As extreme heat becomes more common, Japanese tool and machinery maker Trusco Nakayama Corp. has launched a body-cooling unit called the “Do Hiemon Box,” priced at about 1.5 million yen, or roughly $9,500. The unit is designed for outdoor locations and high-heat workplaces where air conditioning is not available.
The machine maintains an interior temperature of 15°C and uses 5°C air to cool the user quickly. Its stated purpose is to help prevent acute health risks such as heatstroke and heat exhaustion. According to the report, around 200 units have been sold so far to steel plants, construction sites, golf courses, and disaster shelters.
Heat is driving demand for dedicated cooling equipment
ABMedia said global average temperatures continue to rise, while summer readings in Japan have repeatedly moved above 35°C. That has pushed up demand for heat-risk protection. Consumer cooling products such as patches and cooling sprays remain common, but the report said their effectiveness is limited in harsher settings such as steel mills or outdoor construction work.
Against that backdrop, the Do Hiemon Box is being positioned as a more specialized option for places that need immediate cooling support. The report described this as part of a shift toward professional, equipment-based cooling solutions in extreme climate conditions.
Built for emergency cooling, not extended rest
The Do Hiemon Box is a vertical stainless steel unit fitted with wheels and a viewing window, and it runs from a standard power outlet. Once a person enters and sits down, the inside remains at 15°C while 5°C air is blown into the space for rapid heat dissipation.
Fumiaki Matsubara, general manager of the product division at Trusco Nakayama, said the concept behind the device was to serve as protective equipment that helps stop heat-related illness from worsening, rather than as a general relaxation or break space.
Units sent to Kumamoto shelters after last week’s earthquake
The report said growth in this type of cooling equipment is also tied to stricter workplace safety and heat-prevention rules in multiple countries. Trusco’s product is described as a wheeled high box with a window and bench, meant for locations where conventional air conditioning is difficult to use.
After an earthquake struck Kumamoto last week, the company quickly delivered several units to evacuation shelters. ABMedia also said Trusco Nakayama has a market value of about $1 billion and around 3,300 employees, and has traditionally focused on mechanical tools and office equipment.
As extreme heat becomes more routine, the company has sold roughly 200 of the 1.5 million yen units to steel plants, construction sites, golf courses, universities, and leisure facilities. It also said it has received inquiries from overseas markets including Germany and the United States.
Overseas interest has already emerged
Beyond industrial and disaster-response uses, the report said the equipment could also find applications at large shopping malls, summer music festivals, and other crowded venues. The article points to a broader market opening for climate adaptation products as companies respond to more frequent heat extremes.