Nov 08, 2011 
Nihon Superior Co. Ltd., a supplier of advanced soldering materials to the global market, was honored to receive a visit by a delegation from the University of Queensland on October 7, 2011. Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Keniger was accompanied by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International) Anna Ciccarelli, Ph.D., Deputy Director Global Engagement, Michelle Allan, Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow, Mechanical and Mining Engineering Department, Dr. Kazuhiro Nogita and Business Development Officer, Global Engagement, UQ International, Darren Wise.
The president of Nihon Superior, Tetsuro Nishimura, welcomed Professor Keniger to a reception held at the company’s Toyonaka R&D Center. Both Nishimura and Professor Keniger expressed their appreciation of the relationship between their two organizations and acknowledged the important role played by Dr. Nogita in developing that relationship. While research conducted by Dr. Nogita and his team have contributed significantly to the understanding of Nihon Superior’s flagship lead-free solder alloy SN100C, it also has been recognized in academic and industrial circles around the world as making a major contribution to the field.
President Nishimura outlined the current business situation for Nihon Superior and explained his strategy for business growth. The general manager of the R&D Center, Takashi Nozu, described the work that is being undertaken in his laboratory and reviewed the outcome of collaborative research. He acknowledged that the collaboration with the University of Queensland has been one of the major reasons that Nihon Superior has received recognition such as the 2010 Intellectual Property Achievement Award from the Japanese Patent Office and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
During the reception, there was much discussion of opportunities for collaborative investment in research and the development of a business relationship. Mr. Nishimura said that, in his opinion, because of the trends in the global market, it is becoming increasingly important that his company extends its business in China and India, and continues to develop and protect intellectual property. In turn, Professor Keniger said that for the University of Queensland, relationships with countries such as India, Singapore and particularly Japan are important. Professor Keniger congratulated Nihon Superior on the various awards it has received and expressed the hope that an even closer relationship can be forged between their two organizations.
The delegation then moved to the adjacent Toyonaka manufacturing and logistics center where the staff explained its operation and demonstrated the equipment for chemical analysis and solder manufacture. Professor Keniger extended his greetings to the staff in Japanese and expressed great interest in the technology and the equipment, particularly the manufacturing of ultrafine solder wire. The delegation then moved to Nihon Superior’s headquarters in Suita City where they met with the chairman of Nihon Superior, Toshiro Nishimura.
This visit has served to strengthen the relationship between Nihon Superior and the University of Queensland, ensuring that the companies will continue to work together in R&D in the field of soldering technology for their mutual benefit and, importantly, for the benefit of the industry as a whole.
Nihon Superior was founded in 1966 when it began marketing unique flux products imported from the US. The company made its mark on society by gathering the most advanced soldering and brazing technologies and products from around the world, and supplying them to companies in the metal-joining industry. A turning point for the company came when it started developing its own soldering materials and with the success of its unique SN100C lead-free solder alloy Nihon Superior has become a major player in the global market. To support the growing demand for its products, Nihon Superior has established manufacturing and sales centers in Japan, China and other Asian countries, and the United States, and formed business partnerships with companies in other markets.
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