TAIYO SHEET Road Heating Method Receives JSCE Technology Development Award

Taiyo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture; Representative Director: Keisuke Abe) is pleased to announce that its 'TAIYO SHEET Road Heating Method' has received the Technology Development Award from the Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE).

This award is presented to outstanding technologies implemented in the civil engineering sector, evaluating them comprehensively for their innovation, effectiveness, and contribution to society.

1. Reason for the Award (Summary) The technology was highly praised for its road ice suppression method, which fuses traditional Japanese washi papermaking technology with carbon fiber.

2. Track Record and Social Impact Since the completion of its improved version in 2020, the technology has been adopted at over 22 locations, including expressways, national highways, and private facilities, over just five years. It has demonstrated significant effects in preventing vehicle stagnation and stabilizing logistics during winter. In particular, maintaining traffic functionality by preventing vehicles from getting stuck during heavy snowfall contributes greatly to the continuation of local economies and social activities. Further expansion of this technology is expected to contribute to building resilient road infrastructure against increasingly severe winter weather.

3. About TAIYO SHEET_RH The road heating method developed by Taiyo uses the carbon washi electric heating sheet 'TAIYO SHEET_RH'.

4. Features of the Technology - Short Construction Period & Low Cost: The vertical insertion method eliminates the need to remove existing pavement, achieving significant reductions in construction time and costs. - Retrofit Installation: Due to its sheet structure, which is only a few millimeters thick, it can be installed without major modifications to existing pavement. - High Efficiency through Spot Heating: By pinpoint-heating only the areas passed over by tires, it prevents road icing and snow accumulation while minimizing energy consumption.

Message from Representative Director Keisuke Abe: 'I am deeply honored to receive the prestigious Technology Development Award from the Japan Society of Civil Engineers. I view this award, following our recognition at the World Road Congress (PIARC) in March 2026, as evidence that the value of our technology is recognized both domestically and internationally. This technology is designed to solve on-site challenges by focusing on practical application, realized through the fusion of traditional Japanese techniques and state-of-the-art materials. Furthermore, the carbon washi electric heating sheet used in this technology can be manufactured by applying conventional papermaking and printing technologies, demonstrating the possibility that existing industry skills can contribute to society in new ways, especially in this paperless era. The establishment of a supply system utilizing a stable production base is one of the technology's major strengths. Moving forward, we will use this award as a catalyst to further advance and promote our technology, while accelerating our global expansion to provide new value to infrastructure worldwide.'