The future of [ air ] Aiming for zero atmospheric risks. That’s Kubota’s large-space air purification technology.

Unknown viruses, Changing lifestyles. A new era of public hygiene. Kubota’s technologies tackle these issues for a better future.

Large-space air purification technology VISION Producing safe and comfortable air for the well-being of each and every person.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has become increasingly aware of the risks in the air as well as risks of congregating, which can threaten breathing, one of the essential actions to sustain life. Therefore, there is an urgent need to make the air safer and more comfortable for a healthier future where everyone can live without worry. One solution is Kubota’s air purification technology, which washes the air with water. It leverages ordinary water to perform the four functions of air purification, humidification, deodorization, and sterilization in large spaces at high levels. It will allow people to move freely again and be more active in their daily lives, such as going out with the family, chatting with co-workers at the office, and interacting with the local community. We will continue to protect the joy of living as it always was and should always be.

Kubota will innovate spatial hygiene of the future by leveraging our proven water treatment and air conditioning technologies.

Large-space air purification technology TECHNOLOGY #01 Whole-building air-conditioning for large facilities and advanced air-conditioning for clean rooms developed alongside Japan’s economic growth.

With Japan’s rapid economic growth came a hurry of large-scale construction of offices, commercial facilities, factories, and other facilities. And with this came a growing demand for spatial air conditioning that could cover wider areas. In 1970, Kubota entered the air conditioning business, developing custom-made, energy-efficient whole-building air-conditioning systems optimized for each facility. Most of Japan’s domed stadiums are installed with Kubota air-conditioning systems. With the arrival of the internet bubble in 1995, semiconductor and other precision equipment factories were erected in large numbers. These factories required more advanced air-conditioning technology as even the smallest amounts of gaseous components in the air had a harmful impact on the yield. Kubota developed the air washer technology based on our accumulated experience in water treatment technology, focusing on the gas absorption power of pure water.

Kubota’s air-conditioning technology has supported clean rooms in a variety of fields.

Large-space air purification technology TECHNOLOGY #02 From space conditioning for comfort to hygienic and safe air purification.

Since the beginning of the 2000s, public concern for air quality has been growing due to issues such as sick building syndrome, SARS, new strains of infectious disease, and PM2.5 highly related to spatial hygiene. The solutions to these air quality issues required not only the removal of harmful substances and bacterial elimination, but also humidification, deodorization, and other complex functions. And although household air purifiers were becoming popular at the time, this was more than just a household problem; it had to be solved in all places where people congregated. In the early 2000s, when air purifiers were not familiar for public spaces or large spaces, Kubota recognized that such products and technologies will one day be demanded.

This is how Kubota’s air purification technology development for large spaces began.

Large-space air purification technology TECHNOLOGY #03 Washing the air with ordinary tap water. Air washer technology and slightly acidic electrolyzed water made this idea possible.

Air washer technology for industrial clean rooms is a revolutionary air purification technology that uses pure water sprayed as a mist to remove dust and gases invisible to the eye with high efficiency. The key to applying this technology in public and other large spaces is the idea of using tap water instead of pure water. But to do this, the water had to be bacteria-resistant. Therefore, Kubota focused on using slightly acidic electrolyzed water, which possesses high bacterial elimination power, yet is safe when coming into direct contact with the skin. Slightly acidic electrolyzed water is generated from tap water. The air taken in comes into contact with the water using air washer technology, causing the water to capture and remove even the smallest suspended particles such as airborne viruses and bacteria. The captured viruses and bacteria are inactivated by the slightly acidic electrolyzed water. This technology not only uses water to sterilize and purify the air, but also to humidify and deodorize the space at the same time.

A specialist in water, Kubota’s technology makes the air safe and comfortable.

Large-space air purification technology TECHNOLOGY #04 Commercial Air Humidifier – Purifier for large spaces covers 200m2 per unit

Using air washer technology requires space for the air and water to come into contact when the water is sprayed. However, when considering that the air conditioner is to be installed in a public space, the challenge was how to keep its housing compact while ensuring this space. In addition, a large-capacity fan was also needed to realize the air volume required for the large space. By leveraging Kubota’s expertise and technologies in air-conditioning and water treatment, we succeeded in developing a compact unit with a high-capacity fan boasting a maximum output of 1,320m3/h without compromising the effectiveness of the air washer. A single unit can not only humidify and deodorize, but also purify and sterilize the air in an area of about 200m2 which is equal to the size of a tennis court.

Kubota’s crystallized technology will be the basis for the future of spatial hygiene.

Creating spatial environments where all people can live more freely with Kubota’s large-space air purification technology.

KUBOTA FUTURE CUBE

For Earth For Life

KUBOTA Corporation