technological and societal issues.
These cross-domain synergies have recently led to innovations that control nano- and micro-scale structures through both wet and dry processing. These technologies enhance the performance of existing materials, reduce dependence on limited resources, and promote the development of alternative substances—helping to build a more sustainable industrial ecosystem.
At Furuya Metal, our guiding principle is: “Embrace infinite possibilities using foresight and creativity.”
Infinite possibilities represents technologies and materials free from preconceptions. Foresight signifies our commitment to addressing social challenges. Creativity reflects our ability to transform those challenges into solutions through innovation and action.
In today’s rapidly changing world, the timeline for solving social issues must be dramatically shortened. To achieve this, we do not rely solely on in-house technologies. Instead, we actively embrace external expertise through industry–academia–government collaboration, engaging in joint research and open innovation. By aligning these efforts with strategic coordination from our intellectual property division, we accelerate R&D and apply our technologies to address both social and customer-specific challenges.
Leveraging our strengths in refining, recovery, and resource-saving technologies for rare materials, combined with nano- and microstructure control technologies, we are developing advanced functional materials that form the foundation of the modern materials industry. Through these efforts, we aim to contribute to the ongoing transformation toward a more advanced digital society and a more sustainable green society.
Tomohiro Maruko
Director General Manager, Production and R&D Division