metal-manufacturing
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Kazuhiko Nishioka
Kazuhiko Nishioka is the co-founder and CEO of Sun Metalon, a Japan-origin, Chicago-area climate-tech company decarbonizing the metal industry. A former Nippon Steel engineer with a materials science background from Northwestern University, he built a patented, near zero-emission heating technology that turns metal scrap, sludge and swarf into clean, reusable metal pucks on-site. Founded in 2021, Sun Metalon has raised roughly $42M in total funding, partnered with Toyota on aluminum recycling, and drawn Nippon Steel's first venture investment in its 100-plus-year history.
Sun Metalon Inc.
Sun Metalon Inc. is a deep-tech company decarbonizing the metal industry. Its patented electromagnetic heating technology turns contaminated machining swarf and chips - normally landfilled or downcycled - into clean, dry briquettes of the original alloy, on-site and with near-zero CO2 emissions. The company claims up to 85% lower energy use versus conventional remelting. Founded in 2021 by ex-Nippon Steel engineers, it operates in the United States and Japan, has raised about $42 million, and counts Toyota, Sumitomo, Nippon Steel and Airbus Ventures among its partners and backers.