Data is the life force behind today’s economy, helping companies improve efficiency and make better decisions. In large-scale infrastructure projects such as bridges, tunnels and dams, data analysis also plays a crucial role in ensuring safety, with measurements taken in real time, 365 days a year. Japan’s susceptibility to a wide variety of natural and weather events has led to a thriving industry for heavy-duty sensors, helping to manage the constant risk of earthquakes and typhoons.
Building systems capable of handling such tasks is no easy feat—and it’s something that Tokyo Measuring Instruments Laboratory (TML) has built a successful business around. While the word “sensor” may evoke images of delicate components found in consumer electronics, TML produces rugged, long-lasting products, with sensors often left exposed to the elements in remote locations for weeks, if not months.
“The most important aspect for our products is having long-term stability and durability, suited to the environment,” said company president Masashi Kimura. TML’s lineup involves a range of transducers, strain gauges and data loggers, designed to capture information from the environment and communicate it to home base. According to Kimura, this latter task is currently undergoing a surge of innovation, as the market seeks better efficiency and lower costs.
For situations involving placement in remote mountain valleys to monitor dams and riverbanks, Kimura is enthusiastic about advances in cloud communication technology. “In remote locations, cloud-based monitoring is an effective way to enhance operational efficiency, enabling teams to review remote-site data from the office,” he said. Other advancements include shrinking existing technologies to form a more user-friendly package. TML’s new handheld measuring unit, the TC-37K, is the latest addition to their flagship T-ZACCS line of data logging equipment. Combining many of the company’s proven technologies from previous data loggers, including support for multiple sensor types and high-speed data reading, into a convenient, battery-powered package not much larger than a mobile phone, Kimura believes it will be a game-changer for applications where portability is essential. “This handheld device has strong durability, dust and moisture resistance, making it ideal for field work in harsh environments,” he explained.
Product development is conducted entirely in-house, following Kimura’s philosophy. “Moving from initial requests presented by our salespeople, to development and testing, we turn client needs into finished products, using technology that we are always working on refining,” he said. TML has pioneered the use of high-speed data logging, with its TMR line offering a dynamic strain measurement instrument for versatile, multipurpose use.
Building on their success in supporting many of Japan’s safety-critical industries, TML is now making a difference in regions with large industrial projects, including neighboring South Korea’s shipbuilding sector. “Going forward, we are looking to further our presence internationally, including in Europe and the United States. As such, our company is always seeking opportunities and new collaborations,” said Kimura. As a leader, he has set clear metrics for success in the coming years. “By our 70th anniversary, we are looking to achieve several milestones. One of which is increasing our sales to 6.5 billion yen ($41 million) annually, with the biggest potential so far being further exploring the overseas market,” he said.
