Institut Technologi Bandung
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.

SANYO and ITB will go forward in collaborative R&D efforts to develop a new water decontamination system that can be commercialized and used widely by households. The objective of this effort is to contribute to Indonesia’s public commitment ‘to improve a sanitary environment and provide an environment where more than 80% of the people have access to clean water by 2015’ as part of the country’s measures to deal with the United Nations Millennium Declaration in the year 2000, (MDGs: Millennium Development Goals).

Dr. Djoko Santose, Rector of ITB said, “SANYO has a very strong brand presence in Indonesia as SANYO’s pumps have long been called ‘Raja Pompa’ (the King of Pumps). Most people would associate the production of clean water with a large water decontamination system but for the people living in the 2,000 different islands that constitute Indonesia are concerned, they need an easy to install, household use water decontamination system. Our efforts will not just end at the product itself but our education about purifying system maintenance will raise the education level, as well as lead to employment opportunities. I am proud to be part of this effort to develop water decontamination solutions in Indonesia and other Asian countries.”

Ms. Tomoyo Nonaka, Chairman of SANYO said, “We will go forward in developments that are truly necessary for people to live in harmony with the Earth. This is SANYO’s ‘Think GAIA’ vision. Team Aqua which works with water circulation and recycling technology, brought to the market ‘AQUA’, the world’s first drum type washing machine with an ‘air wash’ function and water saving features. This team wanted to further contribute and thus we have reached this joint development agreement. I’m confident that the partnership with ITB, a well known water authority in Indonesia, will provide a significant contribution to accomplishing the nation’s goals of Indonesia.”

ITB is a water quality research authority in Indonesia. SANYO for many years has been conducting water processing technology research and developing related equipment. Both parties will be utilizing their various water decontamination technologies, SANYO will mainly develop and sell the equipment. ITB will evaluate product performance and analysis. Both parties are planning on setting up a maintenance training system and have already started monitor testing in Indonesia, and plan commercialization in the fall of 2006.

*1. Clean water: Defined in Indonesia as water that is drinkable only after being boiled.