HT：S-Bear is a high-performance plastic material for injection moulding developed by Starlite. Tribology (friction, wear and lubrication) characteristics, heat-resistance, conductivity and flame retardance make it suitable for a wide range of complex applications, used mainly in sliding and drive-train components for office equipment and automotive applications.

HT：From the late 1970s, office automation equipment such as photocopiers increased rapidly to make office work more efficient. The heart of photocopiers which determine the picture quality reaches above 200 degrees Celsius and the parts that make up this area therefore must be extremely precise and have oil-free drive performance. Due to the large number of parts, injection moulding was the preferred method for mass production, however, it was difficult to achieve required performance with the existing material. This was the starting point for our new material development journey.

In the development of materials at the time, lead was used as a “slip-enhancing technology,” and asbestos was used in brake materials. Nevertheless, the concept for the development of the material was “consideration for the environment and human health”. It was around the late 1980s.

HT：Yes, I feel embarrassed though :)

For example, I developed a gear material called S-Bear S2110 25 years ago, but no other company has yet come up with a material that exceeds its performance. I think Starlite’s material development technology is world class.

Furthermore, designers and developers at Office Automation manufacturers often said “as long as we use S-Bear, we will not have any problems.” This is the best compliment I can get as a birth parent (engineer). I want to bring my children to the forefront of many industries! We are now trying to introduce S-Bear into other industries.

HT：The key is to develop the “next generation S-Bear that matches market needs”. This is what younger generations are working on.

Beyond the mountain of development, there is the “trust of our customers”. Customer voice became my pleasure, pride and confidence. I would like my subordinates to enjoy this precious experience too.

KT：I cannot lose this challenge. At first, I was under a lot of pressure because I felt “I need to develop the next generation S-Bear!” but I started to enjoy my job when I started to think about “For whom and for what”. Nowadays, I have more of a creative desire to complete the project than a sense of mission.

HH：I feel it is Starlite’s tradition to have through discussion with customers. I want to identify problems in the world and solve them instantly with unique and niche materials instead of providing a universal material that pleases everyone. This thought motivates me.

HH：In addition, it is highly important to control collaborative robots accurately in order to improve productivity. The more the arm is moved at high speed, the more it becomes difficult to stop it. Like cars, brake performances are directly linked with drivability and operators’ safety. I developed the brake material which is the heart of the system. The material is effective in reducing the number of parts and weight, which also contributes to downsizing of robots.

HH：S-Bear has contributed to the spread of Office Automation equipment, and from now on, we will continue to contribute with collaborative robots that will facilitate digital transformation and a new way of working. In doing so, I will have to be very conscious of sustainability as well as making better products.

KT：HT mentioned the concept of S-Bear development was “consideration for the environment and human health”. The concept is still the same and it is an unchangeable theme for S-Bear and for Starlite. One of our attempts is “S-Bear development by biomass plastics”. In addition to this, we will try to make more proposals for realising a sustainable society using S-Bear. The most important thing to remember when developing S-Bear is to make sure that the “performance goals are clear from the users’ viewpoints”.