The Ebara Manufacturing Technology Advanced Center (EMTAC) supports EBARA’s manufacturing activities across the Group by conducting research and development on various new technologies. The team includes international trainees, such as Krisna Hutomo Aditya from Indonesia, who is involved in developing thermal spraying technologies. Our International trainees are considered integral team members, working together to innovate and develop new technologies collaboratively.
We asked Shunsuke Takigawa, Akinobu Arakawa, and Aditya, three members of the development team in the New Technology Development Section, Manufacturing Technology Development Department, Innovative Production Engineering and Quality Assurance Division to share their thoughts on this work.
<br>Takigawa—We are currently developing technologies related to micro thermal spraying. Thermal spraying is a process in which materials such as metals melted at high temperatures are sprayed on the surface of products or machined products to coat them. Sometimes completely molten materials are sprayed, and sometimes semi-molten materials are sprayed. The sprayed material cools and hardens, forming a coating over the surface.
Arakawa—There are several reasons for thermal spraying. For example, we may want to cover the surface with a harder material to increase the durability of the product, or cover the surface with a corrosion-resistant material. These technologies are used in various products such as EBARA's semiconductor devices and pumps.
Shunsuke Takigawa New Technology Development Section, Manufacturing Technology Development Department, Innovative Production Engineering and Quality Assurance Division
Takigawa—The micro thermal spraying system we are developing is characterized by its compact size and easy handling, and we use the word “micro” to express this idea of being small compared to conventional systems.
Arakawa—As for the roles of the development members, Aditya designs and adjusts the micro spraying equipment in detail, and I analyze the surface coating produced by spraying with the equipment. From there, I come up with conditions to improve the performance and give feedback to Aditya. Takigawa oversees this development.
Takigawa—That’s right. We do not regard overseas trainees as guests but as members of our team who work together with us on development. Aditya came here through the EBARA training program called the Global Career Development Program (GCDP).* Before the GCDP, the overseas training program only sent trainees from Japan to overseas offices for training. The GCDP started in 2022, and since then EBARA Group employees from all over the world have been able to go to many different countries for training, including to Japan.
Aditya came to Japan in the spring of 2023 and will be a member of our team for two years. This is the first time for us to accept an international trainee through the GCDP, but we are not trying to teach and pass on skills unilaterally. Rather, we are asking Aditya to learn by himself by working directly on our projects. Arakawa and Aditya often work together, but they do not have a teacher-student relationship. Arakawa supports Aditya as a mentor during his time in Japan, but they are both development members within a flat hierarchy at work.
Arakawa—In fact, Aditya thinks and develops his own plans, shares his opinions, and takes initiative. I do not feel like I am teaching.
Aditya—For me, working at EBARA in Japan is truly fun and fulfilling. I not only am able to learn about the thermal spraying technologies but also use the latest equipment in Japan. I have often been surprised by the incredible plant automation systems.
More than anything, since coming to Japan, I have been able to exchange information with EBARA engineers from various countries. EBARA has group companies all over the world, and there are people from China, Vietnam, and other countries who have come to Japan through GCDP like me. I asked a barrage of questions about the facilities and engineering in their countries (laughs).
Takigawa—It was because of Aditya's positive, proactive attitude that we came to regard trainees as members who work together with us on development. At first, I thought it would be better to teach the trainees in detail, but because Aditya was so proactive, I gradually changed my mind. Rather, we may have learned from Aditya.
Aditya: Ever since I was a student, I wanted to work in Japan someday. Japanese mechanical engineering, including the automobile industry, is incredible. So, I wanted to work in Japan at least once.
In 2018, I joined Ebara Turbomachinery Services Indonesia (ETSI) in Indonesia and worked as an engineer. I would like to bring back the micro thermal spraying technology I have learned about in Japan to Indonesia and use it there.
Takigawa—ETSI was also interested in micro thermal spraying technology. ETSI is mainly engaged in the repair of EBARA products, and we thought that it would be effective for those operations if they could utilize micro thermal spraying technology. Aditya’s aspirations and those of ETSI matched, allowing Aditya to be assigned to our team.
Krisna Hutomo Aditya PT. Ebara Turbomachinery Services Indonesia
Arakawa—I did not have any major concerns. While I cannot teach Aditya any skills yet, I felt it would be a good experience to work with him. I was worried about language differences, though. When he first came to Japan, Aditya could hardly speak any Japanese.
Aditya—That was the hardest part for me. Since coming to Japan, I have been studying Japanese online and so on. I still struggle, but I am getting better at communicating little by little.
Akinobu Arakawa New Technology Development Section, Manufacturing Technology Development Department, Innovative Production Engineering and Quality Assurance Division
Takigawa—It's amazing that he can speak Japanese now. At first, I interpreted mostly in English. I was embarrassed because of my poor English, but we had to communicate to move forward. On the other hand, Arakawa, like the young person he is, used a translation app on his smartphone.
That said, during discussions at work, reliance on a translation app hinders heated conversations. In those situations, I encouraged him not to be shy and had him speak in English. Arakawa started speaking eagerly in English, and I was impressed that he could overcome the language barrier.
Arakawa—The conversation was about thermal spraying, so even though my English was lacking, Aditya understood what I was talking about and we were able to communicate.
Aditya—It has been a valuable experience, not only to learn Japanese and about thermal spraying technologies but also to experience Japanese culture. The sense of time here impressed me. If there is a meeting set to start at 10:00, it usually starts around 10:05 in Indonesia, but it starts exactly at 10:00 in Japan. That's just natural here. It made me think about how this kind of culture is important in work.
Arakawa—While working with Aditya, I learned what I lacked in on-site knowledge. I joined EMTAC right away as a new graduate, so I have no work experience in the field. Aditya has been involved in the field for a long time, so I was able to hear his perspectives, such as micro thermal spraying being applicable in given work, or that a certain method would be convenient in the field.
Takigawa—I think it was also great that I got to experience a foreign culture up close. Aditya is a Muslim, so there is a month of fasting called Ramadan. Aditya, his family, and even his little daughter fast. I had heard of this culture before, but I gained a better grasp of its significance seeing it up close. Given its expansion of its business globally, I think this is an important experience for workers at EBARA.
Aditya—I would like to make use of the thermal spraying technologies I learned about in Japan in Indonesia. And above all, I would like to be able to engage in various efforts with my new friends that I have made in Japan. If I run into challenges in Indonesia, I can consult with Takigawa, Arakawa, or the engineers in China and Vietnam that I have made connections with during my time in Japan. The manager of ETSI is also Japanese, so I hope to actively communicate in Japanese with him.
Takigawa—Let's talk to each other when we find ourselves in trouble. It would be great if you can become a bridge between Indonesia and Japan. I want us to maintain this relationship even after the training period is over.
Arakawa—I hope Aditya can make use of what we are doing now in Indonesia. I would also like to advance the development of thermal spraying and gain knowledge and experience in other fields such as welding.
Takigawa—Actually, since joining the company, I have wanted to challenge myself to work overseas. Watching Aditya grow as a person has made that feeling even stronger. I not only want to gain new knowledge abroad; I also want to grow by experiencing the culture of that country. Again, I felt that doing so is really great. I would like to challenge myself by going overseas in the future, too.
Global Career Development Program (GCDP) A training program where young employees from the EBARA Group all over the world undergo training for two years in various parts of the world, including Japan.
PT. Ebara Turbomachinery Services Indonesia（ETSI）
PT. Ebara Turbomachinery Services Indonesia is a local subsidiary of the EBARA Group Energy Company established in Indonesia in 2015. In 2022, as a JV company of Elliott and EBARA, the company renovated its structure to handle the after-sales services for rotating machinery, including compressors, turbines, and pumps. Currently, there is an office in Jakarta and a workshop in Karawang, and the company’s philosophy as a comprehensive rotating machinery manufacturer in Indonesia is to become a solutions provider. The workshop was newly constructed in 2023 and was transformed into a hybrid facility capable of servicing not only pumps but also compressors and turbines. In Southeast Asian countries with high potential, particularly in Indonesia, work is performed daily with the comprehensive strength of the EBARA Group to further improve customer satisfaction and the brand power of the EBARA Group.
Read the ETSI here
Global Network
Shunsuke Takigawa
Innovative Production Engineering and Quality Assurance Division
Akinobu Arakawa
Innovative Production Engineering and Quality Assurance Division
Krisna Hutomo Aditya
PT. Ebara Turbomachinery Services Indonesia
Read the cross-talk here