metalsleeve

ABOUT Metal Sleeve field

Manufacturing of parts with the top market share in seamless metal pipes for OA devices in Japan

We manufacture a variety of parts utilizing “Metal Sleeve*,” our proprietary 10-µm ultra-thin seamless metal pipe.

Our products are especially popular in the OA device field, where they are used in fuser rollers and heating rollers, and we have gained the top share of the Japanese market for seamless metal pipes for OA devices. In addition to OA device parts and electrical devices, our products have recently drawn attention in fields requiring high precision and high strength, such as automobile parts, aircraft parts, medical device parts, motors, batteries, and electronic parts.
We continue to market our products based on how useful they are in the environmental industry and medical industry, and provide solid value with our unique technology.

Metal Sleeve is a unique technology that is the culmination of all of Endo Manufacturing’s metal plastic forming technologies.

Examples of products


Fuser rollers

Heating rollers

Battery cases

Motor covers

Seamless belts

Seamless rings

Motor parts

Drive belts

Electronic parts

Optical parts

Metal Sleeve is a patented manufacturing method

We have obtained patents in Japan, the U.S., Germany, France, and the U.K. for our stainless steel seamless belts and the manufacturing methods used to make them. This has made it possible to manufacture ultra-thin high-precision seamless pipes ranging in thickness from 10 μm to 300 μm, a process thought to be impossible using conventional methods, using a wide variety of metal materials including clad materials. This technology, which was researched and developed at our head office in Tsubame, Niigata Prefecture, is realized from establishing manufacturing technology to mass production at our plant in Thailand.

Want to change materials to save energy and reduce costs at the same time?

By proposing changes in materials, we have been able to significantly reduce the power consumption of products, contributing toward improving energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
We have been able to improve performance while reducing costs by selecting the ideal materials according to product characteristics and usage environments.
We will provide the best solution to meet your needs.

REASON Why choose Endo Manufacturing
for the Metal Sleeve field?

Our unique spinning technology allows us to create 10-µm ultra-thin seamless metal pipes,
which was thought to be difficult using conventional manufacturing technologies.
By combining the flexibility of resin with the inherent high strength of metal,
we make the impossible possible for your manufacturing

    POINT 01.

    Lightweight, compact, space-saving

    We use our unique spinning technology to create 10-µm ultra-thin seamless metal pipes. Parts manufactured using this process can weigh much less. Resin-like flexibility helps in designing high-performance parts for use in limited spaces.
    We help our customers improve the competitiveness of their products.

    POINT 02.

    High strength, high durability, and excellent abrasion resistance

    The completely seamless pipe structure eliminates the risk of quality deterioration at welds and provides approximately three times the mechanical strength of plastic-formed products manufactured using other production methods. Our proprietary treatment technology significantly improves fatigue strength and abrasion resistance, for superior durability. This helps to reduce maintenance costs and improve reliability

    POINT 03.

    High dimensional accuracy

    Our unique spinning technology precisely reproduces a wide variety of outer diameter shapes while maintaining uniform thickness and high-precision dimensions. We can also handle complex shapes and special designs. We support manufacturing that meets the strict quality requirements of our customers, contributing toward improving product performance and ensuring reliability.

    POINT 04.

    High thermal conductivity and heat resistance

    The high thermal conductivity unique to metal allows for use in high-temperature environments that would be impossible for resin. At the same time, our products can be used as parts for efficient cooling. They demonstrate excellent performance in electrical device parts and automobile parts, where heat resistance is required.

    POINT 05.

    Compatible with a wide variety of metal materials

    We can reduce the thickness of metals such as stainless steel, steel, titanium, titanium alloys, nickel alloys, copper, and brass, regardless of whether they are magnetic or non-magnetic. We can also help you select the right material for your application. We use clad materials and thermal spraying production methods to laminate dissimilar metals. Combining dissimilar metals allows for properties such as part strength and thermal conductivity to be optimized.

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CASE Proposals and usage cases

Fuser roller parts
for printers
Challenge Conventional resin fuser roller parts lack strength and thermal conductivity.
Proposed technology/solution We proposed converting to Metal Sleeve products, which offer the high strength and thermal conductivity that is unique to metal. We used Metal Sleeve technology for parts that leverage the properties of metal to provide high strength and high thermal conductivity. This improved durability and performance. In addition to product development, we also designed and built manufacturing equipment in-house to reduce costs and enhance competitiveness.
Results Our solution provided overwhelming competitiveness in terms of costs, and was able to improve the durability and performance of fuser roller parts.
Drive belts
Challenge

Existing belts are difficult to use in harsh environments due to dimensional change and low fatigue strength.

Proposed technology/solution

We manufactured ultra-thin (15 µm) seamless metal belts. We also developed a processing method to improve fatigue strength and provided products capable of high-precision drive transmission.

Results

Our seamless metal belts provide high precision and environmental resistance, and can be used even in harsh environments. High-precision drive transmission can be maintained over a long period of time, with excellent heat resistance and corrosion resistance and minimal dimensional change, resulting in a long product life.

CONTACT US Contact information

  • Want to work with us to develop new applications?
  • Want to discuss changing materials to enhance value?
  • Want to improve functionality and reduce costs at the same time?
We can propose VA/VE solutions
using Metal Sleeve products.

Endo Manufacturing actively develops new applications for the Metal Sleeve technologies we have developed for the OA devices field.
We have already begun developing technologies for a wide range of new applications, including battery cases, motor covers, seamless belts, seamless rings, motor parts and drive belts, electronic parts, and optical parts. We will continue to take on the challenge of meeting customers’ demands for reducing the thickness of various metals and laminating dissimilar metals.

Some of our VA/VE proposals to date
OA parts Changed materials of fuser rollers and heating rollers to significantly reduce product power consumption.
Battery parts

Reduced weight and extended product life for parts used in lithium battery and fuel cell cases.

Medical parts Provided stainless steel and titanium parts for use in endoscopes and stent parts.
Motors

Utilized thin seamless sleeves to reduce motor weight and stabilize magnetism.

Drive belts

Our products were used as drive belts for small electrical devices and medical/food devices where dust and corrosion cannot be tolerated.

Electronic parts

Our products provide high precision and durability for use as connectors and magnetic shielding parts.

Optical parts

Our products were used as cylindrical reflective plates and reflectors, offering high precision processing and strength.

CREATING A FUTURE WITHOUT LIMITS CREATING A FUTURE WITHOUT LIMITS
CREATING A FUTURE WITHOUT LIMITS CREATING A FUTURE WITHOUT LIMITS