As at March FY2015, Air Water NV’s commissioned processing of the patented NV nitriding technology (metal surface processing) marked an annual sales of JPY2.868 billion up by 7.8% over the previous year including the overseas sales (the domestic sales amounting to JPY2.143 billion). In spite of the decrease in the licensing business which had greatly contributed to the substantial growth in the fiscal year ending March 2014, there was an approximate growth of 20% in the sales of auto-parts processing work in the main commissioned processing business which accounted for 70% of all. It was attributed to the attainment of mass-production after efforts for which the company had been canvassing to customers since several years ago.

NV Nitride (Dinitrogen Pentoxide) is a patented technology to enhance the hardness or strength of metals by means of reducing oxidized film of metal surface by activated gas for nitriding, and has been commercialized with the keyword of low-temperature processing. It is characteristic that nitriding of nickel alloys or stainless steel is possible despite the difficulty in use of other methods. They say that in such applications as to auto parts, sintered parts or industrial machine parts, inquiries are increasing also for the Pionite which penetrates carbon (not nitrogen) by the same method and enhances hardness not inhibiting the anti-corrosion properties of stainless steel.

The business of the company in terms of sales base consists 70% of commissioned processing in the own plant, 20% of leasing on-site technology to customers’ plants and 10% of licensing. In Japan, commissioned processing is being done at two locations of Amagasaki where the company is headquartered and also Isezaki City, Gunma Prefecture, and on-site facilities are being operated at eight locations across the country.

On the other hand, there are four overseas bases in Thailand, the Philippines, China and Indonesia. For the future business, the company puts into its site the North American market where automobile manufacturers including Japanese will set up their production bases.

The company forecasts a sales amount of JPY2.696 billion (down 5.9% comparing with the previous year) as at March FY2016, and President Miyamoto showed a positive attitude to expand the scale of business saying, “We are going to promote M&A and licensing activities in order to establish a new base considering regional characteristics.”