Alfa Laval celebrates a century in Japan at the World Expo Osaka

In 1925, Alfa Laval installed its first separator solution in Japan, marking the start of a 100-year journey characterized by sustainability, innovation, and technological advancement. Over the past century, Alfa Laval has contributed to the modernization of Japan, leveraging its expertise in heat transfer, separation, and fluid handling to address key sustainability challenges.

Alfa Laval is proud to celebrate a century in Japan at the World Expo 2025 Osaka. The celebrations took place 9-10 July 2025 at the Nordic Pavilion where Alfa Laval hosted an exclusive gathering for some of its valued Japanese customers.

“As one of the first European pioneers to establish a presence in Japan, Alfa Laval has become a key player in the country's business and industrial landscape. I am proud to work with Alfa Laval’s cutting-edge technology platform and esteemed customer base to demonstrate how innovation and partnership can accelerate sustainability efforts in such a progressive market,” says Noboru Nishikawa, Managing Director, Alfa Laval Japan.

Together with customers and media, the Swedish Ambassador to Japan, Viktoria Li, and Alfa Laval’s Head of Sustainability, Anna Celsing, joined the celebration. The event highlighted Alfa Laval’s expertise and industrial solutions that drive key sustainability agendas in Japan and globally.

“Energy efficiency unlocks resource potential. By scaling existing solutions, we contribute not only to our own targets in Alfa Laval but also to global sustainability goals. This approach allows us to maximize resource utilization and drive meaningful progress across the value chain. At Alfa Laval, we are committed to turning these goals into actionable strategies that deliver tangible results for both our company and the world,” says Anna Celsing, Head of Sustainability at Alfa Laval.

Alfa Laval was first to introduce centrifugal separators in Japan

Alfa Laval's journey in Japan began with the introduction of centrifugal separators in 1925. Over the decades, the company has built a robust presence in manufacturing, service, and technology in the country. In the 1920s and 1930s, Alfa Laval entered the Japanese dairy and marine markets with key products, including separators. The 1960s and 1970s saw the expansion of local manufacturing of marine separators and plate heat exchangers. By the 1980s and 1990s, Alfa Laval enhanced its service network with hubs such as the Shonan Centre and strengthened its testing capabilities. In the 2000s, the company continued to expand and upgrade its service centres to better serve local customers. In recent years, Alfa Laval has introduced global innovations like StormGeo to the Japanese market, continually adapting to meet the country's evolving industrial needs.

Today, Alfa Laval is deeply rooted in Japan, contributing to the optimization of customer processes with four service centres established in Shonan, Osaka, Chugoku and Kyushu. Since its beginnings in separation technology, Alfa Laval has continued to play a crucial role in Japan's energy transition, improving the quality of life and health, and contributing to the decarbonization of the energy sector and shipping industry.