Nikon 2008 Annual Report Download - page 21

Download and view the complete annual report

Please find page 21 of the 2008 Nikon annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.

Page out of 58

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50
  • 51
  • 52
  • 53
  • 54
  • 55
  • 56
  • 57
  • 58

STRENGTHS
INSTRUMENTS SEGMENT ANALYSIS
The main strengths of the Instruments Company are the
control, image processing and optical technologies Nikon
has acquired over many years. Building on a foundation of
more than eight decades of microscope production, the
Instruments Company applies the technology developed by
Nikon, such as precision control that brings the high-speed,
moving stage to a standstill with exceptional precision to
produce the products as IC steppers and scanners, and
image processing derived from digital cameras.
OPPORTUNITIES
In the bioscience business Nikon is focusing on sales of
high-end microscopes and the BioStation series, target-
ing global markets. Sales are rising centered on the United
States and Europe. In Asia as well, countries such as China
and South Korea have a particularly large number of organi-
zations conducting advanced research in a variety of fi elds,
and we will work to further expand sales in these markets.
In the industrial instruments business, we will develop
measuring devices highly suited for general-purpose use,
expanding our scope of business from the semiconductor
industry to a variety of fi elds.
CHALLENGES
Broadening of business fi elds and bolstering internal
structures is necessary to accelerate business growth. To
achieve this, the Instruments Company will monitor mar-
ket trends, strengthening marketing capabilities to allow
for proactive product development, and establishing a
fl exible development capability that does not focus exclu-
sively on existing products and processes. We will foster
the creation of an internal structure that not only responds
to market changes, but generates demand.
Nikon Annual Report 2008 19