Nikkei Net:-
http://markets.nikkei.co.jp/kokunai/hotnews.aspx?site=MARKET&genre=c1&id=AS1D170B1%2017092008
It is told that:-
- All existing camera and related productions are to be retreated from Japanese home;
- The retreated productions include those for large and medium format cameras, lenses and other camera accessories/peripherals;
- Productions will be moved to factories at Vietnam and Philippines, targeted by the middle of this fiscal year for most;
- The productions of DCs and DSLRs have already moved to overseas earlier;
- The migration is owing to the rigorous market and price competitions and the increase in the face amount of the Japanese currency (which increase production costs);
- All the affected production facilities will be closed by March 2009.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/e-japan/tochigi/news/20080919-OYT8T00021.htm
The Pentax factory at Mashiko, Tokyo will be closed. There are 750 staff affected and around 400 out of them are currently employed for the camera and related productions. In late August, a voluntary retirement scheme has been offered which was targeted to get a maximum of 300 staff to join the scheme. Some of the engineers will be able to keep their jobs but will be re-deployed to the remaining production facility for making high-precision and high-tech products like micro lenses because migration of that facility would be difficult and is not desirable.
Nikkan Industry News:-
http://www.nikkan.co.jp/news/nkx0320080918aaad.html
Some of the Pentax engineers are retained but the production of cameras and related items are all moved to overseas.
Shimotsuke News:-
http://www.shimotsuke.co.jp/news/tochigi/economics/news/20080918/53997
The factory was set up by the ex-Pentax Corporation company, the Asahi Optical Industry, in November 1969, which has been manufacturing interchangeable lenses for SLRs as well as endoscopes and some other medical equipment and accessories like artificial bones, etc.
Previous Related Blog Reports:-
Hoya to Liquidate Pentax Factory in Guangzhou China (Sept. 1)
Hoya to Liquidate Pentax Scandinavia (Sept. 1)
Hoya to Liquidate Pentax Factory in Shanghai China (August 27)
Hoya Reported Net Loss in Running Pentax and Overall Profit Declined (August 13)
You 've annouced Pentax death so many times... The truth is that when you remain in your coffin with all your vintage lenses that you don't use and yet you love so much, they'll still be there having a good laugh reading this blog entry and the others announcing them to be dead...
ReplyDeleteHopefully by moving any Pentax activitiy out of Japan Pentax will become to 'un-japanese' that finally the 'white knight' Samsung (korean!) will be allowed to take over / buy Pentax and bring it back to glory!
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Pentax is dying, I have no doubt.
ReplyDeletePentax was the first company that hired me as an Engineer and I feel sad of the transition. I missed Mashiko Tochigi-Ken so much. I missed all the Japanese Staffs and Trainers. Being my first employer, I thank you for the wonderful experiences that company gave me. Pentax molded me to become a successful individual. Again, thank you Pentax! - Edgar -
ReplyDeletePentax was the first company that hired me as an Engineer and I feel sad of the transition. I missed Mashiko Tochigi-Ken so much and I missed all the Japanese Staffs and Trainers. Being my first employer, I thank you for the wonderful experiences you gave me. Pentax molded me to become a successful individual. Again, thank you Pentax! - Edgar -
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