I am Toshio KAKUI, honored to have been appointed as the 13th President of the Association of Powder Process Industry and Engineering, Japan (APPIE) for this fiscal year following deliberations at the 43rd Annual General Meeting and the 2nd Board Meeting in FY 2024. As I assume this new role, I would like to extend my greetings.

Our association celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021. Over the past 50 years, APPIE has contributed to the growth and advancement of powder-related industries through the development and diffusion of powder technology. Specifically, we have conducted a wide range of activities, including international powder technology exhibitions held in Tokyo and Osaka, numerous training courses and seminars, and research and information exchange on the latest technologies through technical committees.

Since 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, to evolve more enriched organization, we have officially renamed our exhibition to POWTEX® and completely renewed APPIE’s website. Furthermore, we have provided information on the latest powder technology and created opportunities to exchange of opinions through the hybrid holding of POWTEX® incorporating an online system and the online distribution of lectures and seminars.

In recent times, the world situation has drastically changed and the increasing demand to solve social issues from the perspective of the SDGs, technological innovation, including new digital technologies such as AI, is evolving day by day. Under these circumstances, the environment surrounding powder technology and our association is also changing significantly. Powder technology plays an important role in a wide range of fields, including food, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, materials, and energy. Powder technology will increasingly be demanded to integrate with technologies from these various fields. APPIE recognizes the need to respond promptly and effectively to these new changes and transform itself as well.

APPIE’s members range from large corporations to medium-sized companies with specialized technologies, venture companies, and individual members with advanced expertise. Taking advantage of this diversity, through “dialogue” with our members, we will continue our efforts to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society for the next 50 years.