Sales of Products Equipped with Sharp's Plasmacluster
Technology Reach 50 Million Units Worldwide^*2

The expanding world of Plasmacluster technology

Since the introduction in October 2000 of the first air purifiers equipped with Plasmacluster technology, Sharp's proprietary air purification technology, total sales of products equipped with this technology reached 50 million units worldwide^*2 at the end of December 2013.
Over the years, Plasmacluster devices have evolved in effectiveness as Sharp has made them more and more compact and given them the capability to generate increasingly higher concentrations of ions. As a result, they have enjoyed a steady increase in popularity as their spread into other industries accelerates.

Plasmacluster is a proprietary Sharp technology that cleans the air by emitting positive and negative ions like those found in the natural world. Its high degree of safety and reliable effectiveness has been proven by independent research and testing organizations in Japan and abroad. Thus far, Plasmacluster technology has been deployed in 15^*3 of Sharp's own product categories, including air purifiers, air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, and cooling fans. In addition, its introduction into other business and industrial fields is also expanding: in January of this year, Sharp's new solution proposal on creating hygienic spaces and saving energy, a case study that involved installing Plasmacluster-equipped units in a seafood processing plant, won the Director-General's Prize of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, an award in the 2013 Energy Conservation Grand Prize program^*4 in Japan. Further, its use in public spaces is also expanding, including being installed on a trial basis in the passenger cars of the Osaka Municipal Subway's Midosuji Line beginning April 23.^*5

30000 series subway cars on the Midosuji Line of the Osaka Municipal Subway

Also, in recent years, the deterioration in the outdoor environment due to the influx of PM2.5 fine particulate, "yellow dust" sandstorms, pollen, and similar air pollutants, has resulted in fewer opportunities to open windows, and there is a growing need to take measures to deal with fungi and odors indoors. In air conditioners and washing machines equipped with Plasmacluster technology, the effectiveness of suppressing the growth of fungi that occurs on the interior surfaces and in agitator tubs has been confirmed.^*6 The release of fungi into rooms and their adhering to clothing is also reduced. In refrigerators, Plasmacluster technology also reduces odors that adhere to the wall surfaces of interior compartments.^*7 Plasmacluster provides solutions to problems of immediate concern, such as fungi and odors, and supports healthy living.

Sharp will continue to aim to achieve better living through the evolution of Plasmacluster technology itself, the creation of new products equipped with it, and by providing solutions for purifying the air and saving energy.

• *1 Plasmacluster and the Plasmacluster logos are registered trademarks of Sharp Corporation.
• *2 Total domestic and international shipments of products equipped with Plasmacluster technology, as well as Plasmacluster ion generators, from October 2000 to the end of December 2013.
• *3 As of April 17, 2014.
• *4 For more information, visit http://www.sharp.co.jp/corporate/news/140122-b.html (in Japanese).
• *5 For more information, see this press release on the City of Osaka website (in Japanese):
  http://www.city.osaka.lg.jp/hodoshiryo/kotsu/0000260878.html
• *6 Refer to Fungi Growth Inhibiting Effect in Air Conditioner Indoor Units and Washing Machines.
• *7 Refer to Effect of Reducing Odors Adhering to Interior Wall Surfaces of Refrigerators.

Current Sharp Products Featuring Plasmacluster Ion Technology (total: 15)
(as of April 17, 2014)

Air purifiers, air conditioners, refrigerators, dehumidifiers, humidifiers, ceramic fan heaters, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, Plasmacluster Ion generators, LED lighting, MFPs^*8, beauty appliances, dryers, cooling fans, robotic home appliances

• *8 Plasmacluster Ion generator available as option.

Fungi Growth Inhibiting Effect in Air Conditioner Indoor Units

• • Organization contracted to perform analysis: Japan Food Research Laboratories
• • Certificates of analysis: Nos. 14006461002-01, 14006461006-01 (issued March 26, 2014)
• • Test method: Test conducted in a Sharp facility for 8 days under conditions of 30℃ room temperature and 60% humidity, with cooling operation for 8 hours/day.
  After operation, for both the case when interior purification was performed and not performed, samples on the surface of materials used in air ducts (ABS plastic) to which fungi had adhered were tested.
  Compare areas where fungi have grown, referring to JIS standard Z2911: "Methods of test for fungi resistance".
• • Test results: Fungi growth inhibited after 8 days (with interior purification, no fungi growth was observed; without interior purification, fungi growth was found on greater than 50% of total area).

• *9 Plasmacluster purification combined with airflow circulation and air heating (dry) operation.
• *10 2014 model equipped with 25000 Series Plasmacluster Ion Generator.

Fungi Growth Inhibiting Effect in Washing Machines

• • Organization contracted to perform analysis: Japan Food Research Laboratories
• • Certificates of analysis: Nos. 14006461002-01, 14006461006-01 (issued March 26, 2014)
• • Test method: Test conducted in a Sharp facility. Testing of samples of cloth after washing using two models of washing machines that have been in service for a long period of time (agitator tub with holes versus Plasmacluster + Ag⁺ ions + agitator tub without holes).
• • Test results: Fungi count for agitator tub with holes was 500 cfu/towel; fungi count for Plasmacluster + Ag⁺ ions + agitator tub without holes was fewer than 100 cfu/towel.

• *11 Top-loading washer/dryer equipped with Plasmacluster + Ag⁺ ions + agitator tub without holes.

Effect of Reducing Odors Adhering to Interior Wall Surfaces of Refrigerators

Odor intensity

• • Organization contracted to perform analysis: Shimadzu Techno-Research, Inc.
• • Certificate of analysis: KC-69068 (issued February 28, 2014)
• • Test method: Place test sample of wall material in an enclosed box having a volume of 17 liters filled with target odor (methyl mercaptan).
  Remove sample after 24 hours with/without Plasmacluster deodorizing mode, measure odor intensity using six-stage odor intensity notation method.
• • Test results: Odor intensity without Plasmacluster deodorizing mode was 3.8; odor intensity with Plasmacluster deodorizing mode was 2.0. (Calculations based on panelists averages).

• *12 Test results are for an enclosed box with a volume of 17 liters, and not actual results for an actual usage space. The reduction effect for adhering odors will vary depending on the type, strength, etc., of the odor.

Products from Companies in Other Industries Adopting Plasmacluster Technology (total: 26)

• Note: As of April 17, 2014, in order of adoption; official corporate names omitted.

24 Research Institutes That Provided Data for Sharp's Academic Marketing

• Note: As of April 17, 2014

In collaboration with 24 research organizations, Sharp has proven the efficacy and working mechanism of Plasmacluster ions against 34 types of harmful substances (viruses, allergens, fungi, and bacteria) and in neutralizing six types of odors, beautifying skin and hair, and controlling static electricity. The efficacy of Plasmacluster ions against two types of organic chemicals has also been proven.