クリテック工業 List of News Articles

The main shock of the Kumamoto earthquake that occurred in the early hours of April 16, 2016, caused the Aso Ohashi Bridge to collapse, significantly impacting local transportation. Following recovery efforts, the New Aso Ohashi Bridge was opened in 2021. In the New Aso Ohashi Bridge, structures that can accommodate future fault displacements have been incorporated, such as the use of a steel simple box girder bridge over the fault. Additionally, the expansion joints installed at the bridge's seams are designed to follow fault displacements. Our bridge expansion joint, the "Hybrid Joint LL Type," has been adopted for this New Aso Ohashi Bridge, contributing to the safety and functionality of the bridge while accommodating large displacements. Japan is a country prone to earthquakes, and bridge design requires ensuring safety against Level 1 seismic motion (earthquakes occurring during the service period) and Level 2 seismic motion (maximum class earthquakes). Moving forward, our company will continue to provide technologies that support the safety and security of social infrastructure.

The replacement work for the expansion joints on the Tomei Expressway (Yokohama section) has been successfully completed, and the completion inspection was finished on April 9, 2026. This project, which we undertook as the main contractor, is the largest scale project our company has ever handled (with a construction period of about one and a half years). Crittec Industries, as a manufacturer of expansion joints for bridges, handles everything from research, design, manufacturing, and sales to construction in a consistent manner. In this project, we leveraged our on-site adjustment capabilities, technical skills, and a network of multi-skilled personnel to achieve smooth construction. Furthermore, due to the trust and experience we have built up over the years with numerous construction achievements in the challenging infrastructure environment of the Tomei Expressway since our founding, we successfully completed this project as the main contractor. Our flagship product, the "Hybrid Joint," is characterized by long-term durability and high water-tightness, and it has been adopted in many bridges. We would like to express our deep gratitude to the client, Central Nippon Expressway Company Limited, our partner companies, and the local residents.

In the fiscal year 2026, various comprehensive construction materials and equipment information magazines have been newly published. In the "Construction Materials and Methods Yearbook" published by the Economic Research Association, our delivery and construction achievement photos have been featured on the cover. Inside, we introduce product information, including a 100-year durable expansion joint, as well as unit prices. Additionally, we have published information in the following industry magazines: ● Estimation Materials ● Estimation Materials Public Price Version ● Base Design Materials ● Materials and Methods Data Sheets ● Construction Methods NETIS By adopting our hybrid joints, the frequency of replacements is reduced due to long-term durability and high water-tightness, leading to lower life cycle costs. This contributes to the longevity of bridges and ultimately strengthens national resilience. We invite you to visit our page in the comprehensive construction materials and equipment information magazines and consider the adoption of hybrid joints.

This time, Crittec Industries has implemented changes to the product specifications and expanded the application conditions for the bridge expansion device "Hybrid Joint" in the "LL type (LL-125, LL-150, LL-175)." With this specification change, we have improved workability and made it possible to accommodate a wider slab gap than before. ■ Main Changes 1. Change in Anchor Rebar Arrangement To further enhance the structural stability of the product, we have optimized the arrangement of the anchor rebar. 2. Expansion of Applicable Slab Gaps By reviewing the design and structure, we have expanded the range of applicable slab gaps for each model. This increases flexibility in product selection during design and allows for adaptation to a wider range of bridge conditions. ■ Changes to Applicable Slab Gaps The numerical values for the applicable conditions (applicable slab gaps) before and after the changes for each model are as stated in the PDF of the release. ■ Future Developments With this specification change, the LL type has evolved into a product that can meet more severe conditions and diverse design needs. Our company will continue to promote technological development that contributes to the longevity of infrastructure.

Thank you very much for your exceptional support as always. As of April 1, 2026, the new fiscal year has begun. This year, we welcomed two new employees, marking a fresh start with an even more vibrant team. Under the fully bloomed cherry blossoms, all employees gathered for a commemorative photo to celebrate the start of the new fiscal year with our new colleagues. All of us are renewing our commitment to our work. Going forward, Crittec Industries will continue to strive to be a company that contributes to the longevity of bridges, focusing on improving our technical capabilities and ensuring quality. We appreciate your continued support and patronage this year as well.

Crittec Industries, a manufacturer of expansion devices for bridges, received the "Chairman's Award of the Shinkin Central Bank" at the "2026 Shinkin Excellent Company Awards" held on March 16, 2026. This award is a system that selects outstanding companies from among the business partners of 23 Shinkin banks in Tokyo. Our company was nominated as a representative of approximately 20,000 business partners of Shiba Shinkin Bank and received the award after a rigorous screening process. The development of the bridge expansion device "Hybrid Joint Type 3LII," which achieves a durability of 100 years, was highly evaluated for its contribution to reducing maintenance costs through lower replacement frequency, as well as its role in mitigating social costs such as traffic regulations. Additionally, our social contribution activities, including the utilization of senior talent, promotion of health management, and the implementation of the experiential learning program "Crittec Academy" for elementary school students, were also comprehensively recognized. With this award as a catalyst, our company will strive for technological innovation and quality improvement aimed at realizing sustainable social infrastructure and creating further value.

※Important Notice for Information Search on Ipros On Ipros, environment-dependent characters such as Roman numerals cannot be used. Therefore, for "Hybrid Joint 3LII," since "II (Roman numeral)" cannot be used, it is represented as "II (two capital I's)" instead. When searching for a durability 100-year expansion device, please type "3LII" using two capital I's. We apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for your understanding.

Crittec Industries was certified as a "Health Management Excellent Corporation 2026 (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Division)" on March 9. This marks the third consecutive year of certification. There are 162 companies classified under the construction industry in Tokyo, and our company is one of them. The Health Management Excellent Corporation certification system is a program that honors corporations that practice particularly excellent health management based on initiatives that address local health issues and the health promotion efforts promoted by the Japan Health Conference. We will continue to work on creating an environment where all employees can work healthily.

Crittec Industries completed the installation of the bridge expansion joint "Hybrid Joint NCS-40," designed specifically for steel deck bridges, for a project commissioned by the Nagoya Expressway Public Corporation in November 2025. In urban expressways, steel deck bridges are often adopted due to their lightweight and slim design. Unlike typical bridges that have a thick concrete deck beneath the pavement, steel deck bridges feature steel directly under the pavement. However, these bridges experience significant expansion and contraction due to temperature changes and traffic, necessitating high followability and durability at the joint sections. The NCS-40 incorporates improvements over conventional products as a new technology. Firstly, the shape of the rubber component responsible for expansion and contraction has been modified from the traditional V-shape to a more accommodating M-shape. This enhancement increases followability against forces perpendicular to the bridge axis, reducing the risk of rubber cutting. Additionally, its high flexibility helps to suppress the reaction force transmitted to the fixed bolts. The method of bonding the rubber to the steel deck uses a mold for integrated molding, improving water-tightness and durability. This product has passed the fatigue loading test (durability of over 15 years) set by the Nagoya Expressway Public Corporation. Currently, each technology is in the process of being registered as "new technology" certified by the corporation.

Crittec Industries Co., Ltd. published a newspaper advertisement (black and white, full-page 15 columns) for the bridge expansion device "Hybrid Joint" in the February 26, 2026 issue of the Sankei Shimbun Tohoku 6 Prefectures edition. In Japan, the number of bridges over 50 years old is rapidly increasing, making the longevity of bridges a critical issue. The expansion devices, which are considered a cause of bridge damage, require high water-tightness and long-term durability. Our expansion device "Hybrid Joint" offers multiple types tailored to different bridge types and conditions. Among them, the "Hybrid Joint 3LII type" has demonstrated a durability of 100 years in fatigue loading tests conducted by a third-party organization. It has successfully passed 12 million cycles of repeated loading at a maximum load of 260 kN, confirming performance equivalent to a 100-year design service life for bridges. We have numerous delivery records in the six Tohoku prefectures and can accommodate a wide range of bridge types, including steel and PC bridges. The special website linked to the advertisement allows for the review of detailed materials and inquiries or requests for documents. Please make use of it for comparing and considering bridge renewal and repair plans. Crittec Industries will continue to contribute to the longevity of bridges nationwide, starting with the Tohoku region.

The "Hybrid Joint TCF Type" is a bridge expansion device designed for the Tohoku region that responds to "compacted snow," which occurs due to vehicle traffic after snowfall. It meets the 10kN snow load standard set by the Tohoku Regional Development Bureau. Additionally, it adopts a structure known as the "face plate type," which ensures that the water-stopping material does not become exposed on the surface, and it comes standard with "secondary water-stopping material." By employing a double structure, it reduces the risk of leakage and achieves higher water-stopping performance. Furthermore, to prevent snowplow blades from getting caught on the expansion device, it also comes standard with a "snow removal guide plate." This not only protects the product itself but also considers safety during snow removal operations.

Recently, an article about Crittec Industries' construction achievements was published in the January 1, 2026 issue of the Bridge News. The article highlights a case where, during the concentrated construction of the Meishin Expressway conducted in November 2025, a large finger joint was replaced with our "Hybrid Joint Type 3LII." The background for receiving this construction order was a similar replacement project carried out in 2024 within the jurisdiction of the Kyoto Expressway Office of NEXCO West Japan's Kansai Branch. This construction is noted as the first case in the Kansai Branch area where a large finger joint was replaced with a product joint, and the high evaluation of this achievement led to its adoption in the concentrated construction of the Meishin Expressway. Replacing large finger joints with product joints is a field with few precedents and high technical difficulty, leading many companies to hesitate in responding. In this context, our Hybrid Joint Type 3LII, which possesses reliable technical capabilities and construction achievements, was selected. For any inquiries regarding expansion devices, please consult Crittec Industries.

Happy New Year. We sincerely thank you for your exceptional kindness throughout the past year. With the support of many, Crittec Industries has faced each task sincerely as a manufacturer of expansion devices for bridges and has continued to move forward. 2026 is the Year of the Horse. Just as a horse gallops powerfully, we will build on the technology and experience we have cultivated so far to further improve quality and take on new challenges. With the responsibility of being a company that supports social infrastructure, we will strive to provide safer and more reliable products and services. We will not forget the support we received in 2025, and this year, all of our employees will continue to face challenges positively and sincerely. We kindly ask for your continued guidance and support this year as well.