Over 1.24 Million Units Sold|"Meji Foam" Joint Filler for Curb Blocks Addressing Labor Shortages and Construction Time Reduction - Kyowa Rubber Co., Ltd.
Kyowa Rubber Co., Ltd. announced that its "Meji Foam," a sponge-based joint filler that helps reduce labor and shorten construction time on site, has exceeded 1.24 million units in cumulative sales. It has established reliability in public works as a NETIS-registered technology.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 17:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 20, 2026 at 08:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 20, 2026 at 08:36 (4 min after Collected)
## Addressing Labor Shortages and Schedule Constraints in Construction
The construction industry is facing a severe shortage of young workers combined with an aging workforce. With the regulation on overtime work applied since April 2024, maintaining quality while meeting project deadlines with limited personnel has become a major challenge.
## Challenges in Curb Block Installation
Traditional methods for joint treatment in curbs and traffic dividers involve multiple steps such as mortar filling, curing, and cleaning, often making quality dependent on the installer's skill.
## Overview of Meji Foam
"Meji Foam," manufactured and sold by Kyowa Rubber, is a sponge-based joint filler applied to the joints of curb blocks. It is made of non-absorbent, closed-cell cross-linked olefin sponge. By simply peeling off the release paper and applying it, cleaning and curing processes become unnecessary, drastically reducing labor hours.
## Benefits and Achievements
It can reduce installation time to one-third to one-fifth of traditional methods and is resistant to earthquakes, concrete expansion/contraction, and snow-melting agents. Cumulative sales from 2017 to 2025 reached 1,245,061 units, with 2025 sales totaling approximately 40.36 million JPY. Furthermore, it is registered with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's NETIS (KK-180046-VE), ensuring its reliability for public projects.
The construction industry is facing a severe shortage of young workers combined with an aging workforce. With the regulation on overtime work applied since April 2024, maintaining quality while meeting project deadlines with limited personnel has become a major challenge.
## Challenges in Curb Block Installation
Traditional methods for joint treatment in curbs and traffic dividers involve multiple steps such as mortar filling, curing, and cleaning, often making quality dependent on the installer's skill.
## Overview of Meji Foam
"Meji Foam," manufactured and sold by Kyowa Rubber, is a sponge-based joint filler applied to the joints of curb blocks. It is made of non-absorbent, closed-cell cross-linked olefin sponge. By simply peeling off the release paper and applying it, cleaning and curing processes become unnecessary, drastically reducing labor hours.
## Benefits and Achievements
It can reduce installation time to one-third to one-fifth of traditional methods and is resistant to earthquakes, concrete expansion/contraction, and snow-melting agents. Cumulative sales from 2017 to 2025 reached 1,245,061 units, with 2025 sales totaling approximately 40.36 million JPY. Furthermore, it is registered with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's NETIS (KK-180046-VE), ensuring its reliability for public projects.
FAQ
Can Meji Foam be used for public works?
Yes, it is a NETIS-registered technology by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, making it suitable for public projects.
How much can construction time be reduced?
According to public data, it is expected to reduce construction time to approximately one-third to one-fifth compared to traditional methods.
Are specialized skills required?
No, as it is designed to be simply peeled and applied, ensuring uniform finish regardless of skill level.