Wacom 2004 Annual Report Download - page 2

HISTORY
Adhering to our corporate philosophy of advocating
"the harmonious development between man and
technology," we at Wacom Co., Ltd. strive to offer
products that expand the innate creativity of
mankind. Our primary goal is to develop tools that
people can use intuitively and effortlessly regardless
of their background or the tools' technological
pedigree.
In the 1980s, we pioneered the development of a
pen tablet---a picture-drawing tool for PCs---that made
battery-free, cordless computer input possible for the
first time. The pen tablet's user-friendly interface and
rendering versatility were cherished by computer
graphics creators around the world, and it has since
become an indispensable tool in the field. Integrated
LCD tablets, which allow users to write directly on LCD
displays, are now popular among a wide range of
businesses, including medical firms, transportation/
shipping companies, and a host of other enterprises in
which entering information via keyboard is
impractical. Furthermore, by incorporating pen-sensor
components into tablet PCs, we've made it possible
for mobile users---such as delivery truck drivers---to
enter information into a computer system.
Our tablets are continuing to expand their fields of
application, and we plan to continue revolutionizing
the workplace and the wider world with our
proprietary user-interface technology.
PROFILE
CONTENTS
DISCLAIMER
Forward-looking statements regarding future events and performance
contained in this annual report are based on currently available
information and involve risks and uncertainties, including
macroeconomic conditions, trends of the industry in which the
company is engaged, and progress in new technologies. Please note
that actual results could materially differ from those expressed or
implied by the forward-looking statements in this annual report due
to these risks and uncertainties.
July 1983
· Wacom Co., Ltd. is established in Ageo City, Saitama, Japan,
with common stock of 48 million yen.
· Operations of Electronic Systems and Devices (ESD) and
Engineering Collaborative Solutions (ECS) businesses begin.
June 1988
· Wacom Computer Systems GmbH (presently Wacom Europe
GmbH, a consolidated subsidiary) is established in Neuss, West
Germany, as a sales base in Europe.
August 1991
· Wacom Technology Corporation (presently a consolidated
subsidiary) is established in Vancouver, Washington, U.S.A., as
a sales base in America.
March 1998
· Marketing of SmartPDM, a Product Data Management (PDM)
system, begins.
September 1998
· Marketing of Intuos, a line of professional graphics tablets,
begins.
June 1999
· Marketing of ECAD/dio, a CAD system for electrical
engineering, begins.
November 1999
· Marketing of FAVO/Graphire, a line of consumer graphics
tablets, begins.
March 2000
· Wacom China Corporation (presently a consolidated
subsidiary) is established in Beijing, China, as a sales base in
China.
September 2001
· Marketing of Cintiq, a line of integrated LCD tablets, begins.
October 2001
· Marketing of Intuos2 professional graphics tablets begins.
· Wacom Component Europe (presently a consolidated
subsidiary) is established in Cambridge, U.K., as a marketing
and R&D base for a pen sensor component business.
April 2002
· Electronic Human Interfaces (EHI) Company is established.
April 2003
· The Company's stock is listed on the JASDAQ market.
September 2003
· Marketing of Graphire3/FAVO F-430, F-630 begins.
· Marketing of ECAD/dio Ver 4.0 begins.
April 2004
· Wacom Digital Solutions Co., Ltd. (presently a consolidated
subsidiary) is established in Seoul, South Korea, as a sales base
in South Korea.
1
2
4
5
6
8
24
24
25
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS
BUSINESS OVERVIEW
OUR THREE STRENGTHS
SEGMENT INFORMATION
FINANCIAL SECTION
CORPORATE DATA
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, CORPORATE AUDITORS,
AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
INVESTOR INFORMATION