“Our R & D team had focused on developing a new environmental friendly oil cleaning solution –Takahashi Ion-Water System (TIWS) – for the automobile industry before we kicked off with our actual production. Eventually we succeeded and now over 900 units of TIWS are sold to Japanese manufacturers including reputed automobile brands like Toyota, Nissan and Honda,” said Mr. Yoshihiro Hattori, Manager of Sales Section, Environmental Products Division of Takahashi Metal.

With strong market penetration in Japan mainly through word-of-mouth referral, Takahashi Metal recently took a more proactive role to expand its overseas market by taking part in a Bio-Technology Mission organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), flying to Hong Kong to meet a number of potential users pre-selected by the Council’s Business Matching Service. Besides looking for new business partners, Mr. Hattori also aimed at exploring new application areas for its ion water cleaning concept.

“The meetings with different potential buyers are very meaningful, they have inspired me to think of new applications of our TIWS technology. I have discussed with one of the companies – a Chinese herbal medicine manufacturer – about the possibility of utilizing the technology to intensify the concentration of their herbal products, thus elevating their functional performance. The company is also thrilled by the idea and is planning to visit us in Japan,” enthused Mr. Hattori.

Mr. Hattori was also impressed by the openness of Hong Kong companies towards new technology concepts, and with many of them already shifted their production base to the Chinese Mainland, he believed Hong Kong would become a stepping stone for Takahashi Metal to explore the Mainland market.

“It will be terrific if Hong Kong manufacturers can take the lead to use our system in their Mainland facilities; I’m sure other Chinese companies will get interested soon. All in all, the meetings have fulfilled the targets of my visit and I look forward to achieving fruitful results after further discussion with these companies,” remarked Mr. Hattori.