A Journey of Research and Creation
At the lobby on the first floor of Kariya Plant's office building, there are 19 artworks on display, showcasing the innovative technologies and products that Toyota Industries has cultivated through years of research and creativity, as well as new initiatives for the future .
Turbocharger Impeller
<About the Work>
The impeller is what determines the performance of a turbocharger. It is machined from an aluminum cylinder to create very strong and precise fins. This artwork is inspired by floral art, depicting pre-cut aluminum materials, workpieces in the intermediate stages of cutting, and the finished impeller as flowers. They are placed on top of a gray panel that is designed to resemble a flower vase with a rough surface like cast-iron engine parts to create a beautiful contrast with the sharp lines of impellers.
<Technology / Product Overview>
A turbocharger is a device that helps to improve an engine's power and fuel consumption by sending more air into the engine using engine exhaust energy to compress air. Because it plays a key role as a technology essential for reducing environmental impact through engine downsizing, Toyota Industries began taking on turbocharger development in 2006. Since then, the company has continued to refine its unique, specialized aerodynamic design and high-precision machining technologies, contributing to the downsizing of diesel and gasoline engines for automobile and industrial applications.
Vermicular Graphite CastIron Engine Block
<About the Work>
A high-performance cylinder block—achieved by combining casting, materials, and engine design technologies developed by Toyota Industries over many years—is sliced and layered in cross sections. The result is a powerful and beautiful piece whose distinctive shapes do not immediately appear to be part of an engine. Behind the artwork is a panel featuring the caterpillar-like pattern of vermicular graphite cast iron.
<Technology / Product Overview>
The Toyoda Type A was created by the Automobile Department of Toyota Industries. Since then, the company has continued to make engines for nearly a century. Engine design and production technology departments work together with manufacturing sites to produce quality products. Their passion gave birth to the vermicular graphite cast iron engine block.
At the start of the 2000s, amid tighter emission controls, the new engine of the Land Cruiser required high power, low fuel consumption, and durability. In particular, for the cylinder block, which is a core component, there was an urgent need to develop a lightweight material that had the strength to withstand the high cylinder pressure inside the engine. Vermicular graphite cast iron was seen as a material meeting these requirements. It was deemed to be difficult to mass product due to variations in quality and the difficulty of casting. However, after repeated trial and error, a system for stable mass production was established, which contributed significantly to improving the product capabilities of the Land Cruiser, a popular model around the world.
Double Premixed Ignition Combustion
<About the Work>
Inspired by the image of flames spreading inside a piston, this artwork captures the moment of combustion. A black workpiece modeled after an expanded piston is 3D printed, then combined with graphics of a burning interior and flames made from colored acrylic to create a dynamic and spectacular artistic expression.
<Technology / Product Overview>
The double premixed ignition combustion technology D-SPIA* was developed by Toyota Industries to achieve the challenging target of meeting the global emission regulations of the time without having to add an exhaust gas purification device. This technology, which controls the powerful and profound natural phenomenon of combustion, was adopted for the diesel engine (F33A-FTV) installed on the Land Cruiser 300 series launched in 2021. D-SPIA—which balances emissions, fuel consumption, and combustion noise at a high level using double premixed combustion by dividing fuel injection and staggering ignition and combustion—was highly acclaimed and received various awards.
* Diesel Staggered Premixed Ignition with Accelerated oxidation
Automated Solution
<About the Work>
This artwork expresses logistics solutions that use AI to dynamically link countless pieces of information related to the movement of goods and move diverse automated logistics vehicles and equipment in tandem as if they were acting with a single will. The dots in the background represent engineers taking on the challenge of developing this automation technology at the global level, showing the creation of new value through interweaving human knowledge and technology.
<Technology / Product Overview>
Against the backdrop of societal challenges such as a rapid increase in freight volume, smaller cargo lots, and a shortage of workers, there is accelerating demand for automated logistics vehicles and equipment at all kinds of logistics frontlines around the world, such as airports, ports, warehouses, and plants. Toyota Industries has progressively rolled out a Level-4 autonomous tow tractor and an autonomous lift truck for truck loading, and is even working on an upstream system for the integrated control of multiple vehicles and equipment of different models. As a global logistics solutions provider, the company provides optimal automated solutions faster and with greater flexibility to a variety of customers all over the world.
Electric Forklift Truck 7 Series
<About the Work>
The electrification of the 7 Series was backed by three-phase AC motors, which offer stable torque and excellent responsiveness from low to high speeds by generating a rotating magnetic field using three phase-shifted currents.
This artwork uses depth perspective with graphical motifs of a three-phase current and a motor to visualize a world where electric currents are precisely controlled by a sophisticated program.
<Technology / Product Overview>
Instead of DC motors, the 7 Series was equipped with the world’s first AC-motor and AC-drive system, revolutionizing the performance and concept of electric lift trucks. This model offered performance on par with internal combustion models, significantly contributing to the spread of electric lift trucks amid growing environmental awareness at the time. Being the first to be equipped with an electric version of the lift truck safety function SAS, first found on the internal combustion 7FG Series, it was also highly evaluated as an electric lift that achieved both workability and safety at high levels. Soon after its launch, it received the Minister of International Trade and Industry Award of the Innovative & Inventive Design Excellence Award in 2000, and in 2014, received the LONG LIFE DESIGN AWARD given to outstanding products that continue to exist as a standard across generation.
Development of Forklift Truck X300
<About the Work>
The handwritten blueprint from that time is filled with the passion of the developers who thoroughly researched the market and incorporated the results in the design after repeated trial and error. The upper left shows the design review system established during the development of the X300, while a miniature model of the legendary X300 is placed in the lower right.
<Technology / Product Overview>
In the 1980s, when lift truck manufacturers competed in development and sales for survival, Toyota Industries emphasized raw customer feedback in its development of high-performance next-generation lift trucks. Development was advanced by thoroughly researching the market and incorporating the results in the design. This gave birth to the outstanding X300 with a completely redesigned engine and drivetrain structure. Way ahead of its competitors, it had better performance in all aspects of performance, reliability, economy, safety, and serviceability, enabled by introducing TQC* that embeds quality from the design stage. Incorporating a design review mechanism that involves screening and verification in each step of new product development, the foundation of today's development process was built alongside this legendary model.
* Total quality control is an activity where not only manufacturing departments but all departments and employees cooperate to work on improving quality. In 1986, Toyota Industries was awarded the Deming Application Prize presented to companies and organizations that are excellent in implementing TQC.
FC Module
<About the Work>
Placed on top of a back panel designed like a water ripple, various applications—from lift trucks and generators to automobiles, construction machinery, and drones—spread out from the hydrogen molecule at the lower left of the artwork to express the clean world that hydrogen can bring.
<Technology / Product Overview>
Toyota Industries launched Japan’s first fuel cell lift truck in 2016, leading the industry in environmental technologies. The fuel cell technology nurtured through lift trucks was also used to develop a fuel cell module that packages key components—such as the fuel cell stack, air compressor and hydrogen circulation pump—into a single unit. A highly efficient and compact structure was achieved by using an optimized design with in-built key components. Capable of being deployed in various fields, such as industrial machinery and power generation, this technology contributes to the realization of a hydrogen society.
Desired Candidate Profile "sprit, dream & skil"
<About the Work>
The Nagakusa Plant produces the RAV4, a popular medium-size SUV that has sold more than one million units around the world, mainly in North America. This artwork is a collage designed using parts making up the RAV4 to show the plant’s role as a production site for this globally popular model. The three blue lines express Nagakusa Plant’s desired candidate profile of “Spirit, Dream, Skill” that is also found on the plant’s wall.
<Technology / Product Overview>
The Nagakusa Plant is a vehicle assembly plant that started operations in 1967. Its strength is its industry-leading level of safety, environment, quality, cost, and delivery (SEQCD), which is supported by human resources with “Spirit, Dream, Skill”—its desired candidate profile that is also symbolized by the three blue lines on the plant’s wall.
Human resources that face all kinds of difficulties head on and set high targets, going about work with “Spirit, Dream, Skill” and delivering results
Spirit: Do not forget gratitude to customers and the desire to contribute
Dream: Aim to be the No. 1 monozukuri (manufacturing) plant
Skill: Hone skills (techniques, competencies, and various abilities) for achieving the “Dream”
TOYOTA RAV4 Design
Image Model
<About the Work>
The left panel is a design symbolizing the 5th generation RAV4 (previous model), while the current 6th generation RAV4 is on the right. At the center of each panel is the initial concept model of the exterior styling. The front and rear are painted in two different colors, which are body colors developed specifically for the RAV4. The shape above each concept model represents the exterior styling design, with a "cross-octagon" above the 5th generation RAV4. The inner side shows a planar view of the instrument panel and console. Furthermore, the black background is designed using patterns found in the interior items as a motif.
<Technology / Product Overview>
The RAV4 is sold in more than 180 countries and regions. For the 5th generation RAV4 launched in 2019, Toyota Industries handled everything from development to production of the upper body. With competitors also launching attractive SUVs one after another, the RAV4 needed to take on new challenges in design in order to maintain its presence. The concept shape of a "cross-octagon"—created by two intersecting octagons—was arrived at after repeatedly refining the design drafts. Well-suited for both off-road and urban settings, the polished design was popular with users around the world and awarded Japan Car of the Year, securing its place in history. For the sixth-generation RAV4 launched in 2025, Toyota Industries built on the high level of refinement of its predecessor while exploring the evolution required for the next era. The company pursued an interior space and operability designed to satisfy the digital generation, creating a well-equipped interior with features such as a wireless charging tray and thoughtfully arranged storage.
Air & Water Cooling Fin
<About the Work>
Inspired by cooling technology for power electronics products, this artwork uses motifs to represent air and water cooling fins. The structural beauty of thermal management technology underpinning high performance and reliability is symbolically represented in a cool, monotone design.
<Technology / Product Overview>
With power electronics products evolving toward higher output, heat dissipation became a key issue affecting their performance. Toyota Industries took on this issue and worked to develop air and water cooling fins that dissipate heat efficiently. Fin shapes and arrangements were thoroughly verified to maximize heat dissipation within limited space. The best designs were pursued through repeated thermal analysis and prototype evaluation. This cooling technology serves as a foundation supporting reliability and performance of power electronics products such as DC-DC converters, on-board chargers, and AC inverters.
IC Chip
<About the Work>
The core of electronics products, the integrated circuit (IC) is a key electronic component responsible for control and computation. This artwork expresses such precise and important in-house ICs as an expensive jewel enclosed by crystal. The frames surrounding the IC chip—just a few millimeters square—symbolize how it drives power electronics units that in turn move an electric vehicle.
<Technology / Product Overview>
Toyota Industries worked on strengthening its electronic control technologies to make power electronics products smaller and with higher performance, and the development of in-house ICs was undertaken as a core technology. It took on the challenge of developing ICs optimized for each product by incorporating improvements in the precision of analog circuits and the latest semiconductor technology trends. The higher number of components and greater costs resulting from larger circuit sizes were absorbed through in-house IC production. These in-house ICs form a key technological foundation supporting the competitiveness of the company's power electronics products.
Bipolar Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery
<About the Work>
Bipolar nickel-metal hydride batteries use a unique structure that stacks current collectors—with a cathode on one side and an anode on the other—to achieve high output and efficiency. This artwork expresses the powerful flow of a large current using a design based on the stacked structure of current collectors found in bipolar batteries.
<Technology / Product Overview>
Looking ahead to the era of vehicle electrification, Toyota Industries embarked on battery research in 2007. Subsequently, anticipating growth in the hybrid vehicle market, in 2015 it took on the challenge from of mass producing a completely new on-board nickel-metal hydride battery using a bipolar structure. Although this structure existed in theory, no company had achieved mass production of a battery using it. The company faced were several hurdles, including sealing technology to prevent leakage of alkaline electrolyte and the process of bonding thin metal and resin at high speed and with high precision.
Staff from the design, production technology, manufacturing, and quality assurance departments gathered every day to overcome each issue one by one, repeatedly asking "why?" based on theories and principles. Finally, in 2021, it debuted in the Toyota Aqua as the world's first battery of its kind.
AC Inverter
<About the Work>
Toyota Industries' on-board AC inverters have made using electricity in cars commonplace. This artwork places outlets compatible with various countries and regions, along with various miniature cars, in a unique modular grid. In the center is a miniature ambulance, the starting point of this business.
<Technology / Product Overview>
Toyota Industries developed the world's first on-board AC inverter in 1994. Due to the high social significance, it took on the challenge of developing a product that powers medical equipment in an ambulance, and the resulting 300W AC inverter was adopted in the Toyota Himedic ambulance. Subsequently, a 100W model was developed for normal cars. The joy of being able to use home appliances in cars instantly spread through society, creating a new market.
The Great East Japan Earthquake became a turning point. The world's first 1,500W AC inverter gained widespread attention as an emergency power source during disasters, increasing the number of business negotiations. Aiming for adoption in various vehicle models, development was advanced around making products that were cheaper, smaller, and capable of powering a wider range of home appliances. In 2019, a model that was 36% smaller in volume and 30% lower in height from the previous model was achieved. From daily use to power supply during disasters, Toyota Industries' on-board AC inverters continue to evolve in line with the diversifying needs of customers around the world.
Single Side Swash Plate Type Continuously Variable Displacement Compressor
<About the Work>
A single side swash plate type continuously variable displacement compressor is an on-board compressor that achieves both comfort and efficiency by controlling the angle of the swash plate to continuously vary the discharge volume. In this artwork, the piston and other components are extracted and placed to depict the variable control mechanism using a stroboscopic effect.
<Technology / Product Overview>
The market for compressors expanded in the 1990s when car air conditioners started being installed as standard equipment instead of an option. There was a need for products that achieved efficiency, quietness, and durability at high levels particularly in Europe, where people drove at high speeds. Meanwhile, limits were beginning to show in the performance improvements of the existing compression structure. Therefore, Toyota Industries embarked on developing a completely new structure based on the elemental technologies it had cultivated. The world's first single side swash plate type continuously variable displacement compressor 7SB16 was developed after many prototypes and modifications.
Combining the strengths of past products, the 7SB16 met the stringent requirements of the German Association of the Automotive Industry. It was adopted one after another in high-end models of European vehicle manufacturers, dominating the market. Toyota Industries continued to further enhance its functions, solidifying its position as the car air-conditioning compressor with the world's top market share.
Crank Type Compressor
<About the Work>
In a crank-type compressor, the coolant is compressed using a crank mechanism that converts rotational movement into reciprocating movement. It is a simple and highly reliable on-board compressor and the starting point of Toyota Industries' compressor business. This artwork expresses the basic structure and powerful movement of a crank-type compressor, using nostalgic hand-drawn diagrams from that era as its background.
<Technology / Product Overview>
Research on compressors for car coolers started in the second half of the 1950s when car air-conditioning compressors began to be adopted. There were issues with the cast-iron compressors back then, which were heavy and vibrated significantly. Toyota Industries' engineers focused on reducing weight by using aluminum alloys and a three-cylinder structure that suppresses vibrations, developing CC3—a three-cylinder crankshaft-type compressor—in 1959. Approximately half the weight of existing products, it was adopted for the car cooler of the Toyopet Crown, launching Toyota Industries' compressor business. Subsequently, it continued to make improvements while addressing issues such as malfunctions and unusual noises that arose in the harsh operating environment of taxis, leading to the development of two-cylinder models and other evolutions. These efforts in the early stages of the compressor business became an important technological foundation that supported its later growth.
Human Collaborative Robot
<About the Work>
This artwork focuses on the high mobility achieved by a compact unit on two wheels, using tangrams to depict a concept where robots operate not only individually but also collaboratively among multiple units as well as working alongside humans. The beautiful weave pattern of carbon fibers decorates the black background, which is made from recycled CFRP produced using Toyota Industries' unique recycling and spinning technologies that recycle used carbon fibers into high-quality yarns.
<Technology / Product Overview>
At logistics and production sites, new ways of working that enable collaboration between people and robots are increasingly needed in response to labor shortages and the demand for greater operational efficiency. Against this backdrop, Toyota Industries used its knowledge honed through logistics equipment and automation technologies to develop a human-collaborative transport robot in 2025.
Featuring a compact two-wheel structure that maintains balance while moving, the robot can transport goods using its ability to maneuver easily even in narrow passages. Designed to operate alongside people, the robot is also equipped with a function that absorbs impact in the event of contact. At the Anjo Plant, it is responsible for transporting assembled and inspected products to the shipping process, the first introduction of a two-wheeled, self-balancing robot at a mass-production site in Japan.
At Japan Mobility Show 2025, the concept model LEAN was introduced to visitors as the future image of logistics. Toyota Industries will continue to use technological innovations in the field of goods movement to create places where humans and robots collaborate.
Evolution of Weft Insertion Technology for Weaving Machine
<About the Work>
Toyota Industries has pursued higher speeds and greater stability in weaving machines, advancing weft insertion technology from mechanical to air-jet looms. In this artwork, the Type G automatic loom's shuttle was used together with the dynamic weft-insertion movement of the latest air-jet loom as a motif to express the evolution of weft insertion technology and the latest technology.
<Technology / Product Overview>
The Type G automatic loom was invented by Sakichi Toyoda in 1924. Equipped with groundbreaking functions, including a mechanism that automatically replenished the weft yarn during operation and another that automatically stopped the loom if the weft yarn broke, it earned high acclaim and was even called "the magic loom" by an engineer from Europe.
Then, in 1980, Toyota Industries launched an air-jet loom that moved weft yarn using air. It adopted a structure where yarn shot from the main nozzle was relayed and transported by dozens of sub-nozzles arranged in a row.
The key to improving productivity and quality lies in how to deliver weft yarn quickly, accurately, and stably. Toyota Industries continued to advance the weft insertion mechanism with each era, such as control to blow the optimum amount of air at the appropriate timing, sensors to adjust the timing of the yarn's arrival, valves to instantly inject air, regulators to regulate air pressure, and structural designs to realize these evolutions. The current JAT910 model was launched in 2022, and it is beloved by customers all over the world as the best-selling air-jet loom.
MOSAIC©Yarn
<About the Work>
MOSAIC®yarn is a new type of yarn with diverse design possibilities, achieved by spinning different raw materials in a way that switches between them along the longitudinal direction of the yarn. This artwork expresses the colorfulness of MOSAIC®yarn through a graphic done in mosaic.
<Technology / Product Overview>
With the diversification of consumer needs, textile products have come to require richer expressions, such as fabric colors and textures. It was difficult to vary the ratio of different raw materials within a single yarn using conventional spinning technology, even when using yarn combining different materials. Toyota Industries devised a unique spinning mechanism that stretches two types of raw materials independently, joining them together while cutting them as needed. This new spinning device became the first in the world to freely change the ratio of raw materials within a single yarn and even completely switch raw materials. MOSAIC® yarn, a fancy yarn that enables a wide variety of designs like mosaic patterns, helps to create new value in textile products. It was launched in 2015 and received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at the 2020 National Commendation for Invention.
Diversity of Textiles Expanded by the Evolution of Weaving Technology
<About the Work>
Toyota Industries has advanced weaving technology according to the performance required by various applications, including textiles for towels as well as industrial materials such as glass cloth for electronic circuit boards and cloth for airbags. Through textiles being used in diverse fields, this artwork expresses the possibilities of textiles created by weaving technology.
<Technology / Product Overview>
The origins of Toyota Industries lie in the Type G automatic loom invented in 1924, which was used to weave cotton at the time. Approximately 100 years have passed since then, during which weaving technology continued to evolve, allowing it to handle a wide variety of materials, from cotton and other natural fibers to high-performance chemical fibers, and from thick to thin fibers. Today, looms can also weave advanced materials such as substrate materials (glass cloth) used in high-end network equipment and other such devices. Toyota Industries' looms, which have evolved into a technology supporting everything from the textile industry to cutting-edge industries, symbolize the company's ongoing efforts to expand the possibilities of materials.