protection activities on the development of eco-friendly products. In fiscal 2005, based on the internal approval system for eco-friendly products that was established in the previous year, operating companies each compiled a set of eco-evaluation criteria to aid in classifying targeted eco-products.

  During the year, the Group's low-voltage motor controllers were the topic of an eco-labeling seminar at an exhibition on eco-friendly products. These products have received recognition with a Type III ecolabel (JEMAI's "Eco Leaf" designation), which signifies conformity to eco-friendly performance criteria that have been independently verified by a third party. This was the result of development efforts to upgrade the range from Type II eco-label status, which shows that certain voluntarily declared eco-impact criteria have been satisfied. In another success, the vending machine development program at FRS was recognized with a commendation from the Life Cycle Assessment Society of Japan (JLCA).

  The Fuji Electric Group is actively developing RoHS-compliant products that do not contain designated harmful chemicals specified in the EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive. In an original development program, the Group also succeeded in creating a special lead-free five-compound solder (see page).

1	"Industry top runner"
	Third-party evaluation (Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry, etc.)

2	Operating company eco-evaluation criteria
	Environmental impact reduction and data disclosure with regard to energy saving, 3Rs, ease of disposal, green packaging, degree of environmental compatibility and conservation, manufacture, testing and distribution Technologies/services making direct/indirect environmental contribution

Award from JLCA

Fuji Electric Retail Systems (FRS) received a special commendation at the 2nd JLCA Awards for its use of LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) methodology in vending machine product development programs. LCA involves evaluating environmental impact by quantitative estimation of the resources consumed and emissions generated by manufactured products over life cycle stages from production to use and disposal.

  This is the most prestigious award inside Japan within the field of LCA research. FRS has been applying LCA techniques in product development for nearly ten years. The award also recognized the contribution made to society by FRS for popularizing the use of LCA methods.

Eco-friendly Power Distributors

Fuji Electric Systems (FES) has installed in a production facility for solar cells under construction in Kumamoto, Japan eco-friendly high-voltage power distributors with a Type II eco-label designation (recognizing improvements made in environmental performance relative to internally established criteria for products and services). The new power distributors are only half as deep as previous models, use PVC-free materials in the wiring, and also incorporate some circuitmounted devices containing lead-free solder.

  FES has also worked on establishing the Product Specification Criteria for Type III eco-label certification of JEMAI in cooperation with other companies in the industry.

UPS8000 Series

During fiscal 2005, FES developed and launched the UPS8000 series of high-capacity uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). Compatible with triple-phase power sources in the 1002000 kVA range, these products combine high efficiency along with high performance (in terms of lack of variation in voltage and power interruptions) due to a new type of dual-processing circuit. In particular, the range boasts extremely high conversion efficiency of 98%, a world-beating performance (the figure for the earlier range was 90%). This improvement in efficiency translates into a reduction in power losses of over 80% compared with previous models, which not only lowers running costs significantly but also helps to cut CO₂ emissions. The UPS8000 series received the chairman's award for fiscal 2005 from the Japan Machinery Federation.

Fuji Electric Device Technology (FDT) has been using lead-free mixtures to solder chip junctions in IGBT modules since 1998. Leadfree solder has now been developed for other components, and the firm commenced mass production of RoHS-compliant products (containing no lead or hexavalent chromium) at the start of fiscal 2006. Elimination of lead involved revising structural designs, selecting and developing new solder materials, and establishing the reliability of lead-free products to the same level as the components that contained lead. Efforts to reduce the environmental impact of products have also included switching to non-pigmented resin cases.

Matrix Converters

Fuji Electric FA Components & Systems (FCS) has developed components called matrix converters enabling equipment to recycle energy. Elevators, which use inverters to control movement, consume energy on the way up, but actually create energy when descending that can be recycled. Previously, the energy created in such regenerative processes could only be used by specialized equipment, or else be lost as heat. Matrix converters combine the functions of inverters with the capability to recycle energy in this way. Efficient recycling of energy in this way can save power. The new products are also much more compact, creating a 56% saving in terms of the overall surface area occupied.

CFC-free Vending Machines With CO₂ Heat Pumps

In 2005, FRS began selling new CFC-free vending machine models for canned and bottled beverages that utilize carbon dioxide (CO₂) as a safe, non-combustible alternative refrigerant. FRS has since refined the technology in these models further to boost eco-friendly performance. The latest models are constructed so that a heat pump can redirect the heat that is generated when products are chilled. This recycling effect results in major energy savings: estimated annual energy consumption of heat-pump CFC-free vending machine models is about 40% less than the energy-efficient models that won awards for FRS as recently as fiscal 2004.

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