Nihon Samicon Co., Ltd.
Japanese specialist manufacturer of prestressed-concrete road disaster-prevention structures such as rock sheds, snow shelters and avalanche barriers.
Last updated September 29, 2026
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Overview
Nihon Samicon Co., Ltd. (日本サミコン株式会社) is a Japanese company based in Niigata that designs, manufactures and installs concrete-based disaster-prevention structures for roads and infrastructure. Its product range centres on protection against rockfall, slope collapse, snow and avalanches, together with repair and reinforcement works for tunnels, bridges and related civil structures. The company describes itself as a specialist maker of road disaster-prevention products, and its official site frames its mission as contributing to safe living foundations while coexisting with nature. The company was established in 1973, when it began research into prefabricated sheds using high-strength prestressed concrete. Over the following decades it developed a series of branded products and construction methods, including the SAM method for absorbing rockfall impact, the PCL method for tunnel lining panels, the Mega Rock Keeper performance-verified rockfall barrier, snow shelters for expressways, and various fences and reinforced-soil walls. It operates factories and a research institute, mainly in Niigata and Hokkaido, and maintains a nationwide network of branches and sales offices across Japan. Nihon Samicon's customers are primarily public infrastructure owners and road authorities, and its products have been installed on major expressways and national roads, including what it describes as the world's first PC snow shelter for expressway use on the Hokuriku Expressway in 1986. The company holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications and presents itself as committed to quality, environmental management, health management and the SDGs. It remains a privately held Japanese corporation; its representative director is Hitoshi Ishizuka.
History
Nihon Samicon Co., Ltd. was established in 1973 (Showa 48), the same year it began research into prefabricated sheds using high-strength prestressed concrete. In 1974 it received a construction minister's licence (No. 49-4287) and conducted rockfall experiments on rock sheds, presenting research on impact force estimation and dynamic effects at the 12th Road Conference. The following year, 1975, it opened the Mitsuke Factory in Niigata Prefecture, and in 1976 it opened the Nagoya Branch. In 1978 the company began developing avalanche and rockfall prevention fences using steel-fibre high-strength concrete (product name: Barrier), received a technology development subsidy from Niigata Prefecture, and opened the Sapporo Branch. In 1979 it opened the Hiroshima Branch and the Ibuki Factory in Shiga Prefecture. In 1980 it opened the Sendai Office and relocated its head office building to its current location in Niigata City (Bentenbashidori). Development continued through the 1980s: in 1983 work began on a PC snow shelter (blizzard cover); in 1984 the Kanazawa Office opened; in 1985 development of an assembled walkway began and bridge sales started. In 1986 a PC snow shelter was completed on the Hokuriku Expressway (Shouzenji, Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture), described as the world's first such structure for expressway use. In 1988 the Tokyo Sales Office and a research institute in Shibata City, Niigata Prefecture, were opened, along with the Shimane Office. In 1989 the company developed a rockfall impact buffer material (product name: SAM method). In 1991 it began selling tunnel lining panels (product name: PCL method). In 1993 it opened the Kumamoto Office (now the Kyushu Branch). In 1995 it began selling a sensor-type construction traffic signal (product name: Go-Sign). In 1997 it received construction consultant registration (No. 9-5901) and opened the Kushiro Factory in Hokkaido. In 1999 a three-part composite box culvert (product name: Super Culvert) was completed on the Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway (Yamakura, Shibata City, Niigata Prefecture). In 2000 a PC arch culvert (product name: Ap_pass) was completed on the Chuo Expressway (Dangozaka, Uenohara, Yamanashi Prefecture). In the 2000s the company obtained ISO 9001 in 2001 and ISO 14001 in 2012. It installed a top-slab culvert on the Osaka Daini Keihan Road in 2002, began the protection net and fence business, and launched the repair business division. In 2003 it began developing and selling a road-widening method (product name: Overhanging Roadway). In 2005 it began developing toughness panels and a performance-design rock keeper, conducting full-scale rockfall experiments. In 2006 it began selling a performance-verified keeper (product name: Mega Rock Keeper). In 2007 it began selling toughness panels (product name: Joint Panel), conducted a full-scale impact earth-pressure experiment (described as Japan's first oblique-incidence rockfall experiment), and began selling a cantilever snow shed (Gangi method). In 2008 it opened the Fukushima Office and began selling a steel suspension fence (Move Sole Fence). In 2009 it began selling a reinforcement method for existing protection fences (Rank Up Fence). In 2010 it began selling a rockfall protection reinforced-soil wall (Rock Geo Bank). In 2011 it began selling the Zero-Hachi Fence and developed a geogrid-reinforced type of the SAM method. In 2014 it opened the Fukuoka Office. In 2015 it began selling the Mega Rock Keeper 35, rated for 3,500 kJ, and installed a precast tunnel invert on the Nishinomiya-Kita Road (Hyogo Prefecture Road Corporation). In 2016 it opened the Okayama Office. The history page continues into 2017 and beyond.
- 2006
Begins selling performance-verified keeper (Mega Rock Keeper).
- 2005
Begins development of toughness panels and performance-design rock keeper; conducts full-scale rockfall experiments.
- 2003
Begins development and sales of road-widening method (Overhanging Roadway).
- 2002
Installs top-slab culvert on Osaka Daini Keihan Road; begins protection net/fence business; launches business promotion division (now repair division).
- 2001
Obtains ISO 9001.
- 2000
PC arch culvert (Ap_pass) completed on Chuo Expressway.
- 1999
Three-part composite box culvert (Super Culvert) completed on Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway.
- 1997
Receives construction consultant registration (No. 9-5901); opens Kushiro Factory in Hokkaido.
- 1995
Begins selling sensor-type construction traffic signal (Go-Sign).
- 1993
Opens Kumamoto Office (now Kyushu Branch).
Products and positioning
Specialist manufacturer of concrete road disaster-prevention structures, positioning itself around coexistence with nature and safe infrastructure.
SAM method
Rockfall impact buffer material developed in 1989.
PCL method
Tunnel lining panels, sales began 1991.
Mega Rock Keeper
Performance-verified rockfall barrier, sales began 2006; Mega Rock Keeper 35 (3,500 kJ) added 2015.
PC snow shelter
Blizzard cover; world's first expressway installation on Hokuriku Expressway in 1986.
Super Culvert
Three-part composite box culvert, installed 1999.
Ap_pass
PC arch culvert, installed 2000.
Go-Sign
Sensor-type construction traffic signal, sales began 1995.
Barrier
Steel-fibre high-strength concrete avalanche/rockfall prevention fence, development began 1978.
Rock Geo Bank
Rockfall protection reinforced-soil wall, sales began 2010.
Rank Up Fence
Reinforcement method for existing protection fences, sales began 2009.
Move Sole Fence
Steel suspension fence, sales began 2008.
Zero-Hachi Fence
Fence product, sales began 2011.
Gangi method
Cantilever snow shed, sales began 2007.
Joint Panel
Toughness panel, sales began 2007.
Overhanging Roadway
Road-widening method, development and sales began 2003.
Sources5 sources
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