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Toray Industries Inc. (Tokyo, Japan) was one of three joint recipients to receive a Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award in the “Electricity” category for Japan’s sixth Infrastructure Maintenance Awards. Recognition goes to the development of a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) technique employing in-situ vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) technology. Toray, Tokyo Electric Power Grid Inc. (Japan) and Yasuda Seisakusho Co. Ltd. (Tokoyo) used the technique to repair steel pipe corrosion on transmission towers.

The innovation eliminates the need for special jigs and methods in replacement work by reinforcing pitted and corroded pipes, thus also reducing lead times for strength assessments and cutting construction costs.  Another key factor in receiving this award was the broad social benefits that could accrue from applying this technology to steel-framed buildings and other structures.

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The patented in-situ VARTM technology entails placing carbon fiber sheets — Torayca carbon fiber fabric — on a steel structure requiring repair. A film is applied over the composite sheets, and a pump is used to create a vacuum to injection and cure the epoxy resin.  

Applications to date for this technology include transmission towers in Japan and floating production storage and offloading facilities overseas. Work is underway to extend applications to repair and reinforce steel bridges, steel-framed buildings and other structures. 

The Infrastructure Maintenance Awards recognize outstanding initiatives and technology developments related to social infrastructure maintenance in Japan at facilities under the jurisdiction of a range of government bodies — the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications; the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare; the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; and the Ministry of Defense. Experts from a range of fields screen candidates for the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award, the Special Award and the Award for Excellence.

The event was debuted in 2016 to foster Japan’s maintenance sector and recognize best practices among businesses, organizations, researchers in that field.