Glencal Technology

The circular economy is the future of environmental sustainability. Reusing unwanted and leftover material from one process and feeding it into another, integrating it back into the ecological cycle is one of the most promising ways to reduce energy consumption and limit carbon emissions.

A prominent driver of circular economy is Glencal Technology, a sustainability-centered technology company that offers non-biological and organic waste treatment solutions through innovative drying technology.

Manufacturing plants across industries produce organic and inorganic waste and spend significant revenue treating it. They are constantly struggling to reduce waste management expenses while maintaining a sustainable workflow.

An expert in making the best out of waste, Glencal Technology is proficient in transforming leftover material and unusable detritus from production processes into a usable form and feeding it into a new process.

“We contribute to creating a sustainable society where environmental protection and economic growth coexist harmoniously through the implementation of cutting-edge drying technology,” says Masahito Nakaishi, president of Glencal Technology.

The hallmark of its products, the RedoxMaster technology, is capable of drying organic waste at a low cost while significantly reducing carbonization and oxidation. With this machine, Glencal Technology aims to reduce carbon emissions from conventional waste management processes, allowing them to be carried out in a relatively eco-friendly manner.

A Multi-Faceted Drying Solution

Over the years, the RedoxMaster technology has evolved to address numerous industries. One of the recent developments is Glencal Technology’s partnership with the Sapporo Beer (Formally, Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage Ltd.) factory in Japan, where the RedoxMaster contributed to an 80 percent reduction in CO2 over the conventional drying process.

Amid its numerous applications in beverage factories is the processing of soy milk waste. Normally the waste, which quickly turns rotten, requires extensive processing to dispose of. Using RedoxMaster, it can be dried using minimal energy, reducing the material into an edible form that can then be sold as cattle feed.

Another example is its use in sake manufacturing. The production of rice wine leaves behind a thick, aromatic paste that contains many useful nutrients. Using Glencal Technology’s products, manufacturing plants can dry this paste and turn it into raw materials for cosmetics. In addition, the wastewater released from the manufacturing process can be vaporized using RedoxMaster. The condensate can be captured and sold to perfume manufacturers as starting materials, at a significant profit.

Wastewater treatment takes up a large part of Glencal Technology’s service offerings.

Working with the Japanese government and the University of Tokyo, the company aids biogas plants that use animal feces to produce electricity.These plants produce a lot of wastewater that contains many nutrients useful for soil, but it is not usable in its diluted form. Using RedoxMaster, the wastewater can be processed and concentrated, reducing effluents from 10 to three tons per day. This treated water can be used as liquid organic fertilizer.

In 2022, Glencal Technology demonstrated RedoxMaster’s ability to optimize biomass generators that use tree bark as a composite. Using plasma and ion drying, it can generate the same number of calories at 60°C as is normally generated through semi-carbonization performed at 250°C to 350°C. It effectively limits the energy spent to about 80 percent and generates a 30 percent gain in power.

Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Multiple Industries

As the need to reduce CO2 emissions becomes more prevalent, a large number of companies are turning to sustainable practices that do not further harm the ecosystem. Many Nikkei 225 organizations are looking to Glencal Technology for assistance in reducing carbon emissions, leading to a significant spike in business.

This has led the company to take up an even wider range of clients. One instance is a renowned car manufacturer that required assistance in treating chemical waste from their factories. Automobile factories produce a lot of wastewater that combines with their chemical waste to typically form a sludge cake comprising numerous chemical polymers, which are not easy to treat.

To solve this, Glencal Technology designed ionizers specifically for the treatment of sludge cakes. Using these dryers, the sludge cakes—typically 70 percent water—can be reduced to approximately one percent water content. Normally, the cake is burned to get to this dewatered state, but using the ionizer instead results in a drastic reduction of CO2 emission, as well.

“When looking at the areas producing CO2 in the manufacturing processes of different industries, we always find something that can benefit from using our ionizing technology,” says Nakaishi.

Paper mills are another avenue Glencal Technology is swiftly expanding into with its ionizing technology. A large part of the paper production process involves drying using a heated air blower operating at 90°C. Using Glencal Technology’s machine, drying can be completed at 50°C to 60°C, requiring less energy and reducing carbon emissions by 30 to 70 percent.

A Step Beyond Waste Management

In addition to extensive implementations in the treatment of biological and nonbiological waste, Glencal Technology’s products have other uses that indirectly support sustainability. Drawing on the expertise of atomic physicists, it has developed a proprietary ion plasma technology and commercialized it by leasing it to clients in the form of ion engines. These engines can work in conjunction with RedoxMaster products, further reducing energy consumption by about 50 percent and significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Currently employed in its new research laboratory near Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, these ion engines act as a catalyst to produce hydrogen fuel. The process of creating hydrogen ions by combining magnesium and water is generally very energy-wasteful, requiring about 1600°C. Using the ion engines, Glencal aims to complete this process at about 1000°C, and in the future, reduce it even further, with 400°C as the final target.

Glencal has also developed a system to predict tectonic plate collisions. Recent studies indicated the relationship between anomalous bursts of charged particles and seismic activity, magnifying their importance in earthquake prediction. In collaboration with leading specialists in quantum physics, it has designed a way to detect bursts and predict large-scale seismic activity. The technology can send earthquake alerts about 40 minutes before they occur, giving emergency services time to prepare and issue public warnings.
Driving Sustainability through Compassion and Goodwill

Glencal’s purpose-driven philosophy centers around creating a better society for humanity, and the belief that environmental conservation plays a critical role in securing a sustainable future. It actively seeks out employee candidates who share similar values and possess genuine compassion and goodwill to foster growth in the organization. It strives to make a positive impact on society and fulfill objectives by cultivating a community of like-minded individuals, comprising highly trained engineers, quantum physicists, and researchers, all committed to the cause.

“Collaboration is key to our success, and as long as we collectively uphold the common value of our project, we can effectively work together,” says Masumi Maeno, director of Glencal Technology.

Operating with a focus on shared goals rather than individual profit or self-interest, it is very flexible when it comes to forming partnerships and propagating the use of its technology. In the last few months, it has initiated negotiations with numerous global companies, from Canada, the UK, UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, Spain, France, and Australia. The strategy of building strong partnerships will continue as it expands its business and reaches out to the U.S. market.

Fueled by an altruistic goal, underpinned by an innovative team, and supported by leading-edge technology, Glencal Technology positions itself as a trailblazer in the industry, set to revolutionize the sustainability landscape.