Nikon 2010 Annual Report Download - page 20

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18
especially solid growth in sales of cutting-
edge research equipment.
In the fi scal year ending March 2011 the
Instruments Company will introduce two new
super resolution microscopes with resolutions
far superior to that of conventional optical
microscopes, which have a resolution limit of
200 nm. One of these new microscopes,
N-SIM, will have a resolution nearly twice as
high as the conventional optical microscopes
(approx. 100 nm), and will be capable of
continuous imaging at a maximum speed of
0.6 sec/frame. This microscope will make it
possible to clearly observe the microstructure
of live cells. The other new product, N-STORM,
boasts a resolution more than 10 times
greater than conventional optical micro-
scopes (approx. 20 nm) and will be capable of
high-resolution, three-dimensional fl uores-
cence imaging. It will facilitate observation of
biological specimens at the molecular level.
We developed these two products under
license from the University of California, San
Francisco, and Harvard University, respectively.
With regard to our existing line of research,
clinical and educational microscopes, it is
important that we expand our user base and
solidify our position in the market. To do this,
the Instruments Company’s strategy will be
to improve product functionality even among
product series that have already achieved a
superior reputation among users in these
various fi elds, while at the same time intensi-
fying our sales and marketing efforts. In
addition to hardware, it is essential that we
develop software that meets the individual
needs of our various users. Our goal will be to
increase the value of the Nikon brand by
adopting a total approach that includes
upgraded software and improved customer
support services.
Industrial Instruments
Focus on Merging New Technologies to
Develop High-Value-Added Measuring
Instruments
In the industrial instruments fi eld, the market
for displays and electronic components is
improving, especially in Asia, and the demand
for measuring instruments and industrial
microscopes is recovering rapidly. This trend
is expected to accelerate further as we ap-
proach the fi scal year ending March 2012,
and we are taking steps accordingly to inten-
sify our sales and marketing activities in
these areas. In the automotive market, de-
mand is projected to recover gradually,
primarily in Asia. Meanwhile, in developed
countries new demand is emerging for
advanced measurement systems designed to
improve productivity. Going forward Nikon
Conventional Microscope N-SIM
Mitochondria in a living NIH3T3 cell
stained with Mito Tracker Red.
Total magnifi cation: 250x
Image Comparison between Conventional Optical Microscopes and N-SIM