Konica Minolta Establishes a New Company in China
- Strengthening Technology Development of Office Equipment -
Tokyo (February 2, 2010) - Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announced the establishment of a new fully-owned business company in Wuxi, People's Republic of China. The new company undertakes the technology development tasks, such as product design and evaluation, of office equipment.
Background and purpose of the new company
Konica Minolta is currently strengthening existing businesses through streamlining and expanding product lineup. There is also a pressing need to conquer new business domain. The new business company, therefore, has been established in Wuxi to undertake development tasks such as product planning, product design and evaluation targeting Chinese market.
By establishing the new company, while ensuring qualified research and development employees, Konica Minolta will collaborate with local companies and universities to promote product planning and design. Currently, almost all of its office equipment are being assembled in three Chinese manufacturing sites - one in Huadong area (Wuxi) and two in Huanan area (Shilong and Shenzhen). Being close to the production sites and components suppliers, it will be possible to effectively practice value engineering (VE)*1 to further strengthen cost competitiveness.
In the office equipment and production printing fields, Konica Minolta will promote unique product development which excels in the total cost of ownership (TCO)*2, productivity, and environmental consideration. At the same time, we will attend to the diversifying customer requests and expectations by providing the most qualified solutions and will ever more make effort to pursue co-existence and prosperity with local communities.
*1value engineering (VE): A systematic technique to provide products having functions essential to customers at the minimal costs by analyzing various factors related to costs and functions.
*2total cost of ownership (TCO): A total cost required for implementation, utilization, maintenance and management. Outline of the new company
Name Konica Minolta Technology Development (Wuxi) Co., Ltd.
Representative Shingo Asahi (president)
Location Wuxi, People's Republic of China
Established January 28, 2010
Paid-in-Capital (Registered Capital) US$2.32million
(approximately 220 million yen)
Shareholders 100% owned by Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
Main Businesses a) Product design
b) Design and evaluation of products associated with VE, evaluation of the mass-produced machines
c) Computer-aided engineering (CAE)*3 analysis
d) Collaboration with local companies and universities in China to improve cost competitiveness
Employees 12 at the time of establishment.
(Estimated employees at the end of FY2014: 200)
*3computer-aided engineering (CAE): Use of computer technology to support engineers for preliminary simulation of product design and manufacturing and production process design.
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