Toshiba 1997 Annual Report Download - page 15

13.
Commercial operation of the world’s first ABWR began in
1996 at Unit No. 6 of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power
Station. The unit was built by a consortium led by Toshiba
and incorporates many technological advances.
Attractive Toshiba elevators
and escalators are integral
elements of the striking new
Tokyo head office building
of Fuji Television Network.
Toshiba has played a part in
both of Cairo’s new subway
lines. Following the delivery
of equipment for Line No. 1,
Toshiba secured similar
contracts for Line No. 2. In
addition, a joint venture
provides maintenance
services for rolling stock.
300 Shinkansen trains
to Central Japan
Railway Company,
and compact and
lightweight GTO
power converters for
Series 500 Shinkansen
trains to West Japan
Railway Company. In
other market sectors,
Toshiba aims to raise
its market share of
electrical equipment
for commuter cars and new models of rolling stock
for Japanese private railway companies.
Orders increased from clients in Asia and other
overseas markets. During the year, Toshiba deliv-
ered electrical equipment for Cairo Metro Line
No. 2 in Egypt. With partners, Toshiba formed a
company to provide rolling stock maintenance
services for Line No. 1, which was built using many
Toshiba products. Separately, a new strategic
alliance with Siemens AG Transportation Systems
of Germany bolsters Toshiba’s ability to compete in
Europe, Japan and elsewhere in Asia.
In Japan, the elevator and escalator market is
characterized by intense price competition and an
ongoing shift in demand to facilities for smaller
buildings. To raise sales, Toshiba targeted renewal
projects and the expansion plans of retailers. In
Japan, two large orders received during the year
were for about 30
elevators and escala-
tors at a redevelop-
ment project in
Yokohama and for 12
elevators at the Tokyo
Opera City complex.
Overseas sales were
up substantially, with
most of the gain
occurring in Asia.
Two elevator produc-
tion, sales and service
firms established in
China in 1995 initi-
ated full-scale activi-
ties in 1996.
Industrial Electrical Apparatus and
Machinery
Demand for products in this sector was generally
lackluster, although orders were higher from
Japanese pulp and paper manufacturers. The auto-
mation or renewal of existing facilities represented
a large share of sales. Overseas, investments in steel
mills and other large industrial plants in Asia sup-
ported higher sales of electrical machinery. Despite
these areas of strength, sales of industrial electrical
apparatus and process control systems were gener-
ally weak.
Toshiba positioned its Mie Works in Japan as the
core of the industrial electrical apparatus business to
speed responses to shifts in market trends. Introduc-
tion of new and advanced products further enhanced
Toshiba’s competitive position. Examples include
the new µ/S series of AC drive equipment for steel
mills, pulp and paper mills and other large plants.
The introduction of the CIEMAC-DS and CIEMAC-
1200 integrated control systems and the FA3100
industrial-use PC gave Toshiba inroads to new
market sectors. In the field of general-purpose
inverters, where sales are rising steadily, high-
capacity and ultra-compact models were added to
the VF-S7 series. With 20 models now available,
this series extends from general-purpose units to
units compatible with vector-control.
Transportation Equipment, Elevators
and Escalators
Toshiba’s sales of transportation equipment in Japan
rose slightly as the JR railway companies increased
purchases of equipment. Growth was limited by a
fall in orders from other railway companies and
municipal railways due to a delay in the approval of
fare increases. The JR companies continue to invest
in the Shinkansen (bullet train) and other high-speed
trains. During the past fiscal year, Toshiba delivered
highly efficient IGBT power converters for Series