Launched “Sun Stellas,” a permanent scaffold made of membrane material.

(Tokyo Head Office: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo; Osaka Head Office: Yodogawa-ku, Osaka; President: Yumi Nomura), a manufacturer of large membrane surface structures (tent structures) and civil engineering and logistics materials, will begin selling Sun Sterus, a permanent scaffold using membrane material that facilitates inspection and maintenance of bridges, in November this year. Inspection and maintenance of bridges has become a major social issue, and the Company aims to achieve sales of about 1 billion yen for Sun Sterus over the next three years.

About 60% of the 730,000 bridges in Japan will be 50 years old from their construction in 2032, making it necessary to take measures against aging. According to the ” Annual Report on Road Maintenance ” published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on August 23, 2023, of the 602, 682 bridges inspected by 2022, 8% should be addressed at an early stage (early action phase) and 51% require preventive measures (preventive maintenance phase). Among such bridges requiring inspection and maintenance, permanent scaffolding is an effective solution for bridges where repair work using temporary scaffolding is time-constrained, such as bridges that intersect with railroads on both sides, or where it is difficult to install temporary scaffolding, such as at sea. The market for bridges requiring such permanent scaffolding is expected to grow in the future as bridges continue to age and the number of workers declines. Sun Stellus will market this product as a landscape-friendly product for bridges that require such permanent scaffolding.

SUN STEELAS is a hybrid panel composed of multiple components, including a light-entering, UV-blocking, and highly combustion-resistant membrane material, as well as FRP and PVC plates in a grid pattern. It is a permanent scaffold with a flat, bright floor surface that is designed with safety in mind, and can be used with a stepladder or cart, dramatically improving work efficiency for ongoing inspection and maintenance. Covering bridges with SUN STEELAS protects them from ultraviolet rays and flying salt, greatly reducing maintenance work itself and extending the service life of bridges. In addition, the sides of the bridge can be combined with a membrane structure to express curved shapes, which can be illuminated at night to create a beautiful space in harmony with the surrounding environment.

(Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Masahiro Nomoto), which has been involved in the design of long-span bridges and special bridges throughout Japan, including the Honshu-Shikoku bridges. Sun Sterus developed this system with the technical cooperation of Chodai Co. The specific installation will be implemented in the future as well, utilizing Chodai’s expertise in bridge design.

When the illuminance inside the bridge where SUN STELLAS was installed was measured, the inspection space was illuminated at 300 lx on sunny days, with a maximum illuminance of about 500 lx. Since this corresponds to the work illumination level for “incidental office work (work that does not require reading text)” as stipulated by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, there is no need to illuminate the space with lights during clear weather.

The membrane material used in SUN STELLAS is made of fluoropolymer + glass fiber plain weave and has high flame resistance. It also has excellent durability, and its safety against walking, falling objects, and repetitive loads over time has been verified.

The membrane surface of the test specimen is heated to about 800°C and irradiated for 8 minutes and 30 seconds. In the event of a fire, we checked to see if any flames had escaped into the scaffolding or if any damaged items had fallen under the scaffolding.

Assuming that a worker jumped down from a height of 1.0 m onto the scaffold, a sand bag weighing 90 kg was dropped freely 40 times from a height of 400 mm, and it was confirmed that the panel did not fall off.

To mark the start of sales of Sun Sterus, we will exhibit at the Highway Techno Fair 2023 to be held on November 9 (Thu.) and 10 (Fri.), 2023 (hosted by Japan Highway Research Institute, venue: Tokyo International Exhibition Hall (Tokyo Big Sight) West Hall 3 and 4, Rooftop Exhibition Hall). On the day of the fair, a full-scale demonstration of the inside of a bridge with Sun Sterus installed will be held, allowing visitors to experience the brightness of the inspection space and the ease of maintenance work.

Taiyo Kogyo is a “leading company of membrane structures” that supports the safety and security of society. Under our corporate philosophy of “Unlocking the infinite possibilities of membranes to deliver an inspiring and comfortable environment to our customers. Under the corporate philosophy of “We will exploit the infinite possibilities of membranes to deliver inspiring and comfortable environments to our customers,” we have been expanding our business into various fields including construction, as symbolized by the roof of the giant dome, civil engineering, logistics, and environmental fields, taking advantage of the characteristics of lightweight and strong materials. As we celebrate our 100th anniversary, we will further collaborate with our group companies in event and facility management, as well as strengthen our overseas business and research and development.
Official website: https://www.taiyokogyo.co.jp/

Press photos can be downloaded here.