Subzero Temperature Storage and Defrosting System “Techno Energy”

Development of “Techno Energy,” a patented technology for storing and defrosting perishables at negative temperatures

Marche Machinery Co., Ltd. (Higashiizumochoiya, Matsue) manufactures and distributes refrigerators and freezers through utilization of their patented technology for defrosting and preserving fresh products such as fish and vegetables at negative temperatures. Given the name “Techno Energy,” it is an amazing system which can deliver 4 functions: Storage, defrosting, bacteriostasis, and maturing. It has been introduced by approximately 1,600 businesses across the country, including agricultural and marine product production sites, restaurant chains, and high-end restaurants. The product has also attracted attention from overseas, and they plan to expand exports to the United States and other countries as a global product from Shimane in the future.

 The President, Mr. Koyasu explains “Techno Energy”

▼Research with a focus on the freshness of food products

President Masayoshi Koyasu, the founder of the company, went independent in 1987 after working for a company dealing in marine products, then one dealing in confectionery and western food ingredients. He tried to develop a refrigerator that maintained freshness by utilizing the mechanical skills he had learned in his previous jobs. At that time, nothing had been put to practical use, even though there was literature on refrigeration technology to maintain freshness using high-voltage electric current. He commercialized and released a product in his own way, but there were a series of troubles such as smoke generation from the refrigerator and the formation of ozone. He even considered shutting down the company.

▼Electrification by turning high voltage into weak energy

Nevertheless, he continued to improve the system, saying, “This is my only way to live.” In 1995, he completed a system which does not freeze the materials even at minus 6 degrees Celsius by converting the high voltage into weak energy and charging the materials. He obtained a patent for his technology, which has the features of [1] Preservation of fresh products at the optimal negative temperature, [2] Bacteriostatic environment where bacteria cannot be active, [3] Maturing to increase the flavor and sugar content, and [4] Defrosting without dripping of protein and flavor ingredients. Then he visited each of the customers throughout the country that had purchased the conventional product, and worked on repair or replacement with the new product free of charge. This “customer first” approach fostered long-term customers.

Techno Energy is offered in a wide variety of models in small to large sizes to meet the requests of customers depending on their environment of use.

▼Taking on the challenge for new technologies

By conducting research in cooperation with Shimane University, National Institute of Technology, Matsue College and the Shimane Institute for Industrial Technology, they completed a rapid, uniform freezing and defrosting system at minus 13 degrees Celsius with the use of ultrasonic waves, etc. in 2016. Based on the experiment results, it enabled freshness maintenance better than the existing product, including less likelihood of cells breaking. They obtained a patent in the following year, and applied for an international patent.

While they are already exporting to Singapore, South Korea, etc., orders from Japanese restaurants in the U.S. mainland, Hawaii, Canada, etc. increased with the added effects of the boom in Japanese food. They are now considering full-scale overseas expansion. They are also busy researching new technologies. As President Koyasu says, “Development of new technology is simply a matter of having a feel for it,” his passion for technological development is never-ending, so much so that he sleeps with a writing implement by his pillow in case an idea hits in the middle of the night.

The President Mr. Koyasu expresses his commitment to technological development

■Company Profile

Marche Machinery Co., Ltd.

Masayoshi Koyasu, President and Representative Director

Address:　2299-4 Higashiizumochoiya, Matsue, Shimane

https://www.marche-machinery.com/（外部サイト）

TEL：＋８１-８５２-５２-２３４０
FAX：＋８１-８５２-５２-４４０８