• New center to be development hub for cutting-edge water treatment technologies
SINGAPORE, June 25, 2008 -- Japan's leading diversified materials manufacturer Nitto Denko Corporation (Nitto Denko) will be the first Japanese enterprise to set up an R&D Center dedicated to water treatment business in Singapore, the company said today.
Nitto Denko hopes to further strengthen its global water-related business expansion by concentrating its activities at WaterHub, national water agency PUB's premier centre for research and development (R&D). Nitto Denko and its U.S. subsidiary Hydranautics (HY) will engage in applications development focusing on practical-use evaluation tests by employing water actually treated at the WaterHub.
Nitto Denko Group has enjoyed a close, long-term relationship with PUB since the introduction of NEWater. Its RO membranes have been successfully adopted at large-scale NEWater plants at Bedok, Kranji and Ulu Pandan. In February this year, Nitto Denko Group also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with PUB and Mitsubishi Rayon Engineering to jointly develop technologies for used water treatment and reclamation.
The Singapore government has identified water and environment technologies as one of the three key growth sectors and will invest S$330 million to develop the industry. Singapore is being promoted as a global R & D base for water technologies by growing the local companies, attracting more companies to locate their operations in Singapore, encouraging more companies and research institutes to develop cutting-edge water technology and exporting Singapore's expertise overseas. Already, there is a thriving industry of more than 50 local and international water companies in Singapore.
Nitto Denko has decided to set up the R&D Center to ride on this trend in Singapore and capture further business opportunities in the Group's water treatment-related business.
In the domain of water treatment-related enterprise, Nitto Denko Group is actively pursuing business in three areas around the world. With its mother factory at Nitto Denko's Shiga Plant in Japan, the Group is engaged in production there as well as at Hydranautics, a Nitto Denko subsidiary in California, U.S.A., and in China. Fully leveraging its global sales and technical support network with more than 20 sites around the world, Nitto Denko Group now has a top-ranking share in this business area.
The Group intends to continue actively expanding its water treatment-related business by meeting the market's increasing demand from now on.
Outline of the R&D Center
1) Establishment Objective: Speedy development of practical as well as elemental technologies
2) Location: Within PUB's WaterHub compounds
3) Site Area: ca. 300 sq.m.
4) Establishment Date: August 2008
Singapore International Water Week
The Singapore International Water Week is the global platform for water solutions. It will bring policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners together to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities and celebrate achievements in the water world.
Comprising the Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention, Water Expo and Water Festival, it culminates in the presentation of the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, a prestigious international award to recognise outstanding contributions in solving global water issues. The inaugural Singapore International Water Week will be held from 23 to 27 June 2008. The theme is Sustainable Water Solutions for Cities.
To be installed at and during the Water Expo will be the "Japanese Pavilion", where Nitto Denko and HY will host a joint exhibition.
Nitto Denko Corporation was founded in 1918 as Japan's first manufacturer of electrical insulation materials.
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