Japan: Epson Atmix invests JPY 5.5 bn in metal recycling plant

Epson Atmix, a subsidiary of Seiko Epson headquartered in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture, under the leadership of President Isamu Otsuka, is embarking on an exciting and innovative venture. The company has announced its plans to construct a cutting-edge facility in the Kita Inter Industrial Park in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture. This facility will be dedicated to the transformation of used metals into valuable resources, serving as raw materials for metal powder production. Operations are expected to commence in June 2025.

The state-of-the-art plant will feature high-frequency induction melting furnaces, AOD refining furnaces, iron casting machines, and more, enabling an annual production capacity of approximately 5,000 tonnes. The facility will occupy a vast land area of around 29,000 square metres, with the plant building spanning approximately 3,600 square metres. The company is making a substantial investment of approximately JPY 5.5 billion in constructing the buildings and production facilities.

Epson Atmix has built a distinguished reputation for its global production of top-tier fine alloy powder. The new plant will focus on recycling various metals, including metal powder products that don't meet standard specifications during the manufacturing process, in addition to metal scrap generated by the Epson Group. These materials will be repurposed as essential raw materials for the company's metal powder products. Notably, a significant portion of the in-house metal powder products, amounting to one-quarter, will originate from these recycled materials.

This initiative perfectly aligns with Epson Atmix's mission to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and conserve precious underground resources. The company envisions this project as a significant step towards the development of next-generation high-performance powders, ultimately contributing to the creation of energy-efficient and compact devices.

Furthermore, their commitment to environmental sustainability extends to their "Environmental Vision 2050." In this broader vision, the Epson Group aims to completely eliminate the consumption of underground resources such as crude oil and metals. This ambitious endeavour sets the stage for establishing a foundation that promotes the responsible recycling of precious metal resources, ensuring a more sustainable future.

Note: This article has been published in accordance with an article exchange agreement between Japan Metal Daily and SteelMint.