Research & Development
The basic foundation of Sunstar's dynamic business development is its R&D system that places a strong emphasis on the creation of unique products. Sunstar is endlessly pursuing research on cutting-edge technologies and has achieved a high level of technological expertise in such leading-edge fields as biotechnology, nanotechnology, high-polymer chemistry and metal-processing technology.
R&D achievements; Papers written by Sunstar Researchers
Pioneering new approaches in oral-health research..
Actively cooperating with various leading world research organizations..
Promoting cross-national collaboration with leading world research centers..
Pursuing development of new technologies..
Pioneering new approaches in oral-health research through collaboration among industry-government-academia
Sunstar is engaged in joint research on the prevention and alleviation of oral complications associated with cancer treatment
Sunstar is carrying out joint
research with the Shizuoka
Cancer Center.
In May 2006, Sunstar concluded a joint-research agreement with the Shizuoka Cancer Center and Shizuoka Prefecture Dental Association to conduct research on the prevention and alleviation of oral complications associated with cancer treatment. The purpose of this collaborative research project is to help cancer patients better cope with the oral difficulties that they develop.
While significant progress is being made in the three major areas of cancer treatment — surgery, chemotherapy and radiation — it is also known that complications resulting from the side effects of these treatments are occurring at a rate ranging from 40%-100%.
To find better ways to cope with these oral complications, Sunstar is making efforts to assist in the setting up of an integrated healthcare system with the cooperation of experts in the fields of medicine and dentistry. At the same time, we are engaged in pursuing various other approaches such as the development of new products to improve the quality-of-life of cancer patients as well as the promotion of educational activities aimed at local residents.
In this project, Sunstar researchers observed and studied the oral condition of cancer outpatients who visited the department of dental and oral surgery at the Shizuoka Cancer Center. For purposes of this joint research, the oral condition of the cancer patients was classified into three categories by the Cancer Center's dental staff and Sunstar researchers. Based on this classification, in August 2007, as one of the results of the joint research of these three organizations, combination sets of existing oral-care products were devised to correspond to the symptoms of the patients, and three kinds of these oral-care sets were put on the market in Shizuoka Prefecture.
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Actively cooperating with various leading world research organizations to further the state of R&D in its leading-edge technologies
Sunstar is conducting joint research on motorcycle parts with world-class research organizations such as the National University of Singapore
The creation of an
asymmetrical new type
of gear.
With the rapid spread in popularity of two-wheeled vehicles, from 1971 strict noise-level regulations regarding the noise level of such vehicles at the time of acceleration and driving were adopted. Each motorcycle manufacturer has taken measures to reduce the noise-emitting sources from the engine and exhaust muffler; however, there were no effective measures taken to deal with noise caused by the engaging of the sprockets (a Sunstar product) and the chain.
Sunstar Engineering Inc. began joint research in 1997 with the prestigious National University of Singapore on how to reduce the noise level generated by the sprockets engaging. By fusing each participant's field of expertise, Sunstar's sprocket tester test evaluation methods and the university's original analysis evaluation technologies, the joint researchers pursued the mechanism of the noise resulting from the sprockets engaging. As a result, we were able to realize the creation of an asymmetrical new type of gear which can reduce noise by about 4 decibels. The sound-energy relationship is such that as the noise is reduced by 3 decibels, the energy is halved. Accordingly, a considerable noise reduction effect can be expected.
Furthermore, the company is promoting industry-university joint research-and-development projects with other notable world university research centers on such matters as the reduction of thermal stress on braking as a result of the use of brake discs. In the future as well, making use of the company's unique advanced proprietary technologies, Sunstar intends to contribute to environmental and safety measures for vehicles, starting with motorcycles.
Promoting cross-national collaboration with leading world research centers
Sunstar is carrying out joint research on meals that can help prevent complications in diabetic patients with the world-famous Joslin Diabetes Center
Sunstar has been developing its oral-care business since 1950, and from 1962, we have been working on the development of a line-up of unique health-food products. Presently, we are aiming for product development and business expansion in this business area that can help people live healthy and be well by making good use of a person's natural healing ability and the immune responses that a person's body innately possesses. In this way, Sunstar intends to contribute to clarifying the relationship between oral health and the health of the entire body.
As part of these endeavors, Sunstar has dispatched researchers to the Joslin Diabetes Center, affiliated with Harvard University, and Joslin and Sunstar are presently going forward with joint research-and-development. For the prevention of complications from diabetes, including periodontal disease, the control of food intake is particularly important for the prevention of vascular complications. We are proceeding with the development of effective meals for this purpose and are also involved in the carrying out of clinical studies. At the same time, to prevent complications, including periodontal disease, it is important to maintain and improve the entire body's anti-oxidation capacity. We are pursuing the research-and-development of a totally new application approach involving substances that can directly work inside the body's core anti-oxidation mechanisms and allow the body to make appropriate adjustments.
These new research directions and efforts toward maintaining and improving the body's anti-oxidation power are expected to have a revolutionary effect in cases of various chronic disorders such as diabetes, complications from diabetes, cancer, arteriosclerosis, hyperlipidemia and even apothanasia (the prolongation of life).
Pursuing development of new technologies through collaboration with leading academic research centers
Sunstar has set up a research laboratory within Kyoto University to conduct R & D of next-generation technology for adhesive and sealant products
In June 2007, Sunstar set up a research laboratory within Kyoto University, one of Japan's most prestigious national universities. The purpose of this laboratory is to efficiently promote development of an easily de-bondable adhesive technology through an industry-university collaboration. Kyoto University's Rohm Plaza research facilities are equipped with evaluation systems in the field of advanced technologies such as nanotechnology, and it is also fully equipped with an interface analysis system, which is important for conducting advanced research on adhesives. Our researchers are able to make use of these very advanced evaluation and analysis systems, and as a result, high-level technological development is expected.
At the same time, with its facility within Kyoto University at its core, Sunstar is actively promoting technology-exchange meetings with Kyoto University and other academic institutions. This approach is an excellent way to effectively explore in greater depth frontier technologies and simultaneously build up a network of connections.
To conduct these activities, Sunstar Engineering Inc., Japan is renting about 70m² of space for a chemical laboratory and 30m² for a residence in Kyoto University's Rohm Plaza. In particular, with regard to the development of an easily de-bondable adhesive technology, we are carrying out joint research together with Professor Kazumi Matsushige, who is director-general of the International Innovation Organization of Kyoto University and is working on the technological development of adhesives having both reliability and easily de-bondable characteristics from both the perspectives of materials and construction method. The first goal is to establish the technology for easily debondable adhesives that can reinforce the bonding of mobile electronics devices. We hope to make use of this new technology in the future to expand the company's electronics materials business.