Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President: Kenji Nagata; hereinafter “TNSC”), a Japanese industrial gas business company in the Nippon Sanso Holdings Group, announces the completion of new manufacturing equipment for the rare gases krypton and xenon at the Fukuyama Plant of JFE Sanso Center Corporation, a joint venture with JFE Steel Corporation, on April 30, 2024.

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Completed rare gas manufacturing equipment

１．Background
Rare gases (krypton and xenon) are harvested as byproducts during the manufacturing of oxygen, nitrogen, and argon in large-scale air separation units. For this reason, Japan, where there are very few large-scale air separation units, relies on imports for the majority of its rare gases.
In terms of demand, rare gases are used primarily in fields such as electronics, lighting, outer space, and energy conservation. Although demand has been increasing globally in recent years, the reality is that supply is susceptible to geopolitical risk. Furthermore, having recognized these rare gases as gases used in the semiconductor manufacturing process, the Japanese government has decided to provide subsidies to companies that improve domestic production-related facilities to ensure a stable supply.
The rare gas manufacturing equipment, whose introduction has been proceeded to increase domestic production and strengthen the supply chain to ensure a stable supply of rare gases to our customers, has now been completed.
This equipment was designed and constructed by TNSC using the “Program for Promoting Investment in Japan to Strengthen Supply Chains.”

２．Specifications of rare gas production equipment
　Production capacity: Krypton 2,600,000 L/year, Xenon 210,000 L/year

３．Overview of JFE Sanso Center Corporation
　Locations:(Head office and Fukuyama Plant) 1-Kokancho, Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture
　　　　　   (Kurashiki Plant)1-chome Mizushimakawasakidori, Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture
　Establishment: April 1, 1966
　Capital: ¥90 million
　Investment ratio: TNSC: 60%, JFE Steel Corporation: 40%

Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
Tnsc.Info@tn-sanso.co.jp