Marubeni : Tetsugen Co., Ltd. - Strategic Partnership for Developing New Applications and Demand for Nano-carbon Material, Graphene
November 25, 2020 at 11:46 am EST
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Marubeni Corporation, (hereinafter, 'Marubeni), Marubeni Tetsugen Co., Ltd, (hereinafter, 'Marubeni Tetsugen'), and NiSiNa materials Co. Ltd. (hereinafter, 'Nishina materials') have entered into a Strategic Partnership Agreement today, with the aim of developing new applications and opening up demand for graphene, a nano-carbon material(1) manufactured via a new method developed by Nishina materials.
Graphene is a monolayer of graphite (with a thickness of 1 nanometer) stripped off and has a molecular structure in which a large number of carbon atoms are bonded in a honeycomb shape on a plane. It is a nano-carbon material with high strength, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and low friction, and because of these characteristics, it is expected to be applied in a wide range of fields such as electrodes, catalysts, heat dissipation materials, and lubricants. Graphene is generally manufactured by mechanical peeling or using an oxidant, but Nishina materials's proprietary method does not use oxidants, and instead focuses on superior mechanical peeling technology. For this reason, this new process is very safe with a low environmental load. In the future, we aim to improve production efficiency and reduce manufacturing costs through mass production, something that has historically been an issue for graphene production.
Marubeni and Marubeni Tetsugen, together with Nishina materials, will contribute to the spread of graphene by promoting the development of new applications and demand for graphene by utilizing Marubeni's and Marubeni Tetsugen's global business network.
Marubeni Corporation is a diversified group organized primarily around 12 business segments:
- sale of agricultural products and related services (47% of net sales): sale of agricultural inputs (crop protection products, fertilizers, seeds, etc.), precision farming services, formulation of crop protection products, export of cereals and oilseeds, etc.;
- sale of food products (17.6%);
- production and distribution of oil, gas, alternative energy and electricity (10.4%);
- production of chemicals and petrochemicals (6.4%);
- production of metals and mineral resources (4.9%);
- sale and financing of industrial and construction machinery and equipment (4.6%). The group also develops car sales and tire distribution activities;
- sales of consumer electronics (4.3%). In addition, the group develops real estate development and management activities;
- sale of forest products (2.3%): wood chips and biomass fuel, pulp and waste paper, paper, paperboard, hygiene products, building & construction materials and wood products;
- sale of apparel, accessories, textile and lifestyle products (1.1%);
- management and operation of aircraft and ships (1%);
- development of energy production units and industrial installations (0.3%);
- finance and leasing (0.1%): auto finance, aircraft leasing, aircraft engine leasing, leasing and renting of refrigerated trailers, commercial vehicles and commercial freight railcars, etc.
Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: Japan (37.2%), the United States (42.5%)
MARUBENI CORPORATION 
