Enhancing Industry Presence with “Low-Carbon Aluminum” for a Circular Society

Yamaichi Metal was highlighted in the special feature “Creative Companies Opening the Door to the Next Generation” in the March issue of the Shizuoka Economic Research Institute’s “Monthly Report” (published on March 1, 2022). The article discusses not only our high-quality, low-cost, and eco-friendly “Yamaichi Tablets” produced using our unique “roasting technology” but also our social contributions towards decarbonization and our commitment to future generations, employees, and the community.

Expanding Business Through Aluminum Can Recycling

Yamaichi Metal started as a non-metal wholesaler in 1953. The aluminum can recycling business began in 1985 when the current president, Toshikazu Oga, took over the company. By upgrading facilities and improving technology, we achieved a production capacity of 4,000 tons of recycled aluminum cans per month by 2015.

Simultaneously, we built strong relationships with aluminum can suppliers, establishing a stable procurement system for 3 billion aluminum cans annually from non-metal wholesalers nationwide, from Hokkaido to Okinawa.

Capitalizing on the Trend of Decarbonization with Our Unique Roasting Technology

Our proprietary technology for roasting and compressing pellets into tablets has significantly streamlined the manufacturing process, reducing electricity consumption to about 10% compared to conventional recycled aluminum. This reduction means our process uses only 0.4% of the energy compared to producing new aluminum from bauxite.

The substantially lower power consumption helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which are a major cause of global warming. We are leveraging the trend towards decarbonization by promoting the energy efficiency and low-carbon nature of our products to develop new business relationships.

Contributions to the Environment, Employees, and Community for the Next Generation

Yamaichi Metal is committed to three key initiatives for the future: “Environmental Contribution,” “Fostering Employee Job Satisfaction,” and “Connecting with the Community.” We aim to enhance our corporate value while preserving the recycling technology and business foundation we have built so far.