Comprehensive chemical manufacturer Futamura Chemical has more than a 60-year track record in activated carbon, one type of adsorbent. In January last year, they acquired Adsorption Technology Industries, who mainly makes and sells PSA-related products, as a subsidiary to emerge as a PSA system gas generator manufacturer this spring, reported The Gas Review.
Adsorption Technology Industries’ strength in PSA-related technologies lies in purification, separation and recovery technology for methane gas, hydrogen (H2) and other gases. Futamura Chemical focused on biogas fuel cell systems that generate power from carbon dioxide (CO2)-free H2 derived from biogas. (PSA method is used to upgrade methane from biogas produce purified H2 from the upgraded methane, and use the purified H2 in fuel cells.) They will take advantage of their sales network which they have fostered at home and overseas to start business activities for bigas power generation plant around the world. Plans are to sell methane PSA and H2 PSA equipment from Adsorption Technology Industries on a global basis.
Futamura Chemical started business in 1950 as an activated carbon manufacturer. They have been advancing the development of new materials and expanding their business areas, and in addition to activated carbon they now also feature the development of an expanded range of products, including plastic films for wrapping food products, industrial/medical cellophane, phenolic laminated sheets for electronic component insulation and saccharification materials for soft capsule base materials. They have centres in six countries – the USA, England, Australia, Mexico, Braxil and Malaysia – with total sales of approximately YEN 71.5bn for the term ending in March 2018 (non-consolidated basis), with 85% in wrapping films, 10% in activated carbon and 5% in other products.
For PSA-related products, Tsurumicoal, a subsidiary of Futamura Chemical, makes and sells high-performance gas separation activated carbon. Futamura Chemical started selling activated carbon for methane adsorption to Adsorption Technology Industries three or four years ago, forming the starting point for the current acquisition as a subsidiary.
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