Panasonic El Works : to Start Producing Catalyst-coated Diesel Particulate Filter at New Plant in Suzhou, China

With new orders from an engine manufacturer in China, Panasonic is expanding its catalyst business for cleaning diesel engine exhaust, targeting 10 billion yen in the year to March 2019.

Osaka, Japan- Panasonic Corporation today announced that it has set up a new plant in Suzhou, China, through its subsidiary, Panasonic Ecology Systems Co., Ltd., to produce a new type of catalyst-coated diesel particulate filter that decomposes particulate matter^*2 contained in diesel engine exhaust gas. As diesel emissions regulations have become increasingly stringent, particularly in Japan, the U.S. and Europe, Panasonic is expanding its automotive catalyst business for cleaning diesel exhaust. The new plant in Suzhou, slated for operation in December, will produce the innovative filters for its customers, including a new customer in the engine manufacturing sector in China.

Panasonic Ecology Systems, a manufacturer of IAQ (indoor air quality) products for global markets, including ventilation fans and air purifiers, developed a new catalyst to coat diesel particulate filters (DPF) that clean diesel exhaust gas in 2010^*3. The new catalyst compound does not use platinum and is energy efficient as it can decompose particulate matter at a lower temperature than typical catalysts.

The company has recently won the first order from an engine manufacturer in China, where the automotive emissions regulations are being tightened. Panasonic's filters will be adopted by existing diesel vehicles and non-road diesel machinery^*4, for which regulations will be strengthened in the future. To quickly respond to the demand, the Suzhou plant will use the powdered catalyst made at Ecology Systems' plant in Kasugai City, central Japan, to coat a DPF base material for the production of the filters.

With this new plant, Panasonic's catalyst business for cleaning diesel exhaust will move into a higher gear. The company is targeting 10 billion yen in sales in the fiscal year ending March 2019.

Panasonic will continue to contribute to the creation of a healthy and comfortable environment by providing highly energy-efficient IAQ products for global markets.

Notes:

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development of diverse electronics technologies and solutions for customers in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, enterprise solutions and device industries. Since its founding in 1918, the company has expanded globally and now operates 468 subsidiaries and 94 associated companies worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of 7.715 trillion yen for the year ended March 31, 2015. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisional lines, the company uses its technologies to create a better life and a better world for its customers. To learn more about Panasonic: http://www.panasonic.com/global.

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