nir-vana innovation network

A Japanese maker of an anti-corrosion, pipe renewal device is seeking business partners such as agents and distributors in the EU. The companies’ product reduces red rust inside pipes by converting it into black rust (a more stable rust layer that does not propagate as rapidly as other rust forms) hence extending the lifespan of pipes by at least 40 years. This product is the only technology in the world that can extend the lifespan of pipes up to the lifespan of buildings without the need for pipe replacement. The company has obtained patents for their technology, both in Japan and overseas.

This device has been installed at more than 4,200 buildings as of 2020, including hotels, hospitals and apartments in Japan, plus more than 200 buildings overseas, mainly in the United Kingdom. The corporation has successfully solved issues caused by red rust in pipes, such as water leakage and discoloration of water. The company tests the product for each individual installation, so customers can see its effectiveness clearly through scientific data.

In Japan, the maker sells the anti-corrosion device through distributors, in addition to direct selling. To develop their presence in the EU market, the corporation is now looking for a distributor who has powerful connections with hotels or hospitals. Workflow of installation involves an on-site survey and testing of the effectiveness. If a customer wishes to install the product, the company will send its engineers for site survey as the first step, and then provide training and guidance to the partner. In the long-term the goal is to train the EU partners’ engineers to be able to fully handle the site survey and installation procedures, all at the cost of the Japanese company.

In Europe, there are many historic, cultural properties that can consider installing the product. The corporation believes that the device will help to maintain the exterior and interior of old buildings which as a result protects valuable cultural structures.

The product is eco-friendly as it makes pipe replacement unnecessary by extending the lifespan of central heating pipes and domestic hot water pipes. By using the device, construction material wastage generated by replacing pipes will be eliminated reducing CO2 emissions.

The Japanese company is looking to engage in distribution services and commercial agency agreements.

Advantages & innovations

The company’s product prevents red rust in piping and extends its lifespan. Simply by installing it to a pipe from the outside, the product converts internal red rust to black rust, an insoluble substance. The product can extend the lifespan of pipes by more than 40 years by stopping the forming of new red rust inside pipes and converting existing red rust to black rust through an electrolysis treatment, which also strengthens the pipes. The product requires neither pipe replacement nor chemical inhibitors. Pipe replacement not only has extremely high costs, but causes large amounts of CO2 emissions from iron refineries. Compared with that, this product reduces the costs to 1/20 of pipe replacement, and is also eco-friendly as it causes zero CO2 emissions. The product was installed on central heating and domestic hot water pipes at many iconic buildings in the United Kingdom, and the company can demonstrate its effectiveness with numerical figures as early as within a month after installation, depending on the amount of water consumption. For example, the iron content in water was 3.8 mg/L before installation of the product at a well-known corporations’ air-conditioning pipework, but was reduced to 0.063 mg/L after one month and dropped to 0.008 mg/L after two months. Such testing proves that the device functioned to stop the formation of red rust and convert existing internal red rust to black rust. All testing is done by external parties to avoid bias.

Stage of development

JAPAN

Partner sought

The company is looking for EU partners with strong connections to a key person or decision maker at public facilities, e.g. hospitals or hotels. Ideal partners would be companies that are consulting on facility management, facility maintenance service, infrastructure such as district heating and water supply, and companies that supply to hotels and hospitals. The EU partners must have engineers that can undergo training provided by engineers dispatched from the Japanese company. They must also be willing to send water samples to relevant testing agencies after installation if they want to provide numerical data on the effectiveness to end-users.