| For Immediate Release 8 February, 2006
QuestAir starts up PSA at Asia’s largest liquid hydrogen plant
BURNABY, B.C. – QuestAir Technologies Inc. (AIM: QAR; TSX: QAR) announced
today that it has successfully started up two of its H-3100 hydrogen purifiers as part of
the largest liquid hydrogen plant in Asia under construction in Osaka, Japan.
The plant, which is owned and operated by HydroEdge Co., Ltd. (“HydroEdge”), a joint
venture between Iwatani International Corporation (“Iwatani”) and Kansai Electric Power
group company, is expected to enter full commercial production in the second quarter of
2006. The plant will supply liquid hydrogen to the Japanese Aerospace Exploration
Agency (JAXA) and a range of high profile industrial customers.
Mr. Jonathan Wilkinson, President and CEO of QuestAir said that the HydroEdge project
represents an extremely important development in the expansion of QuestAir’s
commercial product line into the larger capacity hydrogen plant market.
“We are extremely pleased with the successful start- up of our H-3100 units in this
demanding, high profile application at the HydroEdge plant. The success was achieved
with the excellent co-operation of our Japanese project partners, Iwatani, MGC
Engineering Co. Ltd. and Cosmo Engineering Co. Ltd.,” Wilkinson said.
“HydroEdge is the largest single investment made by Iwatani since 1991, and we placed
a high priority to the selection of proven, reliable equipment providers such as QuestAir
for this project,” said Mr. Yoshihiro Kira, Senior Executive Director of Iwatani, “QuestAir’s PSA’s fully achieved contract specifications during a recent performance test
and we have since accepted the plant.”
Mr. Hisato Ueha, President of HydroEdge added, “The selection of QuestAir’s PSA is the
right choice for HydroEdge.”
About QuestAir H-3100
QuestAir’s H-3100 PSA product (formerly marketed under the HyQuestor® brand)
purifies gas streams containing hydrogen to high-purity hydrogen for use in a range of
industrial and petrochemical processes. QuestAir’s optimized Pressure Swing Adsorption
(PSA) process and proprietary rotary valve technology deliver higher efficiency than
conventional PSA systems in a more compact, cost-effective package. Since 1997,
QuestAir has sold over 30 H-3100 plants to customers in Europe, Japan and North
America.
About Iwatani International Corporation
Iwatani places greatest emphasis on its original and most competitive businesses---Gas &
Energy. Founded in 1930, Iwatani has been expanding its activities in 2 core businesses,
Energy (represented by LPG) and Industrial Gases. Iwatani is a pioneer in Japan for LPG
and hydrogen, with continued leading positions in these industries. Iwatani is classified as
a trading firm but is a unique organization with production plants and facilities especially
for industrial gases, as well as nationwide distribution networks in Japan and additional
capabilities to distribute overseas. Iwatani is a public company based in Osaka and
Tokyo.
About QuestAir Technologies Inc.
QuestAir Technologies, Inc. is a developer and supplier of proprietary gas purification
systems for several large international markets, including existing markets such as oil
refining, biogas production and natural gas processing, and emerging markets such as
fuel cell power plants and fuel cell vehicle refuelling stations. The Company has joint
development agreements with Exxon Mobil Research and Engineering Company and
Shell Hydrogen, and a collaboration with FuelCell Energy. QuestAir is based in Burnaby,
British Columbia and its shares trade on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange
Plc. and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “QAR”.
Certain statements in this press release may constitute ‘‘forward-looking’’ statements
which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may
cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry
results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this press
release, such statements use such words as “anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “estimate”,
“expect”, “intend”, ‘‘may’’, ‘‘will’’ and other similar terminology. These statements
reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak
only as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements involve significant
risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results,
and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be
achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the
results discussed in the forward- looking statements.
For further information, please contact:
QuestAir Technologies Inc.
Andrew Hall
Director, Corporate Development and External Communications
Phone: (001) 604-453-6967
Email: hall@questairinc.com
Web: www.questairinc.com
UK media contact:
Charles Ryland
Ben Willey
Eleanor Williamson
Buchanan Communications
Phone: 020 7466 5000
Canadian media contact:
Terry Foster
James Hoggan + Associates
Phone: (001) 604-739-7500 |
