In July of this year, Iwatani will obtain the certification of Japan Reinforcing Bar Joints Institute (JRJI) for the pressure welding joint method of reinforcing bars in use of Iwatani’s cutting gas “HYDROCUT” under the title of “Welding Method by H2/ethylene mixture gas.” After the scheduled completion of the specifications, a full-fledged sales activity will start from the autumn of 2015. Conventionally acetylene or natural gas had mainly been used for a combustion gas in the pressure gas welding, but since 2012 Iwatani Industrial Gases of the group company has　been carrying out a consigned research to commercialize the pressure welding using “HYDROCUT” with JRJI.

In 2011, Iwatani created a stir in the cutting gas market by launching a mixed gas “HYDROCUT” composed of hydrogen and ethylene as an alternative gas of acetylene. There are now 2 filling stations as group’s facilities located at Iwatani Industrial Gases Himeji Plant and also Chiba Plant. The newly-born cutting gas has been selling at a satisfactory pace since 2011. It is getting surely well-known with quite a few enquiries from across the country. Particularly in terms of safety and workability the new gas has got a high reputation and acceptance for adoption. Apart from the application to cutting, as a matter of fact, it is getting extensively used in the fields of automotive application, brazing or roasting.

Makoto Horiguchi, Iwatani’s associate officer in charge of industrial gases said, “It has been highly evaluated mainly by general construction companies and electric companies for its safety properties, resulting in more sales in the steel-making, construction and shipbuilding industries. With the certification at this time, developments of applications to pressure welding or spraying have come into our sight. “HYDROCUT” now functions as a business item for the IGN Group, which is distributing companies and one of Iwatani group, and the Iwatani Supporters’ Community. The enhanced applications will bring to us a tail-wind to develop new demands.”