Konica Minolta 2006 Annual Report Download - page 12

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10
In the optical pickup lens business, products for
DVD recorders are growing, while we do not
believe the DVD-related market as a whole will
see much growth. Instead, high growth is expect-
ed in next-generation pickup lenses. Konica
Minolta has already completed technology devel-
opment for the Blu-ray Disk (BD) format and the
high definition (HD) DVD format and has made
preparations for mass production. The key point
is materials development for next generation
pickup lenses. Through the merger, Konica
Minolta has both development and production
technologies to organically integrate plastic lens
technology and glass molding technology, and
we intend to maintain dominating competitive-
ness through materials development that lever-
ages these strong points. In terms of market
share, we intend to maintain the commanding
market position we have built up in DVD-use
object lenses in the next generation of pickup
lenses. On the other hand, in the liquid crystal
display (LCD) market, the shift to larger and
higher definition displays for LCD TVs is support-
ing the market expansion of high performance
products such as large LCD-use viewing angle
expansion film. In addition to further raising the
level of our film manufacturing technology and
materials technology that we have so far fos-
tered, we plan to expand production capacity. In
micro lenses and microcamera modules, because
global diffusion rates for mobile phones with
built-in cameras are still low, we expect contin-
ued growth. In addition, application of these
products will not be limited to mobile phones,
but will expand into other areas such as PCs,
security cameras and vehicles. Konica Minolta
continues to maintain a high market share and
popularity in the domestic market in the high
pixel count segment, and it is working for full-
fledged diffusion in overseas markets. In glass
hard disk substrates, we have developed and
established production of small diameter prod-
ucts in response to market growth that is being
driven by the miniaturization of mobile-related
equipment, and we are balancing this with exist-
ing products to develop the business.
Please explain the market
environment and your growth
strategies for the components
business.
While the conversion to digital and networks is
proceeding in the medical field centering on large
hospitals given the strengthened collaboration
between hospitals and clinics, this movement is
broadening into the medical practioner market
and the clinical market. In particular, Konica
Minolta’s X-ray digital image reader series has
secured high market shares both in the domestic
and overseas markets, and we plan to develop
the medical practitioner and clinical markets
through a strengthening of system develop-
ment and a sales network for these markets. In
addition, the shift to digital and networks in large
Please explain the market
environment and your strategies
for the medical and healthcare
segment.
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