Tomra Systems ASA (TOMRA) and Sumitomo
Corporation (Sumitomo) have today signed a
Partnership Agreement to jointly develop the
market for reverse vending machine (RVM)
solutions for automated collection and recycling
of used beverage containers in Japan.
The signing of the Partnership Agreement
represents the conclusion of the cooperation and
discussions between the two companies since late
2004. Sumitomo and TOMRA have conducted joint
market research and business development
activities in Japan, including an initial pilot
project in the Tokyo area called `Ecolife` in
2004-2005. As a result of these efforts, Nakano
Ward as the first ward in Tokyo installed Tomra
RVM solutions for collection and recycling of PET
bottles in 2005. Other Tokyo wards are now
considering doing the same, and several pilots
are currently in operation.
Sumitomo and TOMRA will contribute significant
financial resources as well as personnel to the
partnership. Marketing and awareness building is
priority number one in the partnership. The short-
term objective is to install 100 RVMs on a
commercial or pilot basis in the coming 12
months. The Tokyo area will be the main target
for this initiative as a continued positive
development in Tokyo is expected to have
significant impact on a potential future
nationwide roll-out of RVM-based solutions in
Japan. The focus will be on collection and
recycling of PET bottles. The reason for this is
that PET bottles represent a relatively new type
of beverage container packaging in Japan with
strong growth in consumption and currently a very
high cost of recycling in existing recycling
schemes.
Sumitomo and TOMRA are very pleased with the
progress made so far during their cooperation and
are keen to capitalize on the substantial
opportunities that the Japanese market represents
for RVM based solutions. The signing of the
Partnership Agreement is an important milestone
in the two companies` expanding relationship and
will provide a solid platform for what both
companies believe is a future large-scale and
attractive business. Given a successful
development, Tomra and Sumitomo aim to install
2,000 RVMs over the next 3 years in Japan. The
total potential for RVMs in Japan given full
penetration across the country is estimated at
approximately 25,000.
For further comments, please contact SVP Business
Development Trond Johannessen (+47 91 59 66 88)
or VP Investor Relations Håkon Volldal (+47 97 71
99 73).
Asker/Tokyo, 22 May 2006
Tomra Systems ASA