Durable 100-Year Expansion Device for Bridges, Type 3LII

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.

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.

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.