Products with Sharp's Plasmacluster Ion Technology Reach 30 Million Units Worldwide

This article introduces information presented on January 17, 2011 at a business briefing about sales and business strategy for products equipped with Plasmacluster Ion technology.

Total sales of products from Sharp Corporation and products from companies in other industries equipped with Plasmacluster Ion technology, Sharp's proprietary air purification technology, reached 30 million units worldwide at the end of December 2010, approximately 10 years after Sharp first embedded this technology in air purifiers in September 2000.

Thus far, Plasmacluster Ion technology has been deployed in 11 of Sharp's own products, including air purifiers, air conditioners, refrigerators, and MFPs. In addition, this technology is being used in an ever broadening array of interior spaces, including inside vehicles, railway passenger cars, and elevators, and last year, was adopted for use in manufacturing plants and amusement facilities. Also, with the recent decision of Nankai Electric Railway Co., Ltd. to introduce Plasmacluster Ion technology on its "Southern" 12000 series limited express railcars scheduled to begin service around the autumn of 2011, the number of companies adopting this technology has grown to 27.

At the same time, internationally, the number of countries where Plasmacluster-equipped products are available has doubled in the past two years, and currently stands at approximately 100. Sharp has also been intensifying the development of products equipped with Plasmacluster Ion technology designed specifically for local markets not only in developed countries, but also in emerging markets, particularly in ASEAN countries. For example, Sharp took note of the rising demand for motorbikes and scooters in Indonesia and will introduce a Plasmacluster Ion generator designed to deodorize motorbike helmets in late January.