Half a Century After Osaka Expo, Popular Pavilion Manufacturing Plant Still Active

February 14, 2020

Taiyo Kogyo Corporation

 

Taiyo Kogyo Corporation (President: Hidefumi Araki), a “membrane manufacturer” that produces large membrane surface structures (tent structures) and other products, was involved in a number of tent facilities at the 1970 Japan World Exposition (Osaka Expo), which took society by surprise.　This March marks the half-century anniversary of the historic event, and the Hirakata Plant, which manufactured the popular pavilion, is still in operation as our main production base, and is increasing its value as a “living witness to history” where visitors can obtain valuable information, such as inside the manufacturing building, which retains traces of those days, and testimonies from former workers who experienced the Expo. The Hirakata Plant is now increasing its value as a “living witness of history.

Our Hirakata Plant was established as an automobile interior factory in 1967 during the period of high economic growth, and a manufacturing building was added in the spring of 1969, the year before the Expo, to facilitate the supply of tents for the Japan World Exposition.　The plant’s production began with the “Fuji Group Pavilion,” a giant air tube structure with a maximum height of 31.6 m. Subsequent facilities that left a significant mark in the history of architecture include the “U.S. Government Pavilion,” the world’s first low-rise giant air membrane structure, which later became the prototype for the Tokyo Dome (Big Egg). The Hirakata Works was the birthplace of the Hirakata Plant.

 

　 *Site introducing our achievements at the Japan World Exposition

Today, Hirakata Plant serves as our mother plant, supporting our manufacturing as a model for the production lines of our group companies both in Japan and overseas. In the area of expositions, we have been involved in the “Regional Expo Boom” in Japan, the “EXPO 2005 AICHI 2005”, the “Shanghai International Expo”, and the “Milan International Expo”, where we installed a large-scale membrane roof on the main traffic line. In addition, at the Dubai International Expo to be held this year, a membrane screen will be used to construct the world’s largest video dome, with a diameter of 130 meters.

On March 15, it will be half a century since the Japan World Exposition was held.　Taiyo Kogyo’s Hirakata Plant hopes to support the realization of a future society by maintaining a connection with the current international exposition, while also preserving the atmosphere of those days.
We also have a collection of photographs from the time of production and 8mm video footage of the completed product to respond to various media inquiries related to the Osaka Expo, so please feel free to contact us.

Completion: Began operations as an automobile interior factory in December 1967 (The tent factory for the Osaka Expo was completed in April of the following year)
0 Address: 3-20, Sokai Tachika, Hirakata City, Osaka, 573-1132, Japan
0 Site area: 16,581 m2
0 Building area: 8,956m2
0Representative results since Expo ’70 Osaka:
The “Portopia Expo” and various pavilions at international expositions such as the “EXPO 2005 AICHI, JAPAN,” as well as the “Large Umbrella of Medina,” an Islamic religious site, are examples of the boom in regional expositions.
0Materials that can be provided by Japan World Exposition:
Photographs of the manufacturing process of the U.S. Pavilion and Fuji Group Pavilion, architectural models, and post-completion video recordings (8mm digitized), etc.
*Testimonies of manufacturing workers at that time will be adjusted on a case-by-case basis. (All of them have already retired, but several are still alive.)

Exterior view of Hirakata Plant

1. Global Loop Shelter” at Expo 2005 Japan (Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan)
2. The “Expo Axis” of the 2010 Shanghai International Expo
3. Cardo e Decumano” at the 2015 Milan International Expo
4. Al Wasl Dome” at the 2020 Dubai International Expo, etc.