Measurement/inspection equipment company Nireco (headquartered in Hachioji, Tokyo) announced that they will expand their alliance with the US measurement/inspection equipment company IMS Systems. Nireco and IMS Systems have already signed a sales agency agreement for strip guiding systems (Edge Position Control/EPC systems), which are attached to the manufacturing lines of steel and aluminum sheets. In addition to this sales agreement, Nireco has now newly provided to IMS a license for manufacturing EPC systems. Going forward, demand for these systems is expected to grow in North America, and through this licensing agreement Nireco aims to nimbly and flexibly capture demand.
Nireco and IMS Systems formed a sales alliance for EPC systems in 2023. As part of this alliance, Nireco manufactured EPC systems in Japan and IMS sold those EPC systems as a sales agent in North America. The 2 companies have now newly reached a manufacturing technology licensing agreement, and going forward IMS will locally produce EPC systems to meet the demand for the systems among steelmakers and other customers.
The technology licensing has already been completed, and from January IMS has begun manufacturing EPC systems at their plant in Pennsylvania. The EPC systems manufactured by Nireco have achieved high levels of sales in Japan, and the systems have been held in high regard for their superior precision in terms of keeping both ends of a given thin or thick sheet in a predefined position on a manufacturing line. In addition to lines for steel sheets, the EPC systems can be implemented in lines for aluminum sheets as well, and therefore the 2 companies will also strengthen sales of the systems for use by non-ferrous metal companies.
IMS Systems is adept at handling radiometric thickness gauges for steel products. IMS will strengthen their sales capabilities by combining their products with the EPC systems made by Nireco.
