As a comprehensive solutions company for the press section, Ichikawa manufactures and sells papermaking equipment and industrial felt that are indispensable in the manufacture of paper. We actively develop environmentally friendly products and undertake activities that contribute to society.
Our business and improvement activities
Reduction of greenhouse gas (CO₂) emissions
• Through the following initiatives to achieve the greenhouse gas emission target values of the Paris Agreement, we are working toward a 20.8% reduction from our 1990 CO₂ emission level by fiscal 2020, or +2.8% over the target value of an 18.0% reduction.
(1) Utilization of alternative energy
1. Adoption of photovoltaic (PV) equipment:
| Fiscal year | PV equipment | Installation location and operating status |
Annual power generation |
| 2014 | 30kw | Operational at rental housing | 30,000 kW |
| 2016 | 200kw | Operational at Iwama Mill | 240,000 kW |
| 2020 | 500kw | Operational at Kashiwa Mill | 600,000 kW |
Iwama Mill: 200 kW photovoltaic power
generation equipment
Kashiwa Mill: 500 kW photovoltaic power
generation equipment
2. Adoption of gas cogeneration system (CGS):
| Fiscal year | CGS equipment |
Installation location and operating status |
Efficiency and annual power generation |
| 2006 | 845Kw | Operational at Kashiwa Mill until December 2019 |
Overall efficiency 57% |
| 2020 | 700kw | Efficiency upgrade and expansion of waste heat utilization at Kashiwa Mill |
Overall efficiency 72% |
Kashiwa Mill: Gas cogeneration system
The Kashiwa Mill began operation of a gas cogeneration system in fiscal 2006 to reduce CO₂, and upgraded to a highly efficient system and expanded the use of waste heat in 2020 to raise overall efficiency (power generation efficiency and waste heat recovery rate) by 15%. This is contributing to a significant reduction in CO₂ while providing 70% of the electricity used.
(2) Expanded adoption of liquefied natural gas (LNG)
1. Used in 100% of production equipment. (Kashiwa Mill, Iwama Mill)
2. Currently expanding adoption of gas air conditioning equipment.
(Head Office, Kashiwa Mill, Iwama Mill)
Iwama Mill: Gas heat pump air conditioning equipment
(3) Shift to high-efficiency equipment
1. We are systematically transitioning to LED lighting.
2. We are adopting high-efficiency equipment for motors and all other equipment.
(4) Improvement of production efficiency
1. We are advancing labor saving through improvement of productivity.
2. We are formulating and carrying out medium- to long-term equipment plans to upgrade to high-efficiency production equipment.
(5) Change in CO₂ emissions
(6) Change in total energy intensity
Initiatives at plants
Kashiwa Mill
• Obtained ISO 14001 certification in March 2000.
• The plant upgraded the efficiency of its gas cogeneration system and expanded its use of waste heat in February 2020, and began operating photovoltaic power generation equipment in May 2020. It is now enacting a CO₂ reduction plan through an optimal combination of hybrid energy using these three types of in-house energy sources plus purchased power.
Cogeneration system
Iwama Mill
• Was registered with the Ibaraki Eco Office in 2007, and obtained ISO 14001 certification in May 2019.
• The plant has operated photovoltaic power generation equipment since 2016, and recycles and reuses 95% of the waste water discharged in processes.
Photovoltaic power generation equipment
Process wastewater recycling equipment
Reduction of water usage
We are actively reducing water usage through a shift to on-machine cleaning equipment at the Kashiwa Mill and the adoption of process wastewater recycling equipment at the Iwama Mill.
Reduction of amount of chemicals used
We engage in activities to reduce or eliminate the use of chemical substances that are subject to the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) system.
Contribution to the environment through our products
As a comprehensive solutions company for the press section of papermaking, we contribute to reducing CO₂ through improvements to our felt, shoe press belts, transfer belts, and other press equipment.
Squeezing out an extra 1% of the moisture in paper in the press section is generally thought to reduce the amount of energy used in the subsequent dryer section by 5%.
