Nikon’s Thai digital camera plant, which was damaged by huge floods last autumn, has come back to the pre-flood level, according to the industry sources.
The company has operated camera assembly in Thailand for over 20 years since 1990, and has built up favourable relationship among local component suppliers. Those companies offered help in assembling cameras in place of damaged factory. The company estimates sales of interchangeable lens system cameras to rise 10 percent year-on-year to 4.7 million units and 17 million compact cameras, up 19 percent. Operational profit of the camera business unit is expected to maintain the previous year’s level at 52 billion yen (US$650). Nikon’s production of entry- to medium-class D-SLRs in Thailand comes to some 90 percent of the company’s total and the remaining high-end models are made in Sendai, Japan. Nikon 1 mirrorless cameras are produced in Nikon Imaging China, in Wuxi, together with compact models and interchangeable lenses.