Sharp Holds 24% of the Air Purifiers Market Share in the UAE
Plasmacluster Ion Technology Solution Promotes a Healthier Indoor Air Quality
September 2nd, 2012, Dubai - Sharp, recently honoured as UAE Superbrand for the year 2012 by the Superbrands Council and holder of Takagi Award in Japan, extends the reach of its revolutionary Plasmacluster Ion Technology (PCI) solution incorporated in air purifiers. The estimated market size for air purifiers in the GCC countries for the year 2012 is $16.5 million. The United Arab Emirates alone holds $5 million estimated market size for air purifiers for 2012. Within the GCC countries, Sharp holds 24% of the air purifiers' market share in the United Arab Emirates. The consumer electronics and home appliances pioneer, Sharp, created the original PCI Technology and incorporated it in different home appliances including air purifiers.
GCC residents breathe over 11,000 liters of unfiltered air every day due to the harsh weather conditions and sandstorms that keep frequenting. Air in this region is loaded with various types of dust, bacteria, viruses, pollen, mould spoures and microbes. These factors force the residents to spend most of their time indoors. Health experts show an increased number of breathing problems due to spending 90% of the day with poor indoor air quality. According to a study on Asthma in 2012, overseen by the Emirates Respiratory Society, one in eight (1/8) adults across the UAE suffers from chronic respiratory conditions. Over 30 million PCI products are sold worldwide to date. Sharp addresses this public health challenge with its ground breaking air purifiers equipped with Plasmacluster Ion Technology that filter harmful and invisible airborne microbes smaller than 0.3 microns in the indoor air that trigger respiratory problems such as Asthma.
Unlike traditional air purifiers, Sharp faces this troubling situation with its extremely effective and safe air purifiers equipped with PCI Technology. Putting safety first, Sharp took air purification system to a more advanced level by developing the Plasmacluster Ion Technology. Sharp PCI air purifiers reach and eliminate airborne viruses, bacteria and mould at every corner of the room which are smaller than 0.3 microns; a distinctive and exclusive feature which is absent in conventional air purifiers, featuring HEPA filter only, as they are known to clean the air by filtering microbes up to 0.3 microns contained in the air that passes through the filters. Unlike old times, modern living spaces are becoming super-insolated due to the widespread use of aluminum window sashes that prevent airflow from easily passing through. This creates the perfect environment for allergens such as mites and mould to grow, jeopardizing the quality of air inside our homes. Sharp's revolutionary air purifiers featuring PCI Technology eliminates up to 99.9% of viruses within 10 minutes.
"In these critical times where health issues are rising every day, we are witnessing increased health awareness among people in the GCC countries. Sharp caters to the needs of its health-cautious customers by developing modern products featuring its exclusive Plasmacluster Ion Technology for a guaranteed pleasant and safe surrounding atmosphere", said Mr. Hiroshi Sasaoka- Chairman at Sharp Middle East FZE. "Sharp's air purifiers market share in 2012 reached 24% in UAE, 22% in Qatar and 58% in Kuwait and we are looking forward to accommodate a higher market share in the coming years in this region ." he added.
"Our technology has been certified effective by prominent institutions around the world. We are now witnessing an increased demand for our air purifiers as well as other home appliances equipped with PCI Technology among end users. Our PCI Technology is a long trusted solution adopted by multi-national and domestic corporations. PCI Technology is now being incorporated in various products made by industries such as car ACs, bus ACs, elevators, various international airports and others. PCI products are also adopted by restaurants and cafes, schools, taxi companies, hotels, animal hospitals, dental offices, etc", said Naoko Takeda, product manager - Health and Environment Appliances, Consumer Electronics Division at Sharp Middle East FZE.
Sharp air purifiers equipped with PCI Technology also decompose and neutralize adhering odours from air such as pet and cigarette odours. The air purifiers eliminate airborne allergens such as dust mite feces and dead dust mites and remove static electricity through humidification.
PCI Technology found in the air purifiers mimics nature's air purification process by liberating a balanced amount of high density positive (H+) and negative (O-) ions responsible for fresh air. Combined with the humidifier, their role becomes dual, more effective and long lasting. These ions spread throughout the room to attack and deactivate 99% of air pollutants such as bacteria, viruses, mould, fungus and odours. The air purifiers can also reduce static electricity found in dry surroundings hence preventing highly volatile pollens from circulating in the room. Mites and mould like high humidity while viruses are in their active state at low humidity. The most comfortable healthy environment is thus considered to be with the humidity between 40-60%; a reason which prompted Sharp to set the humidifier at 60% which is ideal for the human well being. Sharp's PCI air purifiers are also equipped with a top-notch multi filtration system, a combination of pre-filter, washable deodorizing filter and highly efficient anti-microbial HEPA filter which captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns from the air including dust and pollen, it also catches and destroys bad odours leaving the air fresh and pure.
Plasmacluster Ion Technology is also featured in other home appliances such as refrigerators, ion generators, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners and others.
Sharp Plasmacluster Air Purifiers are available in different models to meet your requirement at selected retail stores across the UAE. New models of Air Purifiers are scheduled to be launched in the market between q4 2012 and q1 2013.
- KC-860 at AED 2,499
- KC-850 at AED 1,959
- KC-840 at AED 1,679
- KC-930 at AED 999
About Sharp Middle East
Sharp Middle East FZE was established in 1998 in Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai, UAE as a wholly owned subsidiary of Sharp Corporation. The office is the regional hub for the Middle East and Africa regions, covering 80+ countries. Sharp's primary business activities include audio-visual and communication equipment, health and environment equipment, information equipment, and crystalline and thin-film solar cells. For more information please visit www.sharpmea.com
About Plasmacluster Ion Technology
Plasmacluster Ion Technology is an original Sharp technology that purifies the air by emitting highly safe positive and negative ions. Plasmacluster Ion Technology inactivates suspended airborne mould, viruses, dust mite allergens and bacteria. It attacks a wide range of odours including: pet, cooking, garbage and cigarette smoke.
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© Press Release 2012
