Nikon 2014 Annual Report Download - page 51

FPD lithography business, especially of the FX-66S and the
FX-67S, which are geared for the production of small to medium-
sized high-defi nition displays for smartphones and tablet
computers, thus allowing the Company to retain its high market
share. We also strengthened the profi t structure by shortening
production times and cutting costs throughout the business.
Net sales thus increased 14.8% from the previous fi scal year,
to ¥205,447 million, and operating income surged 53.4%, to
¥20,079 million.
Imaging Products Business
The market for interchangeable lens-type digital cameras shrank
drastically, refl ecting worsening market environments especially
in Europe and China, while a similar decline occurred in the
market for compact digital cameras, as both businesses faced
adverse market environments.
For interchangeable lens-type digital cameras, we pushed
sales of such existing products as the D7100 and launched
distinctly new products, including the Df, the smallest and
lightest of the Nikon FX format cameras, and the D4S, the
latest fl agship model. We also released the Nikon 1 AW1, the
world’s fi rst waterproof and shock-resistant interchangeable
lens-type digital camera. The cumulative production of inter-
changeable lenses reached 85 million units in January 2014.
With aggressive sales of compact digital cameras, such as the
COOLPIX S6600, which is designed to make “selfi es” easy, and
the multi-function COOLPIX P600, the world’s fi rst camera
equipped with a 60x optical zoom, we garnered high market
share in each geographical region. Also, by slashing costs,
adopting new materials, and streamlining our development,
design, and manufacturing, along with revamping our sales
strategy, we improved profi tability.
Although net sales fell 8.8% from the previous fi scal year,
to ¥685,446 million, operating income increased 5.9%, to
¥64,284 million.
Instruments Business
Thanks to public spending increases in Japan and the United
States, we expanded the Microscope Solutions Business sales,
particularly of state-of-the-art super resolution microscope sys-
tems and inverted research microscopes. In February 2014, we
signed a capital and business partnership agreement with JEOL
Ltd. to reinforce sales activities and create new products.
In the industrial instruments business, semiconductors and
electronic components sold sluggishly during the fi rst half of
the fi scal year due to restraint in capital investment, but recov-
ery was visible from the latter half. We launched CNC video
measuring systems, such as the NEXIV VMZ-R3020 and NEXIV
VMZ-R6555, and further expanded sales focusing on non-contact
metrology systems.
As a result, net sales increased 20.1% from the previous
fi scal year, to ¥64,709 million, and an operating loss of ¥2,156
million was recorded, less than the previous year’s loss of
¥4,978 million.
Other Businesses
In the Customized Products Business, sales of space-related
products decreased, whereas sales of solid-state lasers and
optical components remained steady. In the Glass-Related
Business, sales of FPD photomask substrates were higher than
in the previous year.
As a result, net sales decreased 5.3% from the previous
fi scal year, to ¥24,954 million; however, operating income
increased 24.3%, to ¥4,420 million.
The breakdown of net sales by business segment for the
fi scal year under review and the previous year, indicated in
brackets, was 21.0% (17.7%) for Precision Equipment, 69.9%
(74.3%) for Imaging Products, 6.6% (5.3%) for Instruments,
and 2.5% (2.6%) for Other Businesses, with Precision
Equipment and Instruments up year on year and accounting
for dominant shares of sales.
Precision Equipment Business
(Years ended March 31)
Millions of yen
Net sales Operating income (loss)
2011 2012 2013
300,000
200,000
100,000
0
–100,000 2010 2014 2011 2012 2013
800,000
600,000
400,000
200,000
02010 2014 2011 2012 2013
80,000
40,000
60,000
20,000
0
–20,000 2010 2014
Imaging Products Business
(Years ended March 31)
Millions of yen
Net sales Operating income
Instruments Business
(Years ended March 31)
Millions of yen
Net sales Operating loss
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NIKON REPORT 2014