Hashimoto Engineering, based in Hamamatsu City, Japan, is making strides in the world of specialized athletics by producing lightweight wheelchairs for top Paralympic athletes. This innovative shift follows the company's response to the 2008 economic crisis, which pushed it to pivot from subcontracting to direct manufacturing.
Yuji Hashimoto, the company's president, explained how the need for survival prompted this change. "We couldn’t protect our employees just by being subcontractors,” he said, expressing determination to create a sustainable future for the company. His foresight identified the increasing demand for wheelchairs, owing to the aging population, and led to the inception of wheelchair development in 2009.
Utilizing advanced technology, Hashimoto Engineering focused on lightweight yet strong magnesium materials, honing skills unique to the company and its collaborations with 11 local firms. This collective effort culminated in the 2017 introduction of wheelchairs weighing approximately half as much as traditional aluminum models, weighing around six kilograms.
The breakthrough attracted notable attention when athletes Kaiki Oda and Ami Tanaka, gold medalists at the Tokyo Paralympics, commissioned competition-grade wheelchairs. Tanaka was instrumental, noting, "Our performance depends heavily on the equipment, and New materials like magnesium were game-changers."
“The chance to create world-class wheelchairs was unexpected,” said Hashimoto. After three years of adjustments to fine-tune the wheelchairs for both performance and durability, they succeeded. “I had to overcome difficulties with millimeter adjustments to maintain strength during intense motion,” said Hashimoto. This collaboration not only showcased their technical prowess but allowed the athletes to compete with equipment catered to their needs.
Currently, self-manufactured products represent about 6-7% of the company's revenue, but there are ambitious plans to increase this figure to 10% by 2027 through continued innovation and potential international expansion.
Hashimoto Engineering is also exploring the development of electric wheelchairs, which promise to be around half the weight of conventional models. Equipped with sensors capable of detecting obstacles and uneven surfaces, these new products aim to increase safety and ease of use for elderly individuals and caregivers alike. "By reducing burdens on caregivers and enabling greater independence for users, we hope to make life easier," Hashimoto stated, demonstrating his commitment to impact the healthcare sector positively.
Hashimoto Engineering exemplifies how leveraging expertise from the competitive field of Paralympic sports can lead to innovative developments within the manufacture of assistive devices, paving the way not only for athletic excellence but also for improving the quality of life for many individuals requiring mobility assistance.