TOKYO – October 3, 2011 – Alps Green Devices Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Ota Ward, Tokyo; President: Yasuhiro Fujii) has won the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Commerce and Information Policy Bureau Director-General Award in the “savings in IT-related energy consumption” category of the Green IT Awards 2011 hosted by the Green IT Promotion Council. Alps Green Devices received the award for its GLMC Series Liqualloy™ Power Inductor.

The GLMC Series Liqualloy™ Power Inductor employs a proprietary magnetic material called Liqualloy™. Liqualloy™, a type of metallic glass developed together with Tohoku University, achieves the lowest loss level in the industry*.
A power inductor is an electronic component used in DC/DC converters for all kinds of electronic equipment, including smartphones, tablet devices, notebook PCs, servers and other IT equipment, through to home appliances and industrial equipment. By incorporating a GLMC Series Liqualloy™ Power Inductor, equipment manufacturers can improve the power conversion efficiency of their products, thereby reducing power consumption.

The award recognizes that the technology reduces the energy consumption of such an extremely versatile electronic component as an inductor and therefore has great potential for application in a wide range of electronic devices. The award also recognizes that the technology is a product of an academic-industrial alliance with Tohoku University.

Liqualloy™ is also employed in the GLMD Series, a power inductor for large currents launched in September 2011. Alps Green Devices plans to enhance its line-up with varieties to raise the power efficiency of a broad range of equipment.

Alps Green Devices is advancing development of green devices that will contribute to the realization of a low-carbon society.　

Further expansion in the market for low-loss power inductors is anticipated in the future with demand from applications such as non-portable game consoles and POL power supplies.