Kimura Group Scales Up Aluminum Casting at New Shizuoka Facility

The site, which initiated operations this past February, specializes in prototype development and small-lot production. By utilizing a combination of V-Process vacuum molding and custom heat-treatment recipes, the plant allows manufacturers to validate designs for large-scale structural parts—including components with wall thicknesses as thin as 2mm—without the immediate expense of permanent tooling.

The facility houses specialized equipment, including low-pressure casting machines with 200kg and 400kg capacities and a large-scale T6 heat-treatment furnace. According to Kentaro Higaki, Executive Vice President of Kimura Foundry Co., Ltd., these capabilities enable the company to bridge the gap between rapid prototyping and production-level material quality. The group plans to further extend the plant’s utility by adding a dedicated production line for small-lot manufacturing using conventional patterns, streamlining the transition from the design phase to full-scale output.