A model to recrystalize the "locally produced, locally distributed" ideal of Air Water Gas Business

　“VSU” was developed by Air Water as the industry's first high efficiency, compact liquid nitrogen/oxygen co-production plant. This revolutionary plant was inspired by the stable supply concept begun with the V1, and it incorporates cutting-edge technology with such novel ideas as twin turbines and vacuum insulation. VSU overturned the "large-scale production and long-distance shipping" conventional wisdom of liquefied gas distribution and, instead, provided validation for a new business model that emphasizes "production near those areas where there is demand." VSU ensures a stable gas supply to customers as well as streamlined shipping costs and reduced CO2 emissions thanks to a "'just-enough' production and short-distance shipping" approach. And thanks to the regionally distributed nature of the VSU network, even if some plants stop operation due to a natural disaster or other occurrence, the other plants are able to provide a backup supply.
　This mutual reinforcement is also being augmented by the creation of a new supply network that is centered on VSU and involves partnerships with local industrial gas companies in the various regions of Japan. The first VSU went on line in Niigata in 2004, and this has been followed by eight other VSU plants in Kumamoto, Fukui, Aichi, Fukushima, Kanagawa, Ehime, Shizuoka and Nagano, and a tenth VSU plant is scheduled to start operation in Osaka in FY2011.

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