Japanese manufacturers raise their green profiles

The growing importance of the green sector is underlined by the enlarged footprint of this year's Eco-Manufacture 2009, which opens Wednesday at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition centre. One company will be demonstrating its technologies for recovering rare metals from used batteries, while others will showcase highly efficient LED-organic lighting, super-efficient boilers and equipment to process hazardous waste. Also on display will be energy-saving freezing equipment, reduced-power air conditioning facilities and methods of purifying contaminated water.

First held in November 2004 in Yokohama, the event has grown every year since, according to organizers, and around 100 companies will be represented at 200 booths this year. Last year, 70 companies took part in the exhibition. Similarly, the 12,000 people expected to attend the event is up on the 10,664 who visited in 2008.

The Eco-Manufacture show is the only event in Japan that is designed to approach environment-friendly issues from the management side of the business equation and match corporations' business requirements with meeting environmental commitments.

Sections within the exhibition will be dedicated to matters such as environment management support, the designing and operation of eco-friendly manufacturing facilities, more efficient equipment, how best to reduce the amount of energy companies use and how to minimize the use of materials - including chemicals and heavy metals - in the design of buildings and systems.

Another key part of the event will be methods to reduce harmful emissions in the air - such as through the application of carbon eliminators and deodorization equipment - as well as releasing contaminants into the soil or water sources.

Companies and organizations that have taken part in previous years include such key players in the sector as Fujitsu Ltd., Hitachi Ltd., Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. and the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation.

The event includes special presentations on heat shields and insulation for factories, measures on emissions of volatile organic compounds and a product and technology seminar designed to allow exhibitors to showcase their latest products, technologies and services.

The Eco-Manufacture exhibition is running in tandem with Inchem Tokyo 2009, the largest trade fair in Asia for chemical plant engineering and advanced materials in use in the industry.

Similar events are held in the United States, with Green Manufacturing Expos taking place in New York, Anaheim in California, Charlotte in North Carolina and Rosemont in Illinois each year. The next event will be held in Anaheim in February.

Dates: November 18 to November 20

Times: 10 am to 5 pm

Costs: Entrance fee is Y1,000 (€7.50).

Venue: Tokyo Big Sight exhibition centre, 3-11-1 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0063.

Tel: +81 3 5530 1111.

Further Information: The Japan Management Association

www.jma.or.jp/ecoma/en/index.html

or Tel. +81 3 5530 1182.

JR