SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS

Break-resistant buttonIES Button

Shock-resistant and heat-resistant nylon button

Conventional buttons are fragile and deform when heat is applied.
IES button was developed to solve such problems.
"Shock resistance and heat resistance" increase the value of products, and
the zero-waste manufacturing process contributes to "realization of a decarbonized society."

Animation is for illustration purposes.

Shock-resistant and heat-resistant nylon button

Conventional buttons are fragile and deform when heat is applied.
IES button was developed to solve such problems.
"Shock resistance and heat resistance" increase the value of products, and the zero-waste manufacturing process contributes to "realization of a decarbonized society."

IES button produces no waste during manufacturing
It is a sustainable trim for apparel

SOLUTIONS

Zero waste

Resistant to breakage

Resistant to heat

割れにくいボタン IES Button Shock resistance Heat resistance nylon button

PROBLEMS

50% of raw materials
are discarded

Easy to break

Sensitive to heat

割れにくいボタン IES Button Shock resistance Heat resistance nylon button

SOLUTIONS

Zero waste

Resistant to breakage

Resistant to heat

PROBLEMS

50% of raw materials
are discarded

Easy to break

Sensitive to heat

PROBLEMS

Did you know?
Approximately 50% of button raw materials are discarded

Conventional polyester button
manufacturing method

Manufacturing process
2 tons of raw materials for buttons
About 1 ton of buttons is produced, and at the same time,
about 1 ton of waste material is discharged
Polyester buttons are made of thermosetting resin and cannot be recycled
CO2 is emitted due to thermal recycling

SOLUTIONS

The IES button manufacturing method allows for zero waste and effective use of resources

Heat
resistance
Chemical
resistance
Shock
resistance
Wear
resistance
Light
weight
Suitable
for mass
production
Thermosetting
resin
Polyester
Thermoplastic
resin
Conventional
nylon
Thermoplastic
resin
Heat resistant
nylon

We have developed recyclable “heat-resistant nylon (IES button)”

Because nylon buttons are thermoplastic, they are recyclable. However, conventional buttons had the problem of being prone to cracking and deformation. To solve this problem, we succeeded in developing a heat-resistant nylon (IES button) with excellent heat resistance and shock resistance.

Fully automated 24 hour manufacturing

割れにくいボタン IES Button Automation Manufacturing
Manufacturing cycle Manufacturing cycle

Achieve zero waste by reusing 100% of runners from the manufacturing stage

Raw materials that would otherwise be discarded in conventional manufacturing methods can be recycled immediately because IES button uses thermoplastic resin as its raw material. By using raw materials without waste, it leads to a reduction of the environmental load.

Recycling

In-house recycling

When manufacturing buttons, we reuse the discharged runners and defective products after inspection, making 100% effective use of resources.

割れにくいボタン IES Button_Runner
Reduce

Building a reduce system

Each sales company collects the product, and we have built a system to pulverize the buttons on the production line and manufacture the buttons again.

Numericalization

Quantification of
greenhouse gas reduction

It is possible to calculate the amount of CO₂ reduction when switching to IES button from the amount of CO₂ emitted when incinerating unsaturated polyester waste material.

Reduction amount

Suitable for commercial cleaning
Reduced risk of breakage even in harsh environments
Make the product last longer

FEATURES

POINT

01

Shock resistance

Does not break even when hit with a 50kg hammer

Conventional polyester buttons can break even with the shock that can occur in daily life, which shortens life of the product. IES buttons are hard to break even when hit with a metal hammer, making them suitable for use in products that require durability.

Strength comparison

This is hitting the conventional button and IES button with a hammer respectively.Compared to conventional polyester button, IES button demonstrates overwhelming shock resistance.

割れにくいボタン IES Button クリーニング

Reduces the risk of button breakage on clothes that are washed frequently

The load on the button is a concern when using a drum-type washing machine in a powerful wash mode or during drying. The shock resistance of the IES button greatly reduces the risk of breakage. You can extend the life of clothes such as pajamas and business shirts that are washed frequently.

割れにくいボタン IES Button  クリーニング

Reduces the risk of button
breakage on clothes that
are washed frequently

The load on the button is a concern when using a drum-type washing machine in a powerful wash mode or during drying. The shock resistance of the IES button greatly reduces the risk of breakage. You can extend the life of clothes such as pajamas and business shirts that are washed frequently.

割れにくいボタン IES Button  クリーニング

Reduces the risk of button breakage on clothes
that are washed frequently

The load on the button is a concern when using a drum-type washing machine in a powerful wash mode or during drying. The shock resistance of the IES button greatly reduces the risk of breakage. You can extend the life of clothes such as pajamas and business shirts that are washed frequently.

POINT

02

Heat resistance

耐熱 アイロン

Compatible with 3D press at 200℃ or higher,
enabling all types of cleaning

Conventional buttons tend to deform when pressed or ironed directly, and have been avoided for use on dress shirts. IES buttons made from heat-resistant nylon can be ironed for 30 seconds without breaking or deforming. Recommended for use on dress shirts and business shirts.

アイロン 耐熱
Heat resistance comparison

This is the state after heating a conventional polyester button and an IES button with an iron for 20 seconds. As you can see, the IES button never transforms.

POINT

03

Weight saving

25-50% lighter than conventional materials

Because it is lighter than conventional materials while maintaining strength, it is suitable for use in products that require weight reduction. Furthermore, by reducing the weight by changing materials, we can reduce transportation costs and CO2 during transportation.

Density comparison
Unsaturated polyester
1.65~2.3g/cm³ 100%
POM
1.42g/cm³ 62%
Heat resistant nylon
1.14g/cm³ 50%

※Percentages are approximate values

POINT

04

Less likely to break threads

Rounded buttonhole shape

In the past, sharp buttonhole burrs were the cause of thread breakage. IES button has succeeded in eliminating corners of the buttonhole by injection molding manufacturing method. Realized a structure that reduces thread breakage.

割れにくいボタン IES Button 糸切れ

POINT

05

World-class safety

World-class
safety

Acquired Oeko-Tex®
Standard 100 Class Ⅰ

Acquired Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 Class Ⅰ

We have acquired [Class I] certification for infants, which is the strictest standard of Oeko-Tex® Standard 100, an international safety standard. It can provide proof that it does not contain harmful substances at levels that pose a danger to humans, increasing trust in transactions and consumption.

OEKO-TEX_certificate
OEKO-TEX_Level
OEKO-TEX_Level
OEKO-TEX_Level
Class Ⅰ
Class Ⅱ
Class Ⅲ
Class Ⅳ
Formaldehyde
16(mg/kg)
Formaldehyde
75(mg/kg)
Formaldehyde
150(mg/kg)
Formaldehyde
300(mg/kg)
Infants up to 36 months, textile products that come into contact with infants
Textile products that come into contact with the skin
Textile products that do not come in direct contact with the skin
Decorative furniture, accessories
Baby clothes, pajamas, sheets, stuffed toys, etc.
Pants, tights, T-shirts, shirts, blouses, sheets, futons, towels, etc.
Jackets, coats, ties, outdoor goods, etc.
Tablecloths, curtains, carpets, cushions, upholstery fabrics, wallpapers, etc.

Comparison of properties of heat-resistant nylon (IES button) and conventional materials

POM
Heat resistant nylon
Polyester
Heat resistance
160~170℃
240~260℃
160~170℃
Chemical resistance
Grade 5◎
Grade 5〇
Grade 5〇
Dry cleaning resistance
Commercial perc
drycleanable
Commercial perc
drycleanable
Commercial perc
drycleanable
Color fastness to light
More than grade 4
More than grade 4
More than grade 4
Destruction strength
More than 50kg〇
More than 50kg◎
Country of origin
Japan, everything recycled
Daily production volume
1.4 million pcs

PRODUCTS

Article numbers:ITN 8
Made-by-order product example
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