Corporate
Profile

[Company strength]
In Japan, most photocatalyst manufacturers handling glass and tiles. They add photocatalytic functions to their in-house products and sell them as completed items. There are few companies like us who manufacture and sell the photocatalysts themselves. We think our company has a unique business model. Our advantage is the in-house process that produces the photocatalytic liquid coating for textiles. We have rich and unique knowhow on mixing liquids (recipe) and actual processing methods.

[Business description]
We develop, manufacture and sell photocatalysts and other environment improving materials. Our main products are photocatalytic liquid coatings for organic matter used in textile products. We are still focused on R&D to improve the performance of products through upgrades.  The manufacture of our developed products is consigned to a factory specialized in processing liquids. We mainly sell products through agencies (about 70 domestic companies and 4 overseas companies) and are actively recruiting new sales agencies.



[Industry]
Manufacture of chemical products

[Strength of products/technologies]
Our company provides competitive quality, performance and price in the field of photocatalytic coating liquids for organic matter (mainly textile products). Conventional photocatalysts are limited to applications on inorganic materials and are difficult to use on textiles and other organic materials. For organic matter coating, we independently developed photocatalysts with the following features: 
1. Suppressing material deterioration while maintaining texture
2. Room temperature curing does not require high-heat treatment
3. Single-component type requires only one process
These features have allowed our photocatalysts to be applied on almost all commodities for living, such as clothing.


[Representative's message]
Our company has been proactively participating in overseas exhibitions (mainly in China) for the past four years. The environmental field is attracting attention as the next potential market in China, which is suffering from serious environmental contamination. We have confirmed particularly high needs for purifying the living environment using the photocatalysts that we have been developing. Local customers know that "Photocatalysts are a global technology born in Japan." There are already similar, low-priced products on the market. However, there is increasing demand for Japanese photocatalysts and there is a willingness to pay extra for the high quality and reliability. We believe this business opportunity is perfect for us.

[Company structure for market development/overseas expansion]
The main overseas market of our products is China. For activities in China, we are using the Shanghai-Kawasaki SME Liaison Office operated by Kawasaki City for joint use by companies in the city and also a network linking local agencies (four companies at present). In Japan, we are considering employing Chinese-speaking sales staff in the near future.

[Market share/Ranking]
We do not know our share based on statistical data because the field of photocatalysts is still new. The Photocatalyst Industry Association (inaugurated in 2006) is now surveying the market scale.

[Awards and media coverage]
[Awards]
Business and Idea Seed Award at Kawasaki Entrepreneur Audition (2006)
Kanagawa Industrial Nav Award 2015 - Prize of Excellence in Eco

[Media]
Introduced in Asahi Shimbun (2007), Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun (2009), The Chemical Daily (2011, 2015), etc.


[Authorization/Certification]
Product certificate from the Photocatalyst Industry Association (PIAJ mark)
Certificate Nos. 2012-0009, 2013-0001, and 2015-0005


[Joint research and development]
Joint research and development with two major companies (details disclosed because they are other companies in the same line of business)

[Intellectual property]
Registered patent No. 5688631 (Catalyst carrying method, carrying substrate, and carrying liquid adjustment)
Two patents now pending
Registered trademarks (4 in Japan and 5 in China) and applications (10 in China)


[Transaction form]
Sales agencies and product users

[Transaction terms]
By consultation

[Main Clients / Business History (domestic)]
Medical care: Adopted in products of KINGRUN Co., Ltd. who has the top share (60%) in the domestic market of hospital curtains (from 2008)Apparel: Adopted for jeans from EDWIN Co., Ltd. to add the deodorizing function (two seasons, spring and summer of 2009)Governmental agencies: Hikari Mist already delivered to the Air Defense Force of the Ministry of Defense as supplies to each base in Japan (2009)

[Main Clients / Business History (overseas)]
Used by the Audi Sales Department of First Automobile Works Group as photocatalysts for car cabins (from 2015 to date)