Japan EnviroChemicals has been enjoying satisfactory sales of MSC (molecular sieve carbon) which is used for an adsorbent of nitrogen PSA. In 2014 the delivered volume increased by 15% over the previous year. Tatsuo Fujii deputy director of Activated Carbon Division and Sales Dept. manager said, “The remarkable growth in the export to Europe and India contributed to the increased sales as a major factor. The world MSC market is still developing now. It will be our aim for 2015 how we enhance efficiency of production and level up our supply capability.”

The company’s affiliate Minabe Chemical Industries is producing MSC at Minabe-cho, Hidaka District of Wakayama Prefecture and supplying its products to more than 40 countries over the world. The production capacity is 1500 tons per year (estimated by The Gas Review). Since the sales collaboration with German Carbotech at the end of 2012, the company’s market share has jumped up to the top of the world. He tells that the company takes a share of 30 to 35% estimating the size of world market at 4000 to 4500 tons. 　

Before the collaboration with Carbotech the major destinations of MSC shipped by the company had been North America, China and Asia as well as Japan. Europe and India to which Carbotech were supplying have been added now, which has raised the volume of delivery up to one thirds of total. Among the current destinations of delivery, North America and Japan keep growing at a steady pace. The activated production of nitrogen PSA for maritime use, above all, has contributed to pushing up the demand for MSC. Though the Chinese economy stayed flat, there seems to be no decreasing trend.

From the aspect of product, the evaluation of the new product launched last year is now getting better gradually. “The new product has brought so higher separating effects that it is popularly adopted to energy-saving PSA of package type. It means that the product seems to have won a certain reputation in its performance, hardness and stability.” It has been a well-known feature of the MSC made by the company that there are a wide variety of product type. The company intends to increase the lineup of standard products and further proceed with further enhancement of products.

As for the expansion of facilities, the company is elaborately continuing considerations because the production line of MSC must inevitably be dedicated one of own that cannot be replaceable with any other production line. “It is true that the demand is on the increase as a trend, but there is no verification of accuracy. We have to pay attention to the movement of one competitor in Japan and five others in China. We are planning to modify the existing facilities for the coming several years so that our output can be increased even a little bit. Our expansion of delivery in 2015 greatly depends upon the modification performance.”

For information, the company name of Japan EnviroChemicals will be changed into “Osaka Gas Chemical” effective on April 1 on account of the affiliation rearrangements of the Osaka Gas group, and will newly start then. Following the coming change of name, there will be the biggest change in packaging, but company’s responses to customers will remain unchanged. Under the new name the company will make efforts to keep accurate delivery and stable supply as before.