Hioki Electronics launches current probes with recycled plastic components

Hioki Electronics announced on June 18, 2026, the launch of two new current probe models—CT6704 and CT6705—incorporating recycled plastic materials. This marks the company's first product designed with recycled plastic adoption planned from the development stage. The recycled plastic is used in the housing exterior of the relay circuit box, which converts measured current into electrical signals. The company repurposes scrap materials (runners and spools) generated during the manufacturing process of molded components, which were previously discarded. These materials are shredded, pelletized, and blended with virgin resin, with recycled content capped at 10 percent to preserve product durability and quality. The recycled plastic is made from glass fiber-reinforced polycarbonate (PC+GF). Hioki had previously introduced recycled plastic (PC/ABS resin) in its AC clamp meter 3280 series in 2025, but the current probe models represent the first instance where recycled material adoption was integrated into the planning phase of new product development. The company plans to expand the use of the same resin to other products with different colors and grades, and aims to increase the proportion of recycled plastic-based products while also exploring biomasss plastic alternatives to further reduce environmental impact.