Sustained Innovation and Creativity - Toyota Industries Corporation

Breakthrough Innovations and Cutting-EdgeCompressors for Hybrid VehiclesToyota Industries’ car air-conditioning compressors are notedfor unsurpassed quality and reliability, attributes that havewon extensive acclaim from Toyota Motor Corporation(TMC) and other leading automakers. As testimony to ourunsurpassed technological development capabilities, our CarAir-Conditioning Compressor Business has solidly establishedits competitive superiority in the industry.This business has a proven track record in consistentlydeveloping new epoch-making products that continuallyforesee evolving market needs, and in turn, stimulate furthertechnological innovation of automakers. As prime examples,in the 1960s we developed Japan’s fi rst swash-platecompressor, while in the 1980s we developed a compact,lightweight 10-cylinder swash-plate fi xed-displacementcompressor noted for its outstanding reliability at highoperating speeds. We followed this accomplishment inthe 1990s by responding to growing concerns aboutthe environment with the development of an internallycontrolled one-way swash-plate variable-displacementcompressor that reduces the load on the engine to raisefuel effi ciency. Building on this momentum, in the late 1990sToyota Industries unveiled an externally controlled continuousvariable-displacement clutchless compressor that enhancesacceleration and reduces energy consumption by sensingchanges in the external environment, such as engineacceleration. Demonstrating a dedicated commitment tocombating such environmental problems as destruction ofthe earth’s ozone layer and global warming, in 2002 ToyotaIndustries and DENSO Corporation (DENSO) developed anelectrically driven compressor for fuel-cell hybrid vehicles thatuses CO2 as a substitute refrigerant for hydrofl uorocarbons.Also in collaboration with DENSO, in 2003 we developed atwo-way compressor with a built-in motor for hybrid vehiclesand an electrically driven compressor for hybrid vehicles.The two-way compressor is driven alternately by the engineduring driving and by a built-in motor during engine stop,while the electrically driven compressor realizes an optimalbalance between fuel effi ciency and comfort since the carair conditioner can remain turned on even during enginestop. Each of these pioneering compressors was developedand commercialized ahead of our competitors, offeringfurther evidence of our technological and competitivesuperiority.At the Forefront of the Market with SuperbTechnological CapabilitiesIn fi scal 2006, Toyota Industries’ total global productionand sales of car air-conditioning compressors amountedto 19.1 million units, giving us the top share of the globalmarket. In the Japanese market, we sold approximately5.5 million compressors to TMC and other principaldomestic automakers, which made us the market leader.Automobile Trends and Toyota Industries’ Product Development1980s 1990s 2000sAutomobiletrendsProvide higher engine performance and comfortable interiorReduce ozone layer destructionImprove gas mileageHybrid cars, fuel-cell hybrid vehiclesSlow down global warmingToyotaIndustries’productdevelopmentFixeddisplacementtypeUse of HFC-134a refrigerant1981Compact, lightweight10-cylinder swash-plate compressor*Variabledisplacementtype1995Power efficient,superb drivability7-cylinder one-wayswash-plate compressor*2003 Rotary valve-type compressorRotary valve-type variable-displacement compressor*Externally controlled, variable displacement, clutchless type1997Ultra-lightweight, ultra-power efficient, superb drivability6-cylinder one-way swash-plate compressor*2002 CO2 compressorCFC-freeCO2 compressor for fuel-cell hybrid vehicles*2003Electrically driven compressorCompact, lightweight, highly efficientElectrically driven compressor for hybrid vehicles** World’s first commercial products2003 Two-way compressorTwo-way compressor for hybrid vehicles*Toyota Industries Corporation Annual Report 200627