Nikon 2007 Annual Report Download - page 20

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NIKON ANNUAL REPORT 200718
Review of year ended March 2007
The major business developments during
the year were as follows.
1. Sales of customized products were on a
par with the previous year, despite efforts
to expand sales of space-related
equipment and optical components.
2. The sport optics products business
recorded significantly higher sales,
reflecting favorable sales growth in
markets in North America and Europe.
3. Sales increased in glass-related
operations. Nikon focused on acquiring
new customers to expand sales and also
made a full-scale entry into the LCD
photomask substrate business. This
involved investing in new facilities at the
Shonan branch on the site of the
Sagamihara Plant.
4. Sales of ophthalmic frames and
sunglasses increased amid a continued
harsh market environment following
successful moves to reconstruct the
business and to promote higher sales.
Entry into LCD photomask substrate
business
Nikon entered the LCD photomask
substrate business during the year.
Photomasks are used in LCD panel
manufacturing processes as a negative
plate for transferring circuit patterns via
exposure. The photomask substrate is a
material made out of silica glass whose
surface is ground and polished until it is
extremely smooth. Surface variation in the
final product is under 20 micrometers.
REVIEW OF OPERATIONS: OTHER
SEGMENT SALES INCREASED 14.9% YEAR ON YEAR TO ¥57,244 MILLION, WHILE
OPERATING INCOME ROSE 9.0% TO ¥2,102 MILLION.