Olympus 2008 Annual Report Download - page 15

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Imaging Systems
Business
> The Imaging Systems Business is centered on digital
cameras, optical components and voice recorders.
In fiscal 2008, ended March 31, 2008, sales in this
business rose 8.9% year on year to ¥320,589 million
(US$3,053 million) and operating income jumped 21.6%
to ¥33,086 million (US$315 million).
During the fiscal year under review, Olympus made
steady progress with its profit-oriented structural
reforms. Spurred by this, Olympus launched a stream of
new strategic products onto the digital camera market
and upgraded optical components with the aim of
improving earnings ratio. As a result, Olympus recorded
increases in both revenue and earnings for the second
consecutive year.
DIGITAL CAMERAS
AND OPTICAL COMPONENTS
> Sales of digital cameras and optical components grew
9.0 % year on year to ¥293,566 million (US$2,796 mil-
lion). During fiscal 2008, increased investment in the
digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera lineup allowed
Olympus to release the small, lightweight E-410 and
E-510 with such unique functions as Live View to attract
a wider range of users, as well as the E-3 for the profes-
sional and semiprofessional. This resulted in substantial
sales growth. In its compact digital camera lineups,
Olympus launched the small, slim and stylish μ[mju:]
1020 (Stylus1020 in the Americas) with 7x-zoom capa-
bilities. Together with this, Olympus enjoyed robust sales
of the CAMEDIA SP series, which realizes 18x optical,
high-magnification shots. As a result, Olympus recorded
increased revenue. Sales of optical components grew
due to increased sales of lens barrel units.
VOICE RECORDERS
AND FILM CAMERAS
> Voice recorders and film cameras, sales of which grew
both within and outside Japan, climbed 7.8% year on
year to ¥27,023 million (US$257 million). In Japan, sales
of the “separate design” Voice-Trek V-13 were particu-
larly brisk, owing to its smaller size and special feature
that enables users to connect the recorder directly to
personal computers with larger memory capacities. In
addition, Olympus entered the market for Linear PCM
Recorders, which are gaining prominence in the industry
thanks to the adoption of the high sound quality uncom-
pressed digital recording format.
OUTLOOK FOR
FISCAL 2009
> In order to increase its market share and establish a
solid market position in digital SLR cameras, Olympus
will continue to strengthen its competitiveness.
Olympus will boost its brand power by offering high-
value-added products specifically designed for digital
applications that leverage its design superiority to bring
more compact, lighter digital SLR cameras to a wider
range of users. In its compact digital camera lineups,
Olympus will focus on inventory management in its
ongoing efforts to streamline its business operations
and thereby secure stable earnings. Furthermore, in the
optical component field, Olympus will make effective
use of its well-established optical lens technologies to
increase earnings. To that end, Olympus is projecting
sales of ¥320 billion and operating income of ¥24 billion
for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009.
OLYMPUS 2008 13