Hikari Miso Co., Ltd. starts new equipment operation
Posted on May 23, 2022
Thanks to strengthened production equipment, domestic and overseas shipment volume is steadily increasing! With an environmentally friendly design, we are able to produce about 20,000 tons per year of additive-free, organic and domestically produced miso.
Hikari Miso Co., Ltd. began operations of new equipment adjacent to the Hikari Miso Iijima Green Factory in February 2022. Addressing the recent expansion of demand for miso, the new facility will produce about 20,000 tons per year.
◆ Facilities improved in response to increased production of main products under COVID-19 and a steady transition to overseas exports
In recent years, domestic consumption has increased due to demand for home-cooked meals during the pandemic, and the popularity of Japanese and fermented food are increasing in overseas markets as well. We aim to continue to increase production volume by about 1,000 to 2,000 tons every year, and now we are producing about 42,000 tons of miso annually.
The production volume of our main products — additive-free miso, organic miso and domestically produced miso — continues to increase steadily. With the aim of promoting the U.N. sustainable development goals we have installed equipment that takes into consideration energy saving, resource saving and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. As we continuously improve corporate value, we are preparing to further increase production in the future, we have completed the construction of new equipment.
The new facility adjacent to the Hikari Miso Iijima Green Factory has an annual production capacity of about 20,000 tons, and uses state-of-the-art machines to consistently perform everything from raw material preparation to cleaning, steaming and even making koji (jiuqu) fermentation starter.
We will aim for further growth by handling a wide variety of products in small quantities, including additive-free miso, organic miso and domestically produced miso.
【HIGHLIGHTS】
- Zoning design that takes into account the degree of risk based on the international standard HACCP for food hygiene management.
- We can produce a wide variety of miso such as additive-free miso, organic miso and domestically produced miso in small quantities.
- Obtained organic certification.
- Air conditioning management by positive pressure design.
- Improved productivity through simple flow line management that can be completed on one floor.
We plan to make additional investments in the future, and in July, we plan to complete the construction of a new fermenting warehouse that can accommodate 3,000 tons of miso. The location management of fermentation tanks and warehousing/delivery are fully automated, making it a state-of-the-art fermenting warehouse with complete air conditioning management.
◆ Implemented efforts to promote SDGs with new environmentally friendly equipment
The new equipment is designed with consideration for the environment from the viewpoint of the SDGs.
【Environmental Initiatives】
- Utilize the cold air of the Central Alps
An outside air introduction type air handling unit system utilizes the cold air that blows down from the Central Alps to the foot of the mountain.
- Contribute to the community by adopting “*Shinshu Green Denki”
Adopting Shinshu Green Denki, reducing greenhouse gases, expanding the use of renewable energy and contributing to the local community by locally producing and consuming energy.
*What is Shinshu Green Denki?
Project to improve the renewable energy rate of businesses and the value of Shinshu-produced electricity by supplying electricity generated at a hydroelectric power plant operated by the Nagano Prefectural Enterprise Bureau and other electric power companies.
- Increase production of biogas from wastewater and utilize it efficiently
In the production process, sewage sludge generated from steaming soybeans and cleaning equipment is re-fermented to generate methane gas and produce clean energy.
- Use liquefied natural gas aiming to transition away from fossil fuels
Aiming to transition away from fossil fuels, heavy oil and boilers have been completely abolished since 1990. Heat source management is by LNG even in the new facility.
◆ Certified as a subsidized target of the “*Shinshu Manufacturing Industry Investment Support Ordinance”
Based on Nagano Prefecture’s Shinshu Manufacturing Industry Investment Support Ordinance, this new facility construction project was certified as a target subsidy in recognition of the expansion of production and quality improvement of miso, which is a special product of Nagano Prefecture.
*What is the Shinshu Manufacturing Industry Investment Support Ordinance? In order to sustainably develop the local economy of Nagano Prefecture and expand employment opportunities, the prefecture issues “Manufacturing Industry Support Grants” to companies such as those in the manufacturing industry that will newly add factories in the prefecture.
【Outline of New Equipment】
- Location: 1145-8, Tagiri, Iijima-cho, Kami Ina-gun, Nagano (Adjacent to an existing factory)
- Site Area: 37,240㎡
- Building Area: 25,000㎡
- Structure: raw material processing building / preparation building / energy building / LNG satellite tank / environmental center
- Building andcapital investment: ¥2.3 billion
Media Contact
Hikari Miso Co., Ltd. Public Relations
info@hikarimiso.co.jp