APS Strong "Anti-Corrosion Type" Developed for Enhanced Durability in Timber Construction

A New Anti-Corrosion Fastener for Stronger, More Sustainable Timber Construction

An article about our new product, the "APS Strong" Anti-Corrosion Type,
was featured in the Daily Lumber News (published by Japan Forest
Product Journal Co., Ltd., dated June 13, 2025).

Japan Forest Product Journal, established in 1945, is a daily newspaper specializing in
timber, building materials, and housing.
It's the only daily newspaper in this field in Japan and boasts the largest circulation in the industry.
It covers a wide range of specialized information, from market trends and
new technologies to government news, playing a crucial role as a guide for the industry.
An electronic edition was also launched in 2018.

Below is the article content.

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T-Kato Co., Ltd.'s (Tokyo) APS Division has developed
a new product, "APS Strong Anti-Corrosion Type," designed to address corrosion concerns,
and began full-scale sales in June.

The development of APS Strong Anti-Corrosion Type comes in response to the recent trend of
larger-scale timber constructions and the increasing demand for enhanced durability of
all components to ensure long-term building use.

Previously, a key challenge for Apple Pins (the fasteners used in the APS method) was
corrosion caused by wood acids present in timber, as well as galvanic corrosion
(corrosion due to potential differences between dissimilar metals)
when in contact with preservative-treated timber.

To resolve these issues, T-Kato collaborated with Nippon Ruspert Co., Ltd.
(Kishiwada, Osaka, President Toyomitsu Tsumura),
a company with a proven track record in metal rust prevention.

They applied Nippon Ruspert's "Ruspert R -Non-Chromium-" (an environmentally friendly,
highly corrosion-resistant surface treatment technology) to develop the APS Strong Anti-Corrosion Type.
This new product is a completely non-chromium specification, meaning it contains no hexavalent chromium,
trivalent chromium, lead, cadmium, or mercury—all substances regulated by the RoHS Directive.
It also complies with Europe's REACH regulations, making it an environmentally conscious product.

Furthermore, it boasts excellent galvanic corrosion resistance, suppressing corrosion progression
caused by potential differences when dissimilar metals come into contact.
The surface baked layer also prevents degradation from natural elements like UV rays
and rain, maintaining its anti-corrosion effect over the long term.
These features make it compatible with Koshii Preserving's "House Guard System."

The APS construction method, which involves embedding Apple Pins within columns and beams,
enhances seismic resistance while allowing for the beautiful design aesthetics unique to timber construction.
It's widely adopted in both residential and non-residential buildings.
With the development of the anti-corrosion APS Strong, even wider adoption is anticipated.

For the time being, APS Strong Anti-Corrosion Type will be handled as build-to-order (made-to-order).
To raise awareness of its performance, the product was showcased at the "Non-Residential Timber Building Fair 2025,"
held from June 4th to 6th in Tokyo Big Site.