Manufacturers worldwide are facing the challenge of expanding production while reducing their environmental footprint. At Tungaloy Corporation, this challenge has shaped the company’s long-standing Think Green initiative, which focuses on concrete measures that reduce environmental impact and support sustainable industrial development.
Throughout 2025, Tungaloy strengthened this approach by increasing the use of renewable energy, introducing green hydrogen into its manufacturing processes, and reinforcing environmentally responsible product design through recognized certification systems. These actions reflect the company’s view that meaningful progress comes from sustained effort rather than minimum compliance.
Tungaloy achieved ISO 14001 certification for environmental management in 1997, becoming the first company in Japan’s cemented-carbide tool industry to do so. In 2024, the Iwaki Headquarters also obtained ISO 50001 certification for energy management, further integrating environmental care, energy efficiency, quality, and workplace safety into its operations.
Since 2022, the Nagoya Campus has operated using electricity sourced entirely from renewable energy. At the Iwaki Headquarters, solar panels installed in 2015 generate approximately 160 MWh per year, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 75 tons annually.
Additional measures within Tungaloy’s facilities have further lowered emissions. In 2023, the Iwaki site transitioned from kerosene to city gas, resulting in a 27% emissions reduction in 2024. The Nirasaki Campus has also introduced locally produced green hydrogen, cutting emissions by approximately 300 tons of CO₂ per year.
Together, these initiatives support Tungaloy’s targets of a 46% emissions reduction by 2030 (compared to 2013 levels) and carbon neutrality by 2050. In both 2024 and 2025, Tungaloy received the Environment Grand Prize from the Japan Cutting & Wear-Resistant Tool Association in recognition of its ongoing environmental efforts.
The company regards these awards not as competition, but as encouragement to continue working alongside others in the manufacturing industry toward shared environmental goals. All new Tungaloy products are assessed under the Environment-Conscious Products (ECP) Standard established by the Japan Cutting & Wear-Resistant Tool Association, Japan’s official framework for sustainable cutting tools.
Products are assessed using a 100-point evaluation system that balances performance and environmental responsibility. Up to 60 points are awarded for the product concept, while the remaining 40 points reflect the company’s environmental initiatives and management practices.
Based on the total score, products receive a certification rating: three stars for scores of 80 points or higher, two stars for scores between 60 and 79 points, one star for scores from 40 to 59 points, while products scoring below 40 points do not receive certification.
Several key product lines, including the DrillMeister and DrillForceMeister exchangeable-head drilling systems, the SH7025 PVD grade for high-precision small-part machining, and other solutions, have received two- and three-star certifications. These results highlight Tungaloy’s focus on combining machining performance with responsible design.
Since 2004, Tungaloy has maintained a landfill disposal rate of less than 1%, achieving its “Zero Emission” target. Packaging improvements have reduced plastic use by more than 1.8 tons per year, and a domestic collection program for used cemented-carbide tools supports the recovery and reuse of tungsten and other valuable materials. While incremental, these efforts contribute to a more efficient use of resources and a gradual shift toward circular manufacturing.
“Environmental responsibility and manufacturing progress must move forward together,” said Satoshi Kinoshita, President & CEO of Tungaloy Corporation. “Through our Think Green activities, we aim to support our customers, employees, and society, while ensuring that progress in manufacturing also benefits the environment and future generations.”
Tungaloy Corporation is a Japanese manufacturer of high-performance metal cutting tools and industrial products, founded in 1934 and headquartered in Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan. It was the first company in Japan to develop cemented carbide, and today it produces a wide range of carbide cutting tools, inserts, drills, end mills, wear-resistant tools, and civil engineering products used globally in automotive, aerospace, medical, construction, and heavy industries. Tungaloy is part of the International Metalworking Companies (IMC) Group, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, and invests heavily in research, development, and innovative machining solutions to enhance productivity and precision in manufacturing.
