Omron and Mitsui & Co. Announce Agreement on Joint Venture
for Full-scale Development of Capacitor System
Tokyo, Japan, Apr. 26, 2004 - (JCN Newswire) - Omron Corporation
, Mitsui & Co., Ltd. , Okamura Laboratory, Inc., and
Power Systems Co., Ltd. have reached an agreement today to proceed with
a joint venture aiming to promote the full-scale use of a high
performance electric double layer capacitor system (hereinafter
"ECaSS(R)" (Energy Capacitor Systems)).
ECaSS(R) is a next generation capacitor system invented in 1992 by
Michio Okamura, President of Okamura Laboratory. This breakthrough
technology increases charge capacity (energy density), which is
characteristically insufficient for conventional electric double layer
capacitors (a type of condenser), beyond that of lead-acid batteries and
nickel-metal-hydride batteries to a level of capacitance close to that
of lithium-ion batteries. ECaSS(R) is an environment-friendly technology
and contains no harmful substances such as lead, and is also expected to
contribute to solving energy and environmental problems on a global
scale as a means of advancing high-efficiency energy use. ECaSS(R)
utilizes nanogate capacitor technology, activated carbon capacitor
technology and innovative electronic circuit technology.
This joint venture possesses all of the development, production and
sales functions necessary for the commercialization of ECaSS(R), by
combining the technologies of Okamura Laboratory and Power Systems with
the manufacturing know-how and quality assurance capabilities of Omron,
along with the procurement and sales and other related capabilities of
Mitsui in both domestic and overseas markets of various industries.
From a product and technology standpoint, by using activated carbon
capacitor technology (energy density: 6-12Wh/kg), which is already
technically complete, as the base, we are able to further the practical
development of nanogate capacitor technology and to plan for mass
commercial production, aiming for energy density of 40Wh/kg (equivalent
to the effective capacitance of nickel-metal-hydride batteries) within
the fiscal year ending 2004 and 60Wh/kg (nearing the effective charge
capacity of lithium-ion batteries) within the fiscal year ending March
2005. In addition, from the standpoint of production, we are aiming to
inject 2.5 billion yen in capital investment for mass production during
the next 3 years through the fiscal year ending March 2006, and to
achieve a production capacity of 300,000 cells (cell: the smallest unit
of storage in ECaSS(R)) per month during the fiscal year ending March
2007. Power systems plans to setup a mass production line in Omron's
facilities.
From a business standpoint, we aim to achieve sales of over 10 billion
yen in the fiscal year ending March 2007 as the leading company in the
electric double layer capacitor market. This market is expected to
continue expanding in the future, and the joint venture will focus
particularly on expansion in the automobile, industrial equipment, and
new energy storage systems markets.
Power Systems, which to date has been carrying out the commercialization
of ECaSS(R), will be allocating new shares at the end of May, to be
purchased in their entirety by Omron and Mitsui. Over the next two years
Omron and Mitsui will contribute a total of 2 billion yen in investment
and financing. The ratio of investment between Omron and Mitsui has yet
to be determined, but Omron is planned to become the largest
shareholder. Omron and Mitsui will both dispatch employees to Power
Systems. Michio Okamura, the president of Okamura Laboratory, will be
the Chairman of the joint venture, the President will be appointed from
Omron, and the president of the present Power Systems, Masaaki
Yamagishi, and one candidate from Mitsui will be the two
Vice-presidents, while other board members are also scheduled to be
appointed.
Omron has expanded its business thus far as a major manufacturer in the
control equipment field. Relying on the technical ability it has
developed in the past, Omron believes it is possible to attempt
mass-production of ECaSS(R), the market for which is expected to rapidly
expand in the near future, and to promote the widespread use of
ECaSS(R). Omron's decision to take part in this joint venture is based
on its hopes to promote efficient energy use and to contribute to
society on a wider scale.
Mitsui recognizes that, in addition to the production and sales of
capacitors, ECaSS(R) business will lead to the creation of a number of
new applications of ECaSS(R). As a general trading company, Mitsui
believes that the network it has built up over multiple industries will
be indispensable in this respect. Mitsui entered into the partnership
after comprehensively examining the positive effects on energy use and
the environment that will result from the use of ECaSS(R), and realizing
the promising nature of this business.
In 1992, Okamura Laboratory combined electric double layer capacitors
with electronic circuits to design the ECaSS(R) storage system. In 1996,
Okamura Laboratory discovered the phenomenon that would become the
principle of nanogate capacitors, which would further increase the
energy density of the capacitor part, and thereafter released the
findings of their research, and continued developing and publicizing
their research. However, it was believed that in order to spread the use
of ECaSS(R) throughout the world it would be necessary to develop a
system to reduce costs, achieve large-scale production and implement
sales. It was finally decided that the most optimum plan would be to
position Power Systems as the core of the operation, and use the
investment, production technology and business capabilities of the
ECaSS(R) group members Omron and Mitsui.
Power Systems has been involved in the research development, production
and sales of ECaSS(R), and in order to achieve the goal of fully
developing the ECaSS(R) business, and while also strengthening the
technical collaboration with Okamura Laboratory for ECaSS(R), Power
Systems came to the conclusion that it would be best to proceed under a
new management system, with investment from Omron and Mitsui.
* About Electric Double Layer Capacitors
An electric double layer capacitor is a next generation storage device,
which allows electricity to be stored as it is without any conversion.
In 1879, the German physicist Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz
proposed the theory that the distance between the positive and negative
charges generating at the interface of an electrode and electrolyte
exist in the distance of the molecular level. The following
characteristics are apparent when electric double layer capacitors are
compared with secondary batteries that use conventional chemical
reactions (lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries, etc.).
- Higher reliability resulting from the use of physical phenomenon not
involving chemical conversions
- Possibility of high-speed large-current charge and discharge
- Electric double layer capacitors can be charged and discharged
repeatedly, and theoretically have an unlimited lifespan
- Due to the high charge and discharge efficiency, there is low
electrical loss, higher electricity accumulation ability.
- Contains no heavy metals, and is environment-friendly
- Low risk of failure or explosion
One drawback is the low level of energy density that can be stored. To
date, electric double layer capacitors have only been commercialized for
use as the power source for memory backup and video cassette recorder
clocks, etc., which can operate without failure even with a low storage
capacity.
* About ECaSS(R) (Energy Capacitor Systems)
ECaSS(R) is a high-performance electricity storage system invented by
Okamura Laboratory, constructed from a capacitors and electronic
circuits. ECaSS(R) uses improved capacitor material and electronic
circuits, thus realizing a capacity approximately 12 times that of the
electric double layer capacitor with the largest storage capacity that
is currently on the market. Although pseudo-capacitors (also called
redox capacitors; a type of capacitor with storage heightened by
combining with lithium-ion batteries, etc.), cannot be directly compared
with ECaSS(R) because they have the characteristics of secondary
batteries such as a short cycle life, etc., ECaSS(R) realizes
approximately 4 times the capacity compared with the pseudo-capacitors
(in combination with lithium-ion battery: 15Wh/kg) currently on the
market.
By using ECaSS(R), it becomes possible to efficiently use energy over a
broad range from industry use to private use for such applications as
hybrid vehicles, storage systems that combine capacitors with natural
energy sources such as wind power or photovoltaic generation, as well as
the reuse of nighttime electricity during the day.
There are two types of ECaSS(R), each based on a different technology.
(1) Activated carbon capacitor (porous carbon type, energy density:
6-12Wh/kg)
Fine pores, which absorb the electrically charged ions, are formed on
the electrode of the activated carbon capacitor by breaking down the
carbon at high temperature. The activated carbon capacitor is
characterized by high output density, but there is a limit to the
increase of energy density due to the inability of some of the fine
pores formed during the production of the electrode to contribute to the
capacity. However, the technology is complete, and focus is being placed
on mass production of this type in hopes of spreading its use.
(2) Nanogate capacitor (non-porous carbon, energy density: 20-60Wh/kg)
The electrode of the nanogate capacitor is formed by making pores in the
carbon with the ions themselves in the electrolyte solution. A nanogate
capacitor is different from an activated carbon capacitor and is
characterized by the fact that the ions form the fine pores themselves,
and thus the pores unable to contribute to the capacity are not formed.
Furthermore, it is possible to form the fine pores that perfectly match
the ion size, to obtain higher energy density. However, because an
advanced level of technology is necessary for the production of the
electrodes, focus is being placed on further improvement of energy
density and technical development for the purpose of mass
commercialization.
Overview of Joint Venture
Company name: Power Systems Co., Ltd.
(continued use of same company name is
planned)
Members of the Board: 7 members (Omron 3, Mitsui 2, Okamura
Laboratory 1,
Power Systems 1)
Chairman: Michio Okamura
President: to be selected from Omron
Vice-presidents: Masaaki Yamagishi from Power Systems, and
one candidate
from Mitsui (total: 2)
Location of Headquarters: 342-3 Aotocho, Midori-ku, Yokohama
(current location of Power Systems)
Production center: Scheduled for Omron's facilities
(location yet to be decided)
Overview of Omron
Company name: Omron Corporation
Business details: FA (factory automation) systems, control
equipment,
electronic components, financial systems,
social
systems, traffic systems, healthcare
equipment and
services, development, sales, and service
of PC
peripheral equipments
President and CEO: Hisao Sakuta
Capital: JPY 64,082 million
Address: 801 Minamifudoudou-chou, Shirokoji Horikawa,
Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, 600-8530, JAPAN
Consolidated employees: 23,745 (as of the end of September 2003)
Consolidated sales: JPY 535,073 million (Fiscal Year ended
March 2003)
Overview of Mitsui
Company name: Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
Business details: Domestic sales, import/export, and overseas
trading of
products, as well as multilateral
development of
services in the areas of metals, machinery,
information, chemicals, energy, and
consumer goods.
Representative: Shoei Utsuda, President
Capital: JPY 192,487 million
Address: 2-1, Ohtemachi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
100-0004
Consolidated number
of employees: 39,283 (as of the end of September 2003)
Consolidated sales: JPY 13,236,683 million (Fiscal Year ended
March 2003)
Overview of Okamura Laboratory
Company name: Okamura Laboratory, Inc.
Business details: Research, development, instruction,
education,
consultation and writing about electronic
technology.
Representative: Michio Okamura, President
Capital: JPY 15 million
Address: 2-19-6 Minamiota, Minami-ku, Yokohama
Number of employees: 5 (as of the end of September 2003)
Consolidated sales: JPY 43 million (Fiscal Year ended March
2003)
Overview of Power Systems
Company name: Power Systems Co., Ltd.
Business details: Research, development, production and sales
of
capacitors, and the development, production
and sales
of capacitor systems including electronic
circuits.
Representative: Masaaki Yamagishi, President
Capital: JPY 60 million
Address: 342-3 Aotocho, Midori-ku, Yokohama
Number of employees: 15 (as of the end of September 2003)
Sales: JPY 192 million (Fiscal Year ended March
2003)
About Mitsui and Co., Ltd.
Mitsui and Co., Ltd. is one of the largest
trading houses in the world and is active in a wide range of trading
activities, along with the development of energy sources and other
natural resources for various industries. These include export, import,
domestic and offshore transactions in such industrial materials as
steel, non-ferrous metals and chemicals as well as in machinery,
electronic and industrial products and lifestyle-related products,
including foodstuffs, textiles and general merchandise. Mitsui is also
involved in various businesses related to the aforementioned activities,
as well as telecommunications and IT, service businesses and regional
development.For further information, please visit the Mitsui and Co.,
Ltd. home page at: www.mitsui.co.jp/tkabz/english/
<http://www.mitsui.co.jp/tkabz/english/>
About Omron Corp.
Headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, OMRON Corporation
is a global leader in the field of automation. Established in 1933 and
headed by CEO Hisao Sakuta, Omron has more than 23,000 employees in over
35 countries working to provide products and services to customers in a
variety of fields including industrial automation, electronic
components, social systems (ticket gate machines, ticket vending
machines, cash dispensers, and traffic control), and healthcare. The
company is divided into five regions and head offices are in Japan
(Kyoto), Asia Pacific (Singapore), China (Shanghai), Europe (Amsterdam)
and US (Chicago). The European organisation has its own development and
manufacturing facilities, and provides local customer support in all
European countries.For further information, please visit the Omron Corp.
home page at: www.omron.com <http://www.omron.com>
Contact
Omron Corporation
Communications Division
Mr.Takayuki Nakamura, Christopher Udell
takayuki_nakamura@omron.co.jp
christopher_udell@omron.co.jp
3-4-10,Toranomon, Minato-ku
Tokyo,105-0001
TEL:+81-3-3436-7202
Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Corporate Communications Division,
Media Relations Dept.
Mr.Eiki Okada
E.Okada@mitsui.com
2-1, Ohtemachi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004
TEL: +81-3-3285-7562
Okamura Laboratory, Inc.
2-19-6 Minamiota, Minami-ku, Yokohama 232-0006
TEL: +81-45-712-7103
Power Systems Co., Ltd., General Affairs Group
342-3 Aotocho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-0022
TEL: +81-45-931-2202
_____
Apr. 26, 2004, 17:00 (JST)
Source: Omron Corp.
Mitsui and Co., Ltd.
www.mitsui.co.jp/tkabz/english/ <http://www.mitsui.co.jp/tkabz/english/>
Omron Corp. (OTC: OMRNY)
www.omron.com <http://www.omron.com>
From the Japan Corporate News Network
www.japancorp.net <http://www.japancorp.net>
Topic: Joint Venture
Sectors: Printed circuit boards, Embedded technologies, Electronic
Components, Fuel Cells, Electronics General, Energy General, Environment
General
