IHRA member companies support Shinkansen system, the world's safest and most reliable system on a daily basis. We introduce a message from MI-NE SEISAKU-SHO CO., LTD., an associate member that joined IHRA in 2023!

MI-NE SEISAKU-SHO CO., LTD. was founded in 1925 as a company that manufactures signal equipment and installs them on-site. Later on, the company started manufacturing turnouts and performing rail welding work, and has continued to develop its business in these three areas to the present day.

In the field of high-speed rail, MI-NE has been engaged in the supply of rail products including railway turnouts, and rail welding work for the construction of all Shinkansen lines. Below are some of our distinctive technologies.

1. Steel Sleeper Turnout

In addition to supplying turnouts for the main lines of Shinkansen, MI-NE also supplies steel sleeper turnouts for Shinkansen depots. Steel sleepers have high sleeper bed resistance and durability, and are recyclable, contributing to labor savings and reduced life-cycle costs for turnouts.

2. Goldsummit welding

　Goldsummit Welding is a rail welding method originally of Elektro-Thermit, a German company. MI-NE worked together with Elektro-Thermit to adapt this method for Japan’s railway. This method provides stable quality, without requiring advanced skills. This technology will become increasingly important in the future, as it was used in the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen Line, which opened in 2022.

• https://www.mine-s.co.jp/english/business/products_rail.html

• https://www.mine-s.co.jp/english/business/welding.html

MI-NE SEISAKU-SHO CO., LTD. is the only company in Japan covering three business fields of railway signaling, turnouts, and rail welding. In international projects, these three areas are often undertaken by companies specializing in each of these areas, and the interface requirements among them are often overlooked. In such cases, MI-NE can offer consultation on the interface parts, besides being specialists in particular fields.

Shinkansen in Japan and Taiwan are based on the principle of 'Crash Avoidance', consisting of dedicated lines with no level crossings and an ATC (Automatic Train Control) system. The addition of the Total System Approach, which takes a unified view of the entire system and optimally integrates hardware and software, enables high-speed, high-volume and high-frequency transport with the world's highest levels of safety and reliability. The features of the Shinkansen are an essential element for social transformation and development through high-speed rail, and the technology that supports the Shinkansen requires a high level of safety and reliability.

The Shinkansen is able to operate safely on a daily basis thanks to the support of numerous companies such as MI-NE SEISAKU-SHO CO., LTD. introduced here. We would introduce IHRA member companies supporting the Shinkansen from time to time in the future.