Tokyo, Japan - Total sales of products from Sharp Corporation and from companies in other industries equipped with Plasmacluster Ion(R) technology, Sharp's proprietary air purification technology, reached 10 million units*1 worldwide on November 21, 2005. Sharp first embedded this technology in air purifiers in September 2000, as a revolutionary cleaning system that deactivates harmful substances in the air. Since then, Sharp has equipped products such as air conditioners and refrigerators with Plasmacluster Ion generators, and now, use of this technology has expanded to products in other industries as well, including toilets with bidet seats and in-vehicle air purifiers. The ratio of sales in Japan versus internationally is 9:1, and in Japan*2, one in five households have at least one Plasmacluster Ion product.

Background of Inception

In a clear departure from passive air cleaning based on conventional filters, the concept of utilizing an active technology to deactivate airborne microorganisms by releasing positive and negative ions into the air was conceived in 2000 amidst a social background of increasing awareness of health and the environment worldwide, a deterioration in the quality of the indoor air attributable to the greater number of super-insulated houses, an increasing number of people afflicted with allergic illnesses from allergens such as pollen and dust mites, and increasing demands from individuals to be able to protect themselves against mold and viruses.

Collaborative Research with Academic Institutions

Sharp early on adopted a collaborative research approach to product marketing*3, working together with academic research organizations around the world. This effort has boosted confidence in this technology by demonstrating its efficacy and performance against a total of 27 pathogens and harmful substances over the past four years, including airborne bacteria, mold fungus, viruses and allergens. In addition, in November 2004, Sharp won acclaim from around the world by explaining the mechanism involved in deactivating these substances at the molecular biology level and by scientifically proving that an effect on a wide range of harmful airborne substances having proteins on their surface could be expected.

Expansion Across Product Lines at Sharp

Based on these efforts toward a collaborative research approach to product marketing, Sharp adopted this technology for use in air-conditioning products such as air purifiers, air conditioners, room heaters and laundry drying dehumidifiers equipped with a cold air function, as well as in refrigerators and cyclonic vacuum cleaners. Sharp now offers ten types of products equipped with Plasmacluster Ion technology.

Expansion to Other Industries

Plasmacluster Ion technology was first used outside of Sharp by INAX Corporation for a toilet with bidet seat in February 2002. Since then, this technology has been adopted in products such as a bathroom heater/ventilator/dryer from MAX Co., Ltd. (March 2003), a gas fan heater from Rinnai Corporation (July 2003), in-vehicle air purifiers and air conditioners of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (July 2003), Toyota Motor Corporation (September 2003) and Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. (June 2004), and in an air duct system from Shimizu Corporation (April 2005). At present, Plasmacluster Ion generator units are being supplied to ten different companies, and have been adopted in the products of 17 companies. All products with embedded Plasmacluster Ion technology bear the "Ion" logo ("grape cluster" design).

Sharp will be expanding its business focus in this area under the concept of "protecting the air in every space we live in with Plasmacluster Ions," including mobile spaces, hospital and healthcare environments, and manufacturing facilities. Sharp's aim is to put Plasmacluster Ion technology into practical use in the widest possible range of spaces worldwide.

*1 Total number of Sharp Plasmacluster Ion-equipped products and Plasmacluster Ion generators shipped domestically and internationally from October 2000 to November 2005.
*2 Calculated based on a total of 46.32 million households; from the 2004 Report on Comprehensive Survey of National Living Conditions conducted by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
*3 A method to obtain scientific proof of the effectiveness of a certain technology through collaborative research with leading academic institutions worldwide, and to develop health-promoting, environmentally beneficial consumer products based on this proof.
**Plasmacluster Ion is a registered trademark of Sharp Corporation.

History of Development of Sharp Products Equipped with Plasmacluster Ion Technology

Year of Key Products
Introduction Marketed

2000 FU-L40X air purifier
2001 AY-M28SC/M45SC air conditioner
SJ-WS35E/WA35E refrigerator
DW-M16CX/M16G laundry drying dehumidifier
HV-M70CX/M50CX humidifier
HX-120CX humidifying ceramic fan heater
2002 EC-AP1 cyclonic vacuum cleaner
CV-N63CX personal air cooler
2003 OK-P36CR kerosene fan heater
2004 NP-40CX/20CX kitchen waste composter

Companies in Other Industries Adopting Plasmacluster Ion Technology (Total: 17)
Note: As of November 21, 2005; official corporate names omitted

Company Product

INAX Toilet with bidet seat
MAX Electric bathroom heater/ventilator/dryer,
24-hour ventilation system
Tostem Electric bathroom heater/ventilator/dryer
Denso Ace Whole-house air conditioning system
Nissan Motor Car air conditioner, car air purifier
Denso Car air purifier, car Plasmacluster Ion generator, car air
conditioner
Toyota Motor Car air purifier, car air conditioner
Rinnai Gas fan heater, hot-water bathroom heater/dryer
Osaka Gas Gas fan heater
Toho Gas Gas fan heater, hot-water bathroom heater/dryer
Seibu Gas Gas fan heater
Fujitec Elevator
Daihatsu Car air conditioner
Tornex Smoke control system
Misawa 24-hour floor central ventilation system
Tokyo Gas Gas fan heater
Shimizu Plasmacluster Ion duct system

About Sharp Corporation

Sharp Corporation (TSE: 6753) is a worldwide developer of innovative products and core technologies that play a key role in shaping the future of electronics. As a leader in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and digital technologies, Sharp offers one of the broadest and most advanced lines of consumer electronics, information products and electronic components, while also creating new network businesses. Sharp Corporation employs about 55,100 people in the world (as of December 31, 2004) and recorded consolidated annual sales of 2,257,273 million yen for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004.

Source Sharp Corporation