Shikoku Chemical uses Nichia Chemical's high-power 280nm UV LED for food and beverage filling machines

As the world's largest LED manufacturer and the first manufacturer to launch high-brightness blue-white LEDs, Nichia Chemical solemnly announces that the UV-C LED sterilization device manufactured by Mutoh Industrial has been installed in Shikoku Chemical's food and beverage filling machine, which also uses Nichia's high-power 280nm UV LED (model: NCSU434D).

In traditional practice, food factories usually use UV mercury lamps for sterilization before filling cup containers with food and sealing film lids to avoid bacterial infection. However, UV mercury lamps have concerns about health hazards and environmental pollution, which has led to more and more regulations around the world banning the use of mercury products. However, when these regulations were implemented, there was no technology that could replace UV germicidal mercury lamps, so UV mercury lamps continued to be used.

As UV LED technology becomes more mature and devices that take advantage of LED characteristics are introduced, food containers can now be sterilized without mercury, improving safety and maintaining environmental friendliness.

Schematic diagram of UV-C LED device applied to UV sterilization of cup containers

Nichia is focused on developing higher-performance UV LEDs and will continue to work hard to help society achieve goals such as mercury-free and carbon neutrality.

Shikoku Chemical plans to exhibit the UV-C LED sterilization device at the "2025 Japan FOOMA Food Machinery Industry Exhibition". The exhibition will be held at the Tokyo Big Sight International Exhibition Center from June 10 to June 13 this year. (Source: Nichia)