29 November 2010

Showa Denko and Air Water to form JV for specialty gases

Tokyo-based chemical manufacturer Showa Denko K.K. (SDK) and Osaka-based Air Water Inc (AWI), which supplies gas for industrial and medical applications, have agreed that in December they will establish a Tokyo-based joint venture for the production of specialty material gases for the electronics industry, to be marketed globally. Owned 51% by SDK and 49% by AWI, Showa Denko Air Water Co Ltd will be capitalized at ¥100m.

Demand for specialty material gases has been growing steadily, centered on Asian markets, for use in the production of solar cells, semiconductors, LCD panels, and LEDs, say the firms. Due to the increasing need for functional, energy-saving and compact electronic devices, manufacturers of specialty material gases are now required to develop new products and make further capital investments, they add.

SDK and AWI says that they aim to utilize their proprietary technologies to establish production at the new manufacturing joint venture and launch a wide variety of new material gases. The joint venture's will products will be sold independently by SDK and AWI through respective sales channels.

As a first step, within the premises of SDK’s Tokuyama Plant in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture the JV will install a 40ton/year production facility for hydrogen selenide (H2Se), which is used for forming light-absorbing films in copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) photovoltaic cells. H2Se production should start in June 2011.

SDK and AWI add that they aim to quickly strengthen their joint operations, pursuing the possibility of expanding the JV’s product lines and establishing plants at locations both in Japan and abroad.

Tags: SDK CIGS

Visit: www.sdk.co.jp

Visit: www.awi.co.jp/english