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Product category: Microprocessors, Microcontrollers and DSPs
News Release from: Oki Electric
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 19 August 2002

Oki cleans up its research act

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Oki group's major semiconductor-related facilities in Hachioji, Japan achieved zero emissions at the end of the first quarter of this fiscal year.

Oki group's major semiconductor-related facilities in Hachioji, Japan achieved zero emissions at the end of the first quarter of this fiscal year Zero emissions are defined by the Oki group as a recycling rate of more than 99% for general and industrial wastes

Oki group achieved zero emissions in the semiconductor manufacturing field in the last fiscal year, and by adding these bases of R and D and test of LSIs, it has achieved zero emissions group-wide in its entire Japan based semiconductor businesses.

"The Oki group is committed to providing environment-friendly businesses as a core management policy.

Wherever Oki does business, it will take the initiative to develop innovative responses to environmental issues", said Masayoshi Ino, Executive Vice President at Oki Electric, responsible for Oki group's environmental protection strategies.

Oki has been developing its environmental protection programs since 1993.

As part of its "Oki Eco Plan 21", defined in the fiscal year ending March 2002, the company set a goal of zero emissions at its major manufacturing plants, including development facilities, at Oki group companies by the end of the fiscal year ending March 2005.

The bases that have accomplished zero emissions are Oki group's Hachioji facilities for R and D and prototype manufacturing of semiconductors, optical and electronic components, and Tama Oki Electric Co, a wholly owned subsidiary of LSI products test.

Under the "Oki Eco Plan 21", those facilities have actively pursued such environmental strategies as energy savings, waste reduction, and reduced chemical consumption, which are much higher for semiconductor bases than for general manufacturing plants and offices.

Eliminating the various substances included in wastewater generated after cleaning wastewater-processing equipment became an important issue.

These substances can cause clogs in filters and break equipment's pH electrodes during the dehydration process.

Oki's semiconductor bases in Hachioji reconstructed the dehydration processing equipment by adding functions to eliminate the damaging substances in wastewater.

As a result of the modifications, they succeeded in dehydrating the wastewater and recycling the sludge from the water as cement materials, thereby reducing 140 tons of waste materials and achieving zero emissions.

A programme of recycling waste wafers to make solar battery components was also accelerated.

Compared to the previous fiscal year, these reductions saved 10% or approximately 4 million yen in waste processing costs in the fiscal year ending March 2002.

"Oki keeps its commitment to the environment protective activities, by focusing not only the reduction, but also the collection and in-house recycling of wasted materials", said Ino.

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