Chairman Hidehiro Hashimoto of Hashimoto screw (Shizuoka Prefecture, President Koji Fujita) was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays (Merit of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion) in the Spring 2024 honors. He was highly recognized for his contributions to promoting "medical-engineering collaboration" in his hometown of Hamamatsu through screws.
In 1989, Hashimoto became the second-generation president of the company. Concerned about the company's reliance solely on screw sales, he sought new business opportunities and encountered titanium materials. In Hamamatsu, home to motorcycle manufacturers and closely connected to motorsports, titanium was gaining attention as a new material that could contribute to the weight reduction of parts. Hashimoto Screw took its first step as a unique screw trading company by starting to handle titanium screws. At one point, the company caught the attention of medical professionals and was requested to develop medical implants. Titanium, known for its high compatibility with the human body, was already being used as a material for implants to bond bones.
Initially, Hashimoto was unsure how to venture into the medical field, a domain directly related to human life. However, he began laying the groundwork for implant development by reaching out to medical professionals, government agencies, and processing manufacturers from scratch.
In 2005, the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law was revised, and the classifications for companies selling medical devices were subdivided. Seizing this opportunity, the following year, the company established a Medical Devices Division. In 2007, they obtained a license for manufacturing medical devices and acquired ISO 13485, the quality management system for medical devices. This led to the launch of their first medical device product, the implant.
In parallel, Hashimoto developed an educational toy called "Neji Block" (launched in 2015), inspired by his hobby. The product allows children to freely create while interacting with screws, conveying the joy of manufacturing. It received several accolades, including the 2015 Good Design Shizuoka Award and the 10th Kids Design Award. Following the success of "Neji Block," Hashimoto developed a rehabilitation tool series called "Neji Reha," recognizing that the action of tightening screws could serve as occupational therapy for improving upper limb function. These tools are primarily used at local medical institutions, including Hamamatsu University School of Medicine. The company’s efforts were also recognized by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency when it was selected as one of the "300 Vibrant Small and Medium Enterprises" in 2016.
Hashimoto also promoted the collaboration between local medical institutions and manufacturing companies through "medical-engineering collaboration" initiatives. He established the HAMING cooperative association in 2012, which brings together the technologies of various manufacturers to create medical devices required in the medical field. Hashimoto Screw, with its medical device manufacturing registration, functions as a sales window for these products. Examples of products developed under the cooperative's projects include "dyeing baskets," "surgical steel instruments," and "toothbrush holders for caregiving settings."
Regarding the award, Chairman Hashimoto expressed his gratitude, saying, "I was surprised when I received the notification. I believe there were people who were watching my efforts. I am delighted to have been awarded thanks to my connections with Shizuoka Prefecture and many other people."
