Over a hundred companies have chosen to exhibit, from all around the world, albeit with the Japanese focus that you might expect from an event held here. Likewise, the keynote sessions of the conference, with presentations from GM, Osaka Gas and Samsung SDI, attracted over 1,500 attendees. The later parallel sessions, at which I presented on the status of the European and US fuel cell industries compared to Japans, were more sparsely attended, but still attracted significant interest.
The footfall in the exhibition was also impressive, with thousands of visitors, certainly the most I have ever seen at a fuel cell event. Although we will provide more information soon, the highlight so far has been what must be the worlds only fuel cell-powered pterodactyl!
So, who was exhibiting? Well, all manner of companies. Most were Japanese but there was a fair sprinkling of foreign organisations (not least Fuel Cell Today) represented. In terms of focus, there were a few stacks and systems on display but they were outnumbered by the components manufacturers, from catalyst and membranes to tubes and sealings. Two areas were particularly prominent: testing and hydrogen suppply.
Amongst potential products on display, the most obvious, although also the least photogenic, were 1kW PEMFC systems from the likes of Hitachi and Fuji Electric. Hitachi was also drawing the crowds with its fuel cell PDA-type devices, making it almost impossible to negotiate its stand. There were also interesting stands from Sumitomo, representing Giner with a demonstration of its technology in the form of a wheelchair and Acumentrics with a scaled-down model of its SOFC technology, and from Mitsui, representing Nuvera.