Praised as "Close to the Real Machine" and "Highly Immersive": Improved Excavator Simulator Unveiled for the First Time in Ishikawa Prefecture

In April 2025, with the cooperation of Yamaguchi Co., Ltd., headquartered in Ishikawa Prefecture, we hosted a hands-on exhibition of our construction machinery simulator.

This was the second such hands-on session we have held.
Based on the feedback we received last time (February 2025), we made many improvements, including to operability, visibility, and UI layout, and this session was a valuable opportunity for the following five companies to actually try out the results.

[Participating companies]

• Yamaguchi Co., Ltd.: President Yamaguchi
• Kawashita Kenki Kogyo Co., Ltd.: President Kawashita
• CHRONOX Co., Ltd.: President Hosokawa
• Hirano Kensetsu Co., Ltd.: President Hirano
• Yamazaki Kensetsu Co., Ltd.: President Yamazaki

We feel that participants not only sensed how much the simulator has evolved since last time, but also were able to form a more concrete picture of introducing it.
In this article, we introduce the key improvements and our plans going forward, along with comments from the participants.

Click here for the report on the first hands-on session ➡ https://wan-hiroshima.jp/works/metatrain_trial_session/

What we presented and what we improved

• What we did Based on our "Excavator Simulator Development and METATORE Proposal" materials, we gave the following overview. Background and purpose of introducing the simulator: an initiative aimed at workforce development, safety measures, and promoting DX in the construction industry. Product features: support for both a dedicated cabin unit and VR, data analysis functions, an expandable configuration, and more, explained in a way that linked to the hands-on experience. Future outlook and adoption benefits: perpetual licenses for partner companies, free provision of METATORE, and more.
• Improvements based on feedback We prepared two versions: a full-scale dedicated cockpit unit version and a VR version using a head-mounted display. Since control schemes for real excavators differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, we improved the simulator so that the control method can be switched. Participants praised it highly, saying "it reproduced movements close to the scheme our company uses." The VR version was well received because it lets you grasp the site space in three dimensions, while the cockpit unit version offered a practical training feel thanks to realistic lever operation and a stable field of view.

Click here for details on "METATORE" ➡ https://wan-hiroshima.jp/works/metatorain2/

Comments from participating companies

• "The controls are natural and easy to understand."
• "I now have a clear picture of introducing it on site."
• "It gives you a feel close to the real machine."
• "Being able to see practice results as numbers and history should be very effective for training young workers."
• "The VR is highly immersive, and the sense of space on site felt real. It was very easy to understand how to take coordinates and judge distances when digging."
• "The view and camera movement were stable, so I could concentrate without getting motion sick."

Results of the improvements and next steps

This hands-on session was a valuable opportunity to show external companies, for the first time, the latest version, which we had refined repeatedly based on lessons from the first session. It was a very important occasion for us as well, and the feedback we received from participants was extremely meaningful.

We were able to confirm that our improvements were headed in the right direction and that the product's practicality and future potential came across clearly, which gave us a strong sense of momentum for future development.

We will use the valuable opinions we received through the exhibition to improve the product and support its adoption. We will keep working to mature the product so that it can be used at more sites.

Going forward, we will continue to listen directly to people in the construction industry as we work toward creating "a training tool that is truly usable on site."

We sincerely thank all of the participating companies, and Yamaguchi Co., Ltd. for its cooperation in holding the event.

Now recruiting early development partners! – Limited to 5 companies

We are currently recruiting early development partners for our excavator simulator, limited to 5 companies.

Benefits for early development partners

• Custom-developed version provided under a one-time purchase
• Free provision of the proficiency management function (METATORE Platform)
• Special pricing when the product version is released
• Promotional support for your company (introductions on our website and at exhibitions)

For specific terms and contract details, please feel free to contact us.

Notes on the product version release

• We are aiming to release the product version in 2026, but we cannot guarantee this.
• We therefore ask that you consider delivery of the custom-developed version as your primary objective.

How to inquire and apply

Companies wishing to participate as early development partners are welcome to contact us using the details below.

We look forward to your participation!