ASTINA Co., Ltd.
ASTINA selected for Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s startup support program “NEXs Tokyo 7th period” – Expanding OKIKAE inspection box business
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ASTINA Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Sumida-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Gima Takumi) has been selected as a member startup company of the 7th term of NEXs Tokyo (Nexus Ecosystem Xs Tokyo), a startup support program run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. We will take this opportunity to expand the business of our own product, the OKIKAE Inspection Box (AI-equipped, foreign material removal device for food).
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About NEXs Tokyo -Collaborative Business Creation Program-
NEXs Tokyo (Nexus Ecosystem Xs Tokyo) is a startup support project sponsored by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. We promote
collaboration across regions and industries and provide comprehensive support to startups aiming for further growth.
This project utilizes online and physical base facilities to create a place where startups seeking to develop new businesses and support partners can meet. By providing a variety of exchange opportunities and providing matching support, we aim to expand the scope of collaboration and build a community that deepens relationships. Furthermore, in addition to venture capital, media, large
corporations, and other players essential to business expansion, we are also collaborating with a variety of organizations that are difficult to meet in a normal business environment, such as local governments, support organizations, universities, and financial institutions.
◆ASTINA selected as a “JUMP” company
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Image source: Collaborative business creation program “NEXs Tokyo” Source URL: https://www.nexstokyo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/program/collaborativeNEXs Tokyo is based in Tokyo and is expanding business nationwide. We support two types of startup members: “JUMP” companies that aim to achieve their goals, and “DIVE” companies that are based outside of Tokyo and aim to accelerate their business in the Tokyo metropolitan area. We offer a “Community” that provides a place for growth and collaboration, a “Collaborative Business Creation Program” that creates business collaborations across the country, and an “Overseas Expansion Support Program” that provides knowledge and know-how regarding overseas expansion.
ASTINA, based in Tokyo, has been selected as a JUMP company. In the future, we aim to expand our business by collaborating with companies in various regions and various key player companies.
About OKIKAE inspection box business
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Product name: OKIKAE inspection box
This product is a fully automatic foreign matter removal device that saves labor in inspection work on production lines. AI technology recognizes foreign objects and automatically removes them. It also supports foreign objects of the same color, which until now could only be detected by visual inspection by workers. By installing this system, you can expect to improve work efficiency and reduce labor costs.
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[Inspection target]
◆ Examples of marine products: dried sardines/chirimen/tazukuri/dried shrimp, etc.
◆ Examples of agricultural products: Freeze-dried
products/spices/beans/cut vegetables/mushrooms/cold foods, etc. *Hardware customization may be required depending on the customer’s site.
[Video 2: https://prtimes.jp/api/movieim.php?url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=YViYn9ltn4E] ◆Product development background
Japan’s food manufacturing industry is currently facing a serious labor shortage. In particular, inspection work on production lines is a process that requires a high degree of concentration and skill, but veteran inspectors are retiring one after another, making it difficult to hire younger workers.
If this continues, it will become difficult to maintain food quality and safety, and there are concerns that the domestic food
manufacturing industry will decline. The important industrial infrastructure that supports our diet is on the brink of collapse. In order to overcome this critical situation, ASTINA has developed a foreign object removal device that makes full use of AI and robot technology. This device uses AI to detect foreign objects with high precision and uses robotics technology to rapidly remove foreign objects, thereby reducing labor in the inspection process that was previously performed manually.
By introducing this equipment, food manufacturing factories will be able to solve the problem of serious labor shortages and build stable production systems. ASTINA will contribute to the development of Japan’s food manufacturing industry by popularizing this equipment. – Click here for the OKIKAE inspection box product page –
https://www.astina.co/products/okikae-kensa-box
Business strategy and future outlook for participation in NEXs Tokyo
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Image source: Collaborative business creation program “NEXs Tokyo” Source URL: https://www.nexstokyo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/program/collaborative The product generated sales of over 100 million yen in its first year of sale, and demand has steadily increased since then. There is also a track record of introduction through word of mouth in targeted local industries, which has a ripple effect on the local economy. However, creating points of contact with these local companies is not easy. Therefore, this time, our company will participate in NEXs Tokyo’s “JUMP Course”, and as the name suggests, our aim is to “jump out” from Tokyo to various regions and develop our business. NEXs Tokyo allows for close collaboration with venture capital (VC), media, large companies, local governments, support organizations, universities, and financial institutions.
We will use this network to improve access to local industries, improve the reliability of our products through demonstration experiments with top companies in the industry, and expand the range of compatible items. Through these initiatives, we will have an impact on the large food market and contribute to the development of Japan’s food industry.
◆Consultation regarding new business creation and business alliances In addition to this food product, we also provide a wide range of DX support using IoT, AI, and robots. Our projects range from DX at manufacturing sites to new product development and DX promotion at commercial facilities. Our strength is that we can support business development from both software and hardware aspects.
Recently, we have been hearing about high needs for our business from various fields through inbound inquiries and exhibitions. Although there are many challenges related to DX in Japan, it is a market with great potential.
ASTINA actively supports the development of new businesses and joint development projects through capital and business alliances. We accept a wide range of inquiries from investors and companies interested in joint research. Through collaboration with everyone, we hope for the promotion of DX and the bright development of Japan’s industry. -Inquiry form-
https://www.astina.co/contact/
*Please refrain from contacting us for commercial purposes.
Company Profile
Company name: ASTINA Co., Ltd. Business details: – Consulting in the industrial DX field – Provision of IoT products, design, design development, prototyping, mass production, operation – Development and introduction of AI software/robot equipment Location: Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0021 Midori 3-17-8 Takashima Building Representative Director: Takumi Gima Website: https://www.astina.co
◆Representative profile
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After working on the improvement design of production equipment at Nippon Steel Corporation, he worked as a hardware team leader at an IoT/robot startup. In 2017, he founded ASTINA, a company specializing in the development and manufacturing of robots/AI/IoT devices. We undertake the development and mass production of automation equipment using IoT devices and AI.
◆Past releases related to OKIKAE inspection box
・We will be exhibiting AI foreign substance removal equipment for food at FOOMA JAPAN 2024 – New AI model for agricultural products unveiled for the first time –
https://www.astina.co/news/9566/
・The introduction of the OKIKAE inspection box to Kagocho Honten Co., Ltd. was featured in the Food Newspaper.
https://www.astina.co/news/9247/
・Our product “OKIKAE Inspection Box” was featured in the Suisan Keizai Shimbun. https://www.astina.co/news/7142/
・Our product “OKIKAE Inspection Box” was featured in the Minato Shimbun. https://www.astina.co/news/5835/
Notice regarding recruitment
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In recent years, there has been a high demand for development in the DX area, and we receive inquiries from various fields.
Please feel free to contact us if you want to take on the challenge of utilizing cutting-edge technology or if you want to energize the industry. ASTINA is actively recruiting colleagues to work with us. ◆Recruitment page https://www.astina.co/recruit◆Recruitment Tech blog https://www.astina.co/lab
Contact information regarding public relations correspondence For interviews regarding this initiative, please contact us below. ASTINA Co., Ltd. Public Relations: Osawa Telephone: 03-5846-9916 Email address: info@astina.co *Please refrain from contacting us for commercial purposes other than inquiries regarding this matter. More details about this release:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000026.000038210.html