Panasonic Ecology Systems developed a new catalyst to coat diesel particulate filters (DPF) that clean diesel exhaust gas in 2010. The new catalyst compound does not use platinum and is energy efficient as it can decompose particulate matter at a lower temperature than typical catalysts.

The company has recently won the first order from an engine manufacturer in China, where the automotive emissions regulations are being tightened. Panasonic’s filters will be adopted by existing diesel vehicles and non-road diesel machinery, for which regulations will be strengthened in the future.

To quickly respond to the demand, the Suzhou plant will use the powdered catalyst made at Ecology Systems’ plant in Kasugai City, central Japan, to coat a DPF base material for the production of the filters.

With this new plant, Panasonic’s catalyst business for cleaning diesel exhaust will move into a higher gear. The company is targeting 10 billion yen in sales in the fiscal year ending March 2019.