Expandable device "Hybrid Joint 3LIIA type (with guide plate)"

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.

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 article "Proving 100 Years of Durability" was published in the March 1, 2025 issue of "Bridge Communication." *The full article is available in the related PDF document. Please download and read it. We encourage you to take a look!* <Excerpt from the article> Crittec Industries announced that its main product, the expansion joint "Hybrid Joint 3LII-500," has been proven to have a durability of 100 years through fatigue loading tests conducted by a third-party organization. The 3LII type meets NEXCO specifications. The load support plate and anchor plate are designed as a vertical integrated structure, providing high durability and preventing damage from metal fatigue. In October to November 2024, using a fatigue testing machine at the Construction Machinery Construction Association's Comprehensive Research Institute, a third-party organization, it cleared a maximum loading weight of 260 kN for 12 million cycles. This is based on the assumption that a 25-ton large vehicle ran over the 3LII-500 for 12 million times, equivalent to a 100-year durability. According to the "Road Bridge Design Guidelines," the standard design service life for bridges is 100 years. For newly constructed bridges, there is no need to replace the expansion joints for 100 years. The 3LII type is maintenance-free, eliminating the need for traffic restrictions for sound inspections, thereby reducing maintenance costs and improving safety.