NEC collaborates with Ishizaka Sangyo to realize smart plants – Cross-industry collaboration centered on local 5G promotes digitalization of resource recycling and SDGs –

NEC Corporation
Ishizaka Sangyo Co., Ltd.

NEC Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Takashi Niino; hereinafter referred to as “NEC”) has begun collaborating with Ishizaka Sangyo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Iruma-gun, Saitama Prefecture; President and CEO: Noriko Ishizaka; hereinafter referred to as “Ishizaka Sangyo”) to introduce the latest ICT and local 5G network technologies at Ishizaka Sangyo’s recycling plants, thereby promoting labor savings and safety and security.

In addition to Ishizaka Sangyo, a leading resource recycling company, Intel Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Suzuki Kunimasa; hereinafter referred to as Intel), which actively supports local 5G construction and AI implementation, will also participate in this initiative, promoting cross-industry collaboration and bringing together the know-how and technologies of each company to create new futuristic value.

The three companies will jointly conduct demonstration experiments and plan to gradually implement the system on a full scale from the second half of fiscal 2020 onwards.

【background】

Currently, labor shortages are a serious problem in waste disposal, and much of the work is done in dusty locations, making improving the working environment a challenge. This initiative will utilize ICT to automate and remotely control processing work, thereby reducing the number of workers at plants and creating an even safer and more secure working environment.

[Future plans]

As the first step in this collaboration, a demonstration experiment will begin in July 2020 to automatically measure the volume of waste brought in by truck. Currently, waste brought in is measured by a staff member using a tape measure, and disposal fees are determined based on the waste’s classification. However, this method has issues such as being a highly personal task and requiring staff to be stationed in each area.

Therefore, in this demonstration, we will use automatic volume estimation technology using a laser sensor to estimate volume quickly while maintaining a certain level of accuracy. In the future, we will combine this with video analysis of graded items to achieve remote and automated appraisal.

In addition, as part of the second and subsequent phases of initiatives, the three companies will jointly develop and consider ideas such as remote control and autonomous driving of heavy machinery for waste disposal work using local 5G, and video monitoring of plant processing.

[Role of each company]

NEC: Proposing and demonstrating the introduction of AI technology and remote/autonomous control technology, as well as the utilization of large amounts of data via local 5G.

Ishizaka Sangyo: Providing knowledge on waste treatment processes and providing a treatment plant for demonstration tests.

Intel: As part of “IJKK (Intel Japan KK) 1.0,” which is working to create new business opportunities that contribute to the realization of Society 5.0, Intel is providing various core technologies, including Intel® Xeon® processors, to support the construction of local 5G and the implementation of AI.

[Comments from each company]

NEC’s comment

Through this collaboration, NEC will contribute to Ishizaka Sangyo’s efforts to achieve the SDGs with the latest ICT, further promoting the SDGs. By proactively disclosing information about the various initiatives at the company’s plants, NEC will share the knowledge gained widely and contribute to the promotion of the SDGs across the industry, together with Ishizaka Sangyo and Intel. NEC will also accelerate the provision of “NEC Smart Connectivity,” which flexibly utilizes networks to intelligently connect the data needed by people and things, thereby creating new social value.

Takahiko Amie, Executive Officer, NEC Corporation

Comment from Ishizaka Sangyo

Ishizaka Sangyo believes that collaboration between different industries possessing innovative technologies will foster open innovation and accelerate the realization of the ultra-smart society “Society 5.0.” The industrial waste treatment industry faces a variety of challenges, including accidents and problems caused by plant facilities and heavy machinery, as well as chronic labor shortages. We hope that by introducing local 5G and utilizing the latest ICT technologies such as IoT and AI, we can resolve these issues and create an efficient, safe, and secure workplace. Furthermore, through this collaboration, we aim to create an advanced smart plant where employees can work comfortably and with fulfillment.

Noriko Ishizaka, Representative Director, Ishizaka Sangyo Co., Ltd.

*About Ishizaka Sangyo
Ishizaka Sangyo is a cutting-edge resource recycling company working to realize a circular economy, aiming for industrial waste disposal that does not produce waste, and achieving a waste reduction and recycling rate of 98%.The company also practices sustainable management, such as introducing the industry’s first zero-CO2 electric heavy machinery, reducing electricity consumption by using natural lighting at its plants, and promoting the Satoyama Project, which is rooted in the local community.The company attracts approximately 40,000 visitors a year to its factory, attracting attention from both Japan and overseas.

Intel’s comment

In this project, Intel will actively support the introduction of the latest ICT technologies utilizing local 5G, contributing to the promotion of SDGs, the circular economy, and the realization of Society 5.0. By combining support for virtual network construction on the latest Intel® Xeon® processors and Intel® RealSense™ technology with NEC’s image recognition technology, Intel will work with Ishizaka Sangyo and NEC to achieve safe, secure labor savings at industrial waste treatment and recycling plants.

Kunimasa Suzuki, President and CEO, Intel Corporation