Tsubaki Enters the Engine-powered Drone Market
Designed to carry heavy loads for long distances, the AZ-250 is expected to go on sale commercially in 2030.

Tsubakimoto Chain Co. (Head office: Kita-ku, Osaka; President and Representative Director: Takatoshi Kimura; “the Company”) is entering a new business segment: the production and sale of an engine-powered drone capable of carrying heavy loads for long distances. In launching this business, the Company signed an exclusive license agreement in January 2025 to manufacture and sell the AZ-250 Engine-powered Drone, which is under development by the Aizawa Concrete Corporation (Head office: Wakakusa-cho, Tomakomai, Hokkaido; President and Representative Director: Yoshihiro Aizawa; “Aizawa Concrete”). Commercial sales of this drone are expected to begin in 2030.

1.Rationale for Entering the Engine-powered Drone Segment

Since its founding in 1917, Tsubakimoto Chain has pursued “innovation in motion” through its four main business segments: Chains, Mobility, Motion Control, and Materials Handling. Under our Long-term Vision 2030, implemented in FY2021, we strive to use automation and cutting-edge technologies to become a manufacturing company that tackles real-world problems head-on. We will accomplish this goal by dedicating ourselves to enhancing the quality of life for individuals, developing robust and secure infrastructure, and promoting the sustainable stewardship of our planet.
Recently, drones have been adopted for applications as diverse as logistics, infrastructure management, and disaster response. However, several challenges remain to their widespread adoption, including flight stability, flight time, and capability of transporting heavy payloads. Engine-powered drones are expected to help address these issues. They promise a new form of mobility that contributes to the growing demand for unmanned operations intended to save labor.
Against this backdrop, we have decided to launch a new venture that will participate in the engine-powered drone segment. We intend to build on the technical expertise, knowledge, and high-quality manufacturing capabilities we have gained through the development of timing chain systems for automobile engines within our Mobility Business. By entering this market, we seek to contribute to the emergence of public infrastructure that offers greater safety and security.

2.Features and Advantages of the AZ-250 Engine-powered Drone

Currently, the drone market is dominated by electric drones that use batteries as their power source. In contrast, the AZ-250 drone to be manufactured and sold by our company will be equipped with a conventional gasoline engine. It will achieve flight times of up to several hours, a capability that is difficult for electric drones to match. This drone will be capable of up to 7 hours of continuous flight without a load, and about 1 hour of flight with a 50-kg load. As an all-weather aircraft, it will be capable of flying even in heavy rain.

(1) Maximum payload: 50 kg
(2) Maximum flight time: 7 hours (1 hour with 50-kg payload)
(3) Applications:
▪ Situations requiring long-distance and long-duration flights, such as cargo transport, infrastructure inspection, and wide-area logistics
▪ The high-efficiency gasoline engine will handle long-duration flights while ensuring reduced CO₂ emissions.

【Specifications】

Airframe type	Quad multicopter
Dimensions (With propellers in folded state)	H848×L2,205×W1,990mm (H848×L1,174×W973mm)
Empty weight	60kg
Maximum takeoff weight	115kg
Combined weight of payload + fuel	55kg
Flight time	7 hours (unladen) 1 hour (with 50-kg payload)
Fuel tank capacity	30L
Propellers	Variable pitch,1,220-mm dia.×4 units

3. Future Developments

In April 2025, we will assemble a specialized team within our New Business Development Center in order to commercialize the manufacture and sale of this engine-powered drone in a rapid manner. With the goal of launching commercial sales of our engine-powered drone in 2030, we intend to establish a production and sales system for these drones that will build on the technological expertise we have refined through our successful product development and manufacturing operations to date. This effort will also encompass peripheral equipment such as drone ports to support takeoff and landing as well as various transportation devices.

About Aizawa Concrete Corporation

AIZAWA Concrete Corporation is a comprehensive producer of concrete that is focused on creating value by combining concrete materials with cutting-edge technologies. Aizawa Concrete is driving its digital transformation from a conventional materials enterprise to an innovative marketing group by taking advantage of the features of smart materials. In so doing, the company is leveraging the benefits of collaborations between industry and academia by engaging with MIT of the U.S.A. and Delft University of Technology of the Netherlands. Notably, their research and development efforts have resulted in the emergence of Basilisk, a self-healing concrete that utilizes the metabolic functions of bacteria to repair cracks; 3D concrete printers incorporating quick-drying cement-based materials; and ec³, electron-conducting carbon-cement materials, also known as energy-storing concrete.