(Yicai Global) Nov. 9 -- Japanese conglomerate Hitachi has displayed its social innovation at the ongoing import expo in Shanghai with products such as a detector for explosives and a system to break apart cars in an environmentally friendly way.

Hitachi has booked a 600-square-meter area at the high-tech zone of the fair, and the products touch sectors such as healthcare, industrial equipment, building management and automotive systems. The Tokyo-based firm has set a sales target of JPY1.1 trillion (USD9.7 billion) in the Chinese market this year.

The company showcased its 'walk-through explosives detection device,' which can cut the time needed for individual check-ups down to three seconds, and thus scan 1,200 people in an hour. "We are negotiating with some Chinese foundations," an exhibitor told Yicai Global, adding that the security tool may be used in public transport in China.

Fair visitors could also see how a vehicle is recycled in Japan. "Hitachi's 'Automobile Dismantle System can remove fine parts from scrap vehicles and then reclassify and recycle them," a staff member said. The machine can dismantle 60 cars a day with an average 20 minutes for one vehicle.

Hitachi is very optimistic about the prospects of this industry becausethe number of scrap cars will increase gradually with the popularity of China's auto market, the exhibitor said, adding that the firm has received six to seven intentional orders on the spot from Chinese customers.

The common way to deal with old cars in China is to first remove fuel, oil and other liquids, then take out the engine, and finally punch the remaining parts directly into scrap and sell it to a steel mill for recycling, the employee said. Consequently, many aluminum and copper parts are sold together as scrap, which is wasteful, the person added.

The China International Import Expo is being held in the National Convention & Exhibition Center in Shanghai till tomorrow.

Editor: Emmi Laine