Yamabiko Corporation is a global manufacturer of small outdoor power equipment and other machinery. Recognizing its responsibility to help preserve the global environment, the company set a medium-term goal to halve greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with its business operations by 2030. To do so, Yamabiko is implementing a company-wide carbon-neutral strategy that encompasses its manufacturing processes.

At the heart of this effort is a plan for emission reductions through energy optimization. In particular, the company focused on compressed air systems—a major contributor to electricity consumption in factories—and identified measures to address air leaks as a priority issue.

FLIR recently spoke with Mr. Yokoyama and Ms. Yamane of Yamabiko's Equipment and Environment Section about using the FLIR Si1-LD™ acoustic imaging camera to visualize air leaks and quantify their impact.

From the left: Ms. Yamane and Mr. Yokoyama

Why Energy Optimization Is Key to GHG Emissions Reduction

Guided by its corporate philosophy of "creat(ing) the bridge that bonds people and nature with the future," Yamabiko Corporation considers addressing climate change a key management priority. To support its carbon-neutral strategy, the company is working toward its medium-term goal of halving GHG emissions associated with its business activities by 2030. Established in early 2025, the Equipment and Environment Section, which includes Mr. Yokoyama and Ms. Yamane, is responsible for facility management and environmental measures.

One of the section's first priorities was improving the efficiency of compressor equipment. 

“Since the compressors accounted for a great deal of the factory's electricity consumption, we first considered measures focused on the compressors and their surrounding areas,” explains

Mr. Yokoyama. “While I was aware that our compressors were used extensively in our daily operations and could sense the sound of air leaks, I couldn't determine whether the machines were broken or needed repair, and how much it would cost, which made it difficult to take action.”

The FLIR Si1-LDTM acoustic imaging camera offered a way to address this challenge.

“I was attracted to this acoustic imaging camera, which is capable of detecting and quantifying pressure leaks, because it allowed us to visualize the leak rate and convert it into monetary loss figures. We are now able to address issues that were previously difficult to quantify based on solid evidence,” says Ms. Yamane. As a result, repair decisions that previously relied on subjective judgment can now be informed by quantitative data.

Clear visualization of air leaks via noise-canceling feature

Si1-LD Performance in Noisy Environments Encouraged Adoption 

In fact, Yamabiko previously considered introducing acoustic imaging cameras on the production floor, going as far as to conduct internal testing. When the Equipment and Environment Section received a request to implement such a system, the team began evaluating how best to deploy the technology.

“In manufacturing operations, ‘on-site suitability’ is a key evaluation criterion,” Ms. Yamane explains. “The area where the casting machines are operating is extremely noisy. We were testing a product on the production floor and received feedback from the floor that the background noise made it difficult to identify air leaks clearly. However, the Si1-LD features a noise-canceling function, and the fact that it can clearly pinpoint air leaks even in such environments was the deciding factor in our decision to adopt it.”

Mr. Yokoyama adds, “It is also nice that you can operate it with just one hand. Since it is actually used on-site, I feel that ease of use and clarity in that setting are important.”

Mr. Yokoyama and Ms. Yamane browsing a cloud-based image-sharing library

Acoustic Camera Cloud Integration Supports Company-Wide Improvement Initiatives

Yamabiko’s approach goes beyond mere leak detection by using the resulting data to support broader improvement efforts.

“GHG emissions and the reduction achieved through countermeasures must be calculated and reported, both in aggregate and by facility. FLIR's cloud-based software, Acoustic Viewer, allows you to export data such as leak rate and monetary loss figures, along with images, to Excel,” says Mr. Yokoyama.

Cloud-based sharing made it possible to:

• visualize repair status
• Share knowledge across plants
• Roll out countermeasures horizontally

“If a major leak is discovered, we also see benefits in rolling out the relevant countermeasures to other plants through the Acoustic Viewer. We are currently using a configuration that manages systems by organization to operate a single camera across multiple locations, thereby working toward company-wide optimization,” Ms. Yamane says.

How Si1-LD Helps Implement Carbon Neutrality Through Visualization

Going forward, the company plans to expand the use of this system at the Yokosuka, Morioka, and Hiroshima plants and report the emission reductions achieved through the Si1-LD as specific figures.

For Yamabiko, preventing air leaks using the Si1-LD goes beyond mere equipment improvement; it’s key to implementing the company’s carbon-neutral strategies at the operational level.

“Even in cases where it was difficult to determine the right time for repairs, visualization and cost estimates make it easier to get started. We hope this will lead to company-wide progress with these measures,” says Ms. Yamane.

By quantifying previously hidden losses and sharing the resulting data across the organization, Yamabiko is creating a practical approach to supporting GHG emissions reductions in its manufacturing operations.

Product Overview

FLIR Si1-LD Industrial Acoustic Camera

It detects and visualizes ultrasonic waves generated by leaks in pipes and other systems. With 96 built-in microphones, it accurately detects even the slightest air leaks.

Click here for details> https://www.flir.com/products/si1-ld/

As part of its educational support initiatives, FLIR Systems Japan provides on-site implementation support and training for the use of cameras in maintenance operations. The industry as a whole is working to further improve safety and convenience.

For Product Demonstrations and Support Inquiries

info@Flir.jp

*The affiliations and job titles of individuals appearing in this article are those at the time of the interview.