Gas control device shortage continues in Japan

Control devices for industrial gas related equipment are continuing to see lengthy delivery times in Japan following an ongoing shortage of semiconductors and resins, according to the Gas Review.

The semiconductor shortage, which began in October 2020 due to a fire at Asahi Kasei Microdevices’ (AKM) semiconductor factory in Nobeoka, was compounded by a second fire in March 2021 at Renesas Electronics Corporation’s Naka Factory in Hitachinaka.

Shortages of resin stemmed from a major cold front that caused power outages in southern USA in February 2021.

With Covid-19 causing a decrease in demand for semiconductors due to worker shortages, production adjustments and other factors, when demand recovered as industry resumed production, it was discovered that supply nowhere near meets the increased demand.

Control devices are required in the industrial gas industry for air separation units (ASUs), pressure-swing adsorption (PSA) plants, refining equipment, exhaust gas treatment systems, and more.

An example of affected control devices includes programmable logic controllers (PLCs), which are used to control elements of the inner workings of a PSA system.

PLC delivery has also been affected by Covid-related lockdowns in major production hubs such as Vietnam and plant closures in the US, resulting in a standard delivery time of around six months.

A particular type of resin called PCTFE – a special fluoro-carbon resin – is widely used in ultra-low-temperature equipment for air separated gases.

Production for PCTFE’s is currently low and enough are not being supplied, resulting in manufacturers working on the development of alternatives.

Shortages are unlikely to abate very soon and are expected to continue until at least the start of Autumn this year.

US Intel CEO Patrick Gelsinger alluded to ongoing shortages in an interview with news agency CNBC, when he said, “The shortages in semiconductors will continue at least until 2024.”