Ecka Granules Enjoys Higher Sales of Metal Powders in Japan

Ecka Granules Japan, a subsidiary of Ecka Granules, German major maker of nonferrous metal powders, enjoyed favorable sale growth in 2007. Ecka Granules Japan posted 5.9 billion yen revenue in 2007, up by about 20% from the previous year. The firm especially enjoyed rapid demand growth for aluminium powder applied to solar cells. The firm expects the demand could continue high growth at 30-40% per year.Ecka Granules produces and sells nonferrous metal powders, mainly aluminium and copper powders. The firm posted global revenue at approximately 700 million euros (110 billion yen) in 2007. The firm operates 18 plants in several countries and produces aluminium powder at 50,000 tonnes per year and copper powder at 27,000 tonnes per year globally.Japanese subsidiary, Ecka Granules Japan sells nonferrous metal powders at about 12,000 tonnes per year, mainly aluminium powder. About 10% of aluminium powder is produced at Tenryu plant, Shizuoka, Japan. The firm aims higher sales and presence in Japanese and Asian markets with high value added powders such as aluminium powder for solar cells.