Amidst the severe labor shortage and rising material and labor costs in the construction industry, our company is promoting an initiative to reconstruct local train line station facilities with a new method of 'building in a factory and assembling on-site.' At the end of February 2026, the first project, a modular waiting shelter, began service at Utsuimi Station on the JR Nichinan Line (Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture).
In this initiative, with the cooperation of Taiyo Kogyo Corporation (Tokyo Head Office: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo; Osaka Head Office: Yodogawa-ku, Osaka; President: Yuki Nomura), we have for the first time applied their small membrane panel technology, 'PF LIGHTS,' as a roofing material. In addition to saving labor during construction, we have realized a user-friendly waiting space that combines durability with the brightness of natural light.
**1. Modular Waiting Shelter Overview**
**Purpose**
To address the labor shortage and rising costs, including materials and labor, in the construction industry.
**Location**
Utsuimi Station premises, Nichinan Line (Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture)
**Service Start**
End of February 2026
**Cooperating Company**
Taiyo Kogyo Corporation
**2. Features**
**(1) Roof Section - First Realization of Membrane Panel Unitization**
Traditionally, roofs using membrane materials were typically formed by specialized technicians stretching the material on-site. In this project, we have for the first time adopted a method where small panels with the membrane pre-stretched in a factory are transported and installed on-site, applying Taiyo Kogyo's 'PF LIGHTS' technology.
**(2) Wooden Structure Section - Design Enabling Construction by Local Contractors**
By combining pre-cut laminated lumber with general-purpose joint hardware, we have enabled construction that does not require specialized skills and allows local contractors to ensure quality.
**(3) Compact and Rational Details**
The compact design with a low building height minimizes concealed parts and secondary members, pursuing rationality from both an aesthetic and structural standpoint. This also contributes to labor saving in future maintenance (inspections and repairs).
**3. Future Development**
We will work on creating a system that consistently streamlines processes from construction to operation, with an eye toward introducing maintenance methods combined with digital technology, such as remote inspections using drones in the future.
**4. Related Information**
Taiyo Kogyo Corporation First modular waiting shelter completed at JR Kyushu's Utsuimi Station, saving labor through factory production of small membrane panels.
FACT BOX
- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: New Product
- Products / services: PF LIGHTS