Chita Mill Has Commenced Operations;Promoting Smart Factory Initiatives234 KB

March 5, 2026

NIPPN CORPORATION (President and CEO: Toshiya Maezuru; Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan; "NIPPN") has completed construction of its new flour mill in Chita, Aichi, which construction had been proceeding since October 2023. The mill has commenced operations in February 2026 as NIPPN CORPORATION Chita Mill ("Chita Mill"). This marks NIPPN's first newly constructed flour mill in 40 years, following the establishment of the Fukuoka Mill.

As part of the reorganization of its flour mills in the Chukyo and Kinki regions, NIPPN has undertaken the expansion of the Kobe-Konan Mill and the closure of the Osaka Mill. With the establishment of the new Chita Mill and the planned closure of the Nagoya Mill, NIPPN will complete the reorganization in this region and further strengthen its production system to ensure more stable and efficient delivery of products to customers.

The Chita Mill is located in an area where large grain vessels can berth. By combining NIPPN's accumulated technical expertise with the latest automation technologies, the Chita Mill achieves high productivity. In addition, it is a cutting-edge, sustainable flour mill that offers strong

Exterior view of the Chita Mill

resilience against natural disasters, energy-saving performance, and environmental consideration. The major features of the Chita Mill are as follows.

• Promotion of Smart Factory Initiatives through Automation Technologies and DX Utilization, and the Provision of Stable, High-Quality Wheat Flour

  To achieve stable operations, NIPPN is introducing a system that automatically measures and adjusts flow rates and product analysis, enabling the automation of product changeovers and reducing workload. Furthermore, NIPPN is promoting smart factory initiatives through the visualization of each process, the accumulation and utilization of big data, and access control using biometric authentication.

  By integrating these technologies and equipment with NIPPN's manufacturing processes (flow sheets) and production systems that leverage its accumulated know-how, NIPPN ensures the stable production of high-quality wheat flour and enables a prompt response to customer requests, including quality improvement.

  In addition, in the automated high-bay warehouse, automatic robotic powering enables sort and transport operations to handle products during both receiving and shipping, facilitating unmanned warehouse processes. This also contributes to addressing logistics challenges, such as reducing truck waiting times and alleviating cargo handling workloads.

• Measures against Natural Disasters

  NIPPN elevated the first-floor level of the Chita Mill to minimize damage and maintain production during emergencies, considering the mill's coastal location and tsunami impact from major earthquakes. In addition, by installing major electrical equipment on the second floor or higher, NIPPN is reducing the risk of production stoppages caused by flooding.

• Consideration for Sustainability, Including Energy Efficiency and the Environment

The Chita Mill has introduced a photovoltaic power generation system, marking the fourth installation among NIPPN's

domestic plants and mills. In addition, the mill achieves high energy-saving performance, including obtaining ZEB Ready certification, by sourcing virtually 100% of its electricity from renewable energy*. This will be its first carbon-neutral factory, helping the NIPPN Group achieve its GHG emissions reduction targets. NIPPN will continue to advance initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact and contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society.

* By utilizing non-fossil certificates, the Chita Mill has effectively achieved 100% renewable energy.

NIPPN continues to strengthen the foundation of its Flour Milling business while establishing the basis for further growth as a comprehensive food company and promoting proactive business development both domestically and internationally. NIPPN will continue to make proactive yet prudent investments across its businesses and ensure the stable supply of products that meet the needs of the times.

【Overview of Chita Mill】