Energy Transmission with Minimized Loss Is Where Murata Can Help
The energy business represents a promising market. To use electrical energy, we first generate it, and
then we transmit and distribute it to consumers. We can also store it by converting it into another form
of energy. All these processes inherently involve losses. I am convinced that Murata can contribute to
society by reducing such losses. I think energy use is polarized between developed and emerging economies.
Advanced countries have no problems with power generation and have complete infrastructures for
transmission and distribution. Energy management is the challenge for the future—the challenge of
achieving efficient use of energy.
Once generated, it is difficult to store electric energy in quantity. This is why it is a good idea to
supply homes with electric power at the right price at the right time, for example, by using nighttime
power to wash clothes and charge electric vehicles. The so-called "smart grid" concept can adapt power
supply by monitoring consumption levels during the day and night. On the other hand, emerging economies
have yet to establish sufficient power generation capacity In these countries, it is important to build
power plants, of course, but at the same time they need to consider how to use energy efficiently.
For example, automobiles enjoy the highest sales in populous countries like China and India, where huge
amounts of energy are lost during deceleration and braking. We will be able to develop a new business by
offering a solution that makes good use of this wasted energy. It is important to recognize such niches.
We want to offer solutions that enable the efficient use of energy resources, considering that they are
not inexhaustible.
Murata Needs Leaders with Global Awareness Another Challenge Is In-House Human
Development
I entered university in India at 16, majoring in chemical engineering. After graduating at 21, I moved to
Canada. I came to study in Japan at 23, went back to Canada again, and joined Murata back here. Since
then, I have been working for the company for more than 20 years. First, I engaged in development
planning, working out plans for the development of lithium-ion battery technology. Then, I worked in a
Japanese factory and moved to a production site in the USA. The discipline of chemical engineering covers
everything from chemical experiments to equipment engineering, and from operation of equipment to
production process design. So, what I learned as a student is very useful for my present job.
I was also involved in marketing when I was in the USA. I came here 5 years ago to develop the new
"non-ceramic" business. From my international experience in India, Canada, Japan, and the USA, I believe
Murata now needs to globalize itself more than ever. The company boasts abundant funds and human
resources, and it has always kept a leading position in the world market for capacitors. I believe we
should foster more leaders with international awareness.
We must do a good job, of course, but it is also important to train people. In addition to developing
products, as a foreign employee I hope I can be of help in human development, too. Murata still has much
room for growth. The company’s first non-ceramic capacitor has just been launched, but many more
products will surely follow. I want to develop this technology further to make it a pillar of Murata
business in a few years.
Electrical Double Layer Capacitor (EDLC)
The new EDLC from Murata has been launched to meet a variety of customer needs that are arising as high
efficiency and functionality are required in battery equipment. In a small low-profile package, the
mass-produced model achieves a low resistance in the order of milliohms. By optimizing electrochemical
systems such as electrode structures, it makes for flexible charging and discharging processes with low
and high outputs over a broad range of temperatures. Assisting short peak outputs makes it possible not
only to reduce battery loads, but also to achieve high-output drive, which is impossible using a
battery.
Polymer Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor
This technology can be roughly divided into two categories. One uses laminated aluminum foil, while the
other features coiled aluminum foil. The Murata product consists of a chip that uses resin to seal in a
multilayer structure featuring a positive electrode made of aluminum foil and a negative electrode of
solid conductive polymer. It features low ESR and high capacitance for use in high-frequency
applications.