Takasaki City
Case Studies
A few years ago, we worked on the railing inside the theater of an arts and culture center in a local city. The finish is a metallic treatment by VeroMetal. The structure is not metal, but a material whose strength and operation are important, but a metallic appearance was required in consideration of its design performance when installed in the space. The tonal-colored metal has a strong presence in the bright space with abundant use of wood. What was important to us in this case was not the difficulty of the railing itself, but the fact that we were required to control the quality and process in terms of quantity: to provide a certain amount of the same quality of material.
Difference between mass production process and craftsmanship
Our work begins with the design of the architectural structure, which is then incorporated into the actual metal parts and components. While following the intent of the design as closely as possible, we also consider the complexities of the design, such as the strength of the joint surfaces, the cost considerations and whether an existing product can be applied, or whether a custom-made machined product is required, before incorporating them into the production drawings. Once the drawings are completed, we meet with the client and the design team to ensure that there are no gaps in our understanding. With these processes in place, we then proceed to the actual in-factory process. Many of the products we make are one-of-a-kind, and the craftsmanship is unique to the finished product. Therefore, a somewhat different mindset and methodology is required to deal with the mass production of the same quality product in large quantities.
Continuous handrail stiles
AICHI METAL also has a track record of manufacturing mass-produced products of consistent quality. One example is the manufacture of window sashes, which AICHI METAL was involved in at the time of its founding. These were half-standardized products that were continuously mass-produced. Of course, even today, we have accumulated a wealth of know-how in this area. That is why we are able to respond to orders for large-scale commercial facilities and public facilities such as this one. AICHI METAL's ability to respond to customer needs can be attributed to the fact that we have both processes in place: the process whereby our craftsmen finish the work from product drawings and the process whereby we finish mass-produced products with the same level of quality. We are ready to meet the needs of large-scale buildings such as offices, commercial facilities, and public facilities.
