1) Nisshinbo, in cooperation with Tokyo Institute of Technology, has developed a new technology which enables the use of carbon for the catalyst in the fuel cell.
The carbon will supersede platinum, which is a rare metal and expensive.
It is sure that use of the carbon for the catalyst will reduce the price of the fuel cell. Particularly, the residential FC cogenerators are on the eve of mass production stage. The cost reduction is essential to the popularization of the fuel cells.
This new technology also provided an effective solution to the rare and limited resource problem.
Source: Reuters
2) New plant for manufacturing separators for fuel cells will be built in Chiba prefecture.
The production capability of the new plant is 8,000,000 separators/year.
Nisshinbo's separator is of the carbon molding type, and has been delivered mainly for residential FC cogenerators. The company has the top share in this market.
The production facilities in Miai plant, currently operating, in Mie prefecture, will be transferred to the new plant.
This Nisshinbo's action will be in preparation for the semi-mass production of the residential FC cogenerators in 2009 in Japan.
Final decision of building the new plant will be made this autumn.
See also (68) of JFC News.
Source: THE NIKKAN KOGYO SHIMBUN,LTD.