History and Achievements

History

1939	Our founder, Hirotsugu SAITO, established NIHON GENRYO for the purpose of manufacturing and selling sand to be used as glass materials
1940	Established plants in Takahagi -city and Isohara -town (in Kita-ibaraki -city at present) and also started conducting the collection and sale of glass materials and casting sand
1945	Started forming the basis of a company specializing in filter media under the guidance of the General Headquarters (GHQ) and related government offices
1950	Built a new factory and office in Kizugawa, Kyoto
1951	Established the Japan Filter Sand Laboratory to promote quality control and technical development based on the JWWA Standard set by the Japan Water Works Association. Appointed a member of the Hygiene Survey Commission of the Japan Water Works Association
1954	Invented a patented high-speed sand washing system and established a system for mass production thereof. Obtained a patent for a system to scrape away the surface sand of slow filters and more than 60 other patents and utility models.
1968	Our first company president Hirotsugu SAITO received the Medal of Merit from the Japan Water Works Association due to his contribution to the development of waterworks through efforts in inventing a sand sieving and washing system for filtration sand for water supply and conducting research on the improvements of filter media
1969	Our first company president Hirotsugu Saito received the Medal of Blue Ribbon from former Prime Minister Eisaku SATO for his contribution to the development of the industry
1970	Kin SAITO assumed the presidency
1982	President Kin SAITO received the Health and Welfare Minister’s Award for her long-term efforts for diffusion and development of water supply systems and remarkable achievements. Exporting 4 (four) “Fully Automatic Dust Scrapers” to Bangkhen Water Purification Plant of Bangkok Metropolitan in Thailand.
1985	Participated in the establishment of JWWA A-103-1988 (standard for the method of testing filter media for water supply) of the Japan Water Works Association as a member of the Specialized Committee on the Testing of Filter Sand for Water Supply System
1989	Death of the SHOWA EMPEROR. NIHON GENRYO dedicated white sand as paved sand in the funeral hall at the time of the state funeral of the emperor.

1995	Fully renovated the Takahagi Factory, and established a 24-hour fully-automated production system
1996	Awarded as a company that has made great contributions, on the occasion when the Japan Water Supply Industry Joint Association marked its 30th anniversary
1997	Yasuhiro SAITO assumed the presidency. Developed and made public the innovative sand washing system “SIPHON-type Filter Sand Washing System,” which was taken up by Nihon Keizai Shimbun and other mass media as a cutting-edge invention that had been unimaginable in the past.
1999	Established Japan Filter Sand Laboratory Co., ltd. as an independent corporation. Obtained ISO 9001 certification (we have already obtained ISO9002 certification; we have upgraded and transferred to the 2000 version and have expanded the scope of application) as the first company to obtain the certification in the sector of water treatment facility maintenance work including “filter rehabilitation work”. Marked the 60th anniversary of the company’s founding (Anniversary of the establishment: July 28th).
2000	Announced the development of the “SIPHON K3 SYSTEM”, which extends the cycle of rehabilitation work. Announced the development of the “Color Cutter G”, which is a filter media for color removal.
2002	Announced the development of the “SIPHON TANK”, which is a water treatment filtration system that does not require replacement of filter media. Received the “Regional Environmental Technology Prize of the 19th Kanagawa High-Tech. Grand-Prix” for the “SIPHON TANK”
2003	Received the “Award of Excellence in the Technology / Product Sector of the 15th SME New Technology / Product Award” for “SIPHON TANK” Received the “Incentive Award of the 8th Kanagawa Business Audition in 2003” for the “SIPHON TANK” Received the “Kawasaki Best Entrepreneur Award of the Kawasaki Entrepreneur Competition-Business Idea-Seed Market” for the “SIPHON TANK”
2004	Announced the development of the “Activated-Carbon SIPHON TANK”, which is an activated carbon absorption facility that can extend the life of activated carbon. Announced the development of the “HYPER TANK”, which is a filtration system for well water treatment. Certified as a company conducting research and development for practical application.
2005	Announced the development of the “MOBILE SIPHON TANK”, which can be used as a water-treatment system during disasters. Exhibited the “SIPHON TANK” at the world’s leading trade fair “IFAT2005” Received the “National commendation invention of grand prize of the Prize of the Chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry” for “Washing equipment of filter materials for water treatment (Site-Type Filter Sand Washing System) Made a sales agreement contract with the water management related companies, such as F.B. Leopold Company Inc. (USA), Georg Schuenemann GmbH (Germany), Kleemeier, Schewe & Co. KSH GmbH (Germany)
2007	President Yasuhiro SAITO received “The Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Technology Category”. Started online sales of “filter nozzles and drainage systems” by Kleemeier, Schewe & Co. KSH GmbH in Germany. Exhibited the “SIPHON TANK” at the largest annual exhibition in the world, “WEFTEC” in San Diego, U.S.A.
2008	Exporting the first device of "SWS" to Germany, and starting tests on site. Disaster recovery operation at site. Supplying drinking water by "MOBILE SIPHON TANK". Joined the Exhibition of "The Big 5" in Dubai, UAE. Exhibited the "MOBILE SIPHON TANK".
2009	Started selling "SWS" in Japan Joined the Secretariat of the Water Security Council of Japan, Japan Water Forum 70th Anniversary of the establishment of NIHON GENRYO Co., Ltd.

2010	Announced the development of the “SIPHON HARMONY”, which is a filtration system for well water treatment, especially for turbidity, iron, manganese, and color. Implemented a practical experiment of “SIPHON K3 SYSTEM” undercollaboration with Nagasawa Purification Plant in Kawasaki city Announced the development of the “Chlorine Cutter Mn”, which is a filter media for removing manganese without using chlorine
2011	“SIPHON TANK” was selected as the “Low Carbon Kawasaki Brand in 2010”, because of contribution to the reduction of CO2 from the perspective of the whole life cycle in order to promote global warming countermeasures utilizing the environmental technology
2012	“SIPHON K3 SYSTEM” was selected as the “Low Carbon Kawasaki Brand in 2011”. Joined the Exhibition of "IFAT2012", which is the world's leading trade fair for Water, Sewage, Waste and Raw Materials Management. “SIPHON TANK” was selected at the Excellent Environmental Equipment Awards” of The Japan Society of Industrial Machinery Manufactures. Disaster recovery operation in the northern area of Kyushu for supplying drinking water by "MOBILE SIPHON TANK". Established Tohoku office in Sendai city.
2013	Granted 6 (six) truck mounted "MOBILE SIPHON TANKS" to Laos, collaborating with the Japanese Government. Granted 3 (three) “MOBILE SIPHON TANKS” to Vietnam Maritime University, as a Non-Project grant aid. President Yasuhiro SAITO was awarded the Medals of Honor with Yellow Ribbon. Joined the Exhibition of "African Fair 2013", which is the official event in TICAD V (Tokyo International Conference on African Development). Formulation survey on sustainable water supply in Republic of Mozambique, collaborating with JICA. Granted a "MOBILE SIPHON TANK"to a northern city in the Philippines, collaborating with the Japanese Government for disaster relief.
2014	Acceptance of trainee of Metro Cebu Water District in Philippines, collaborating with JICA
2015	Participated in Japan/Pacific Islands Economic Forum Yokohama Waterworks Bureau’s JICA Grassroots Technical Cooperation Project (Special Framework for Local Economic Development) Participated in the “Safe Water for Vietnam with private sector technology from Yokohama” project Exhibited at “Kawasaki City General Disaster Prevention Drill” disaster prevention event
2016	Utilized “Mobile SIPHON Tank” for disaster recovery activities at Tsuetate waterworks, Oguni-machi, Aso district, Kumamoto Prefecture damaged in the Kumamoto earthquake Utilized “Mobile SIPHON Tank” for disaster recovery activities at Seki water purification plant, Yamagata district, Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture damaged by heavy rain in the Tohoku region
2017	Takahagi factory certified by the Japan Water Works Association as a plant that conducts quality checks of water supply materials and equipment Utilized “Mobile SIPHON Tank” for disaster recovery activities at Haki water purification plant, Asakura City, Fukuoka Prefecture damaged by heavy rain in Northern Kyushu Utilized “Mobile SIPHON Tank” for disaster recovery activities at Nitaku water purification plant, Tsukumi City, Oita Prefecture damaged by Typhoon No. 18
2018	Installed ST-3000 (3 tanks) at the canoe slalom venue for the Tokyo Olympics Utilized “Mobile SIPHON Tank and SIPHON Tank” for disaster recovery activities at Yoshida water purification plant, Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture damaged in heavy rain in July 2018. Exhibited at IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2018, Tokyo
2019	Thanks to your support we have celebrated our 80th anniversary. Exhibited at “TICAD 7” in Yokohama Exhibited at “WEFTEC 2019” in Chicago, Illinois, USA Dispatched “Emergency Water Supply Support Team” to Yamanashi City, Yamanashi Prefecture suffering from damage caused by Typhoon No. 19 Exhibited at “3rd Cambodian Water Conference and Exhibition 2019” in Phnom Penh City, Cambodia Water supply activities with truck-mounted Mobile SIPHON Tanks were posted on WEB NEWS “SUNSTAR” (Philippines) Exhibited at “VITE WATER 2019” in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
2020	Introduced example projects at the “3rd Yokohama & Kawasaki joint event: Initiatives for realization of future SDGs cities” “Agreement to utilize portable water purification devices for disaster support” concluded with Kitakyushu City Water and Sewerage Bureau Featured on TV Asahi program “CHANGE YOUR LIFE” Disaster recovery facility adopted as the regular facility at Mima district water purification plant in Uwajima City
2022	Dispatched a “Disaster recovery team” to Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture hit by severe cold weather Received the 2021 Health, Labour and Welfare Minister’s Commendation Received the Ministry of Defense Excellence Award at the 5th Infrastructure Maintenance Awards Registered as a Kanagawa SDGs Partner.

Manfacturing factory

Roots of NIHON GENRYO Takahagi Factory

Takahagi factory has produced high quality filter media with a focus on the important role of filter media for the water supply system since the factory was established in 1940. Using our experience, which we cultivated over many years, we established the automation product system which includes a high degree of flexibility, reliability and efficiency. Under our concept, which is “Apart from conventional production technology which depends on human resources and experiences”, our Takahagi factory was renovated in July, 1995 under the T.F.A project (Takahagi Factory Automation project). After the renovation, we have produced a large amount of high quality filter media through the 24- hour operation system. Also, we use “Siphon Tank”, which was our new product, to filter and reuse the drain water in the factory for 24 hours, thus contributing to the environment. We will keep improving and developing our facilities to provide high quality and low cost products in a short period of time.

Certified factory by JWWA

Automation

Automatically facility etc.

YH-24A
(Yasuhiro Hirotsugu 24hour Automation)

This is the 24-hour Automated Production System for filter media. The YH comes from the name of the first president, Hirotsugu Saito, who gave us know-how, and the current president, Yasuhiro Saito, who innovatescutting-edge technology.Automation facilities

EXCEL24A
（Production facility for filter media）

Automatically screening the filter media with washing, and conveying the media outside of the factory

YH24A
(Production facility for filter sand)

Filter sand sifted on-site is carried by conveyor to the pit

Automatic filer machine

Automatically filling up small bags and piling up on a palette.

Siphon Tank for drain water

Adopting our device, “Siphon Tank”, to filter and reuse the drain water. The filtered water is reused for washing water in the factory.

Drier
(For production of Manganese sand)

Realizing a higher amount of production, compared to the conventional way of, sun drying. Also, producing special media is possible, using the drier.

SIPHON factory

Warehouse for storing SIPHON Tank and Mobile SIPHON Tank inventory

Aerial photo of Takahagi factory

The white tent at the top left is the SIPHON factory.
The building with the red roof adjacent to the central pond is YH-24A

Research Center

Established the research center in the area of Takahagi factory to analyze the quality of our production.

Awards

“Regional Environmental Technology Prize of the 19th Kanagawa High-Tech. Grand-Prix”
November, 2012

“Award of Excellence in the Technology/Product Sector of the 15th SME New Technology / Product Award”
April, 2003

“Incentive Award Kanagawa Business Audition in 2003”
November, 2003

“22nd Kawasaki Best Entrepreneur Award of the Kawasaki Entrepreneur Competition-Business Idea-Seed Market”
February, 2004

“National commendation invention of grand prize of the Prize of the Chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry”
July, 2005

“Prizes for Science and Technology in Technology Category of The Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology”
April, 2007

”The 5th Infrastructure Maintenanse Award
Ministry of Defense Excellence Award Technology Development Category”
Decenber 2020