TOKYO, Mar 24 – The Tribology and Precision Machining (TriPreM) i-Kohza of the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Kuala Lumpur, embarked on a strategic visit to several prominent industries and universities in Japan.
Led by Prof. Dr. Kanao Fukuda, the delegation included Ir. Dr. Shahira Liza Kamis and Dr. Noor Ayuma Mat Tahir. The primary aim of the visit was to strengthen existing partnerships and explore new avenues for collaboration in tribology research and development.
The visit began on 17 March with a tour of Daido Kogyo Co., Ltd. (DID) in Ishikawa, a leading Japanese manufacturer of industrial chains and related components. DID has a longstanding relationship with MJIIT, having signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) in January 2023 and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in December 2024. DID supports MJIIT through industrial training programs and has hired two graduates from the Mechanical Precision Engineering program. Discussions during the visit centered on academic collaboration and potential research contracts with TriPreM.
On 18 March, the delegation visited KITZ Corporation in Nagano, a company renowned for manufacturing valves for water, air, oil, and gas flow control. KITZ has hired three MJIIT graduates and has supported industrial training since 2018. The visit focused on finalizing the draft of a forthcoming MoU to formalize and deepen cooperation.
The next stop on 19 March was STT Inc. in Kanagawa, a company specializing in surface treatment technologies and lubricants. STT has employed five MJIIT graduates since 2020 and signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with TriPreM in December 2024 for a two-year research contract focused on grease development. As part of this collaboration, a master’s student from MJIIT has been assigned as a Graduate Research Assistant. During the visit, TriPreM also arranged a one-week industrial attachment (17–21 March) for the student at STT to gain hands-on experience in a Japanese engineering environment. The visit emphasized progress updates on the ongoing research project.
On 21 March, the delegation visited the Institute of Science Tokyo and Tokyo City University, engaging in academic discussions to further strengthen research ties between MJIIT and Japanese institutions, particularly in tribology and surface treatment technologies.
The final day, 24 March, included visits to NSK Ltd. and NOK Corporation in Fujisawa. NSK, a globally recognized bearing manufacturer, has a strong partnership with TriPreM, highlighted by the launch of the NSK-TriPreM Research Laboratory on 27 November 2023. Meanwhile, NOK Corporation, a leading producer of sealing products and electronic components, visited MJIIT in November 2024 and expressed interest in expanding collaboration through industrial training programs and academic contributions.
TriPreM’s visit marks a significant step toward deepening Malaysia–Japan research and industrial cooperation. It is also part of a broader initiative to support the establishment of the Malaysia-Japan Linkage Office at UTM MJIIT, with the aim of becoming a key driver of international collaboration in engineering and tribology.
