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18
President Sakuta Discusses Omron’s Future
Is the Company advancing any growth strategies in new areas?
Q
Activating Omron Group Synergies for Full-
fledged Entry to the Environmental Business
We believe the Omron Group has unique capabilities
to help tackle pressing environmental issues.
Responding to global warming and other environ-
mental issues is critical for the future of humanity, and
it has been estimated that by the year 2050 we must
reduce total global emissions of greenhouse gases
(CO2), by half of the year 2000 level. Achieving this
presents a major challenge that will require ground-
breaking new technology and ideas. From our point
of view, this is the type of challenge that is perfectly
suited for developing new businesses for our envi-
ronmental business.
In March 2009, we established and commenced
full-fledged operations of the Environmental Solutions
Business Headquarters, which is under my direct
supervision. The headquarters is focusing on provid-
ing CO2emission reduction solutions for retail stores,
factories, distribution operations, offices, schools, and
various other sites and developing total environmental
solutions to help clients realize their environmental
management objectives.
The Omron Group had previously been develop-
ing environmental businesses for CO2emission
reduction through each of its business segments. The
Environmental Solutions Business Headquarters works
laterally with IAB, ECB, and other business segments
to integrate components used in each segment’s envi-
ronmental solutions operations. It also develops
solutions by identifying areas to monitor and provides
specific control solutions to further reduce CO2emis-
sion volumes.
Environmental business is a new direction that will
leverage the synergies of the Omron Group. We are
aiming for the environmental business, including the
contribution from the Environmental Solutions
Business Headquarters, to generate ¥50 billion in sales
in fiscal 2013.
What other growth fields are you focusing on in addition to the environmental
business?
Q
Actively Developing Sensor Networks, MEMS,
and Vision Sensing
Advances in sensing technology are increasing the
range of potential applications and generating a shift
in needs from basic sensing and control functions to
information management functions aimed at fulfilling
specific objectives. Sensors are playing an increasing-
ly central role for supporting administrative functions
related to safety, product quality, equipment lifecycles,
work environment, and the health and behavior of peo-
ple at manufacturing sites as well as across the broader
spectrum of industry, society, and lifestyle. This is evi-
dent in the intense interest that has been generated in
our face recognition systems (see page 25 for details).
I am speaking in futuristic terms, but we are con-
ducting research in several areas to expand and
advance sensor applications, such as further inte-
grating our MEMS technology into sensor networks
(intercommunicating sensors) and autonomous sen-
sors required for household electric power generation
devices. I also believe we are moving closer to realiz-
ing vibration sensors that can sense the changes in
vibrational activity that occur as structures age and can
be used in bridges or buildings for safety and preven-
tion against structural collapse. These sensors could
also be paired with permanent sensor systems that
can generate electricity from extremely subtle vibra-
tional movement.
Vibration-power
generation device
Technology Driving Future Growth: Progress in Sensing
Sensing
Technology
MEMS/NEMS
Specialized nano-thin film
Wireless
Communication
Technology
Ubiquitous network
Zigbee, RFID
Integration
Technology
Si penetration wiring
(MEMS/MOS)
Wafer-level package
MEMS/MOS vertical
integration
Control Technology
Feature extraction
Inference learning
Knowledge information
control
Eco-technology that
converts vibration energy
into electricity
(Announced on November 11, 2008)
Energy Technology
Small and environmental
power generation
Mass electricity
accumulation
Power
generation
device
Capacitor
RFIC
Antenna
Buildup multilayer
memory ASIC
Signal
processing IC
High accuracy
sensor Knowledge IC