Nikon will be spending ¥25 billion ($160M) on consolidating lens manufacture into two new buildings in Tochigi Prefecture to focus on high-end lenses:
“Nikon is renovating its camera lens factory in Japan. It will consolidate the manufacturing facilities, which were previously divided into more than a dozen locations at its base in Tochigi Prefecture, into two new buildings. The number of interchangeable camera lenses sold has shrunk to about one-tenth of its peak. The company will focus on high-end lenses domestically and make the factory more resistant to fluctuations in demand by being able to flexibly change production items.” (source: Nikkei, thanks Matt_007)
Update – here is the full press release:
Nikon to begin discussion on construction of new buildings at Tochigi Nikon
To reinforce the manufacturing system for various lenses
June 10, 2024 TOKYO – Nikon Corporation (Nikon) is pleased to announce that Nikon has begun discussion on the demolition of some of existing buildings and construction of two new buildings at its subsidiary, Tochigi Nikon Corporation.
Nikon is strengthening its business fundamentals under its current Medium-Term Management Plan, and will invest approximately 100 billion yen by 2030 to develop production facilities that support all of Nikon’s businesses.
The construction of the new buildings is aimed to reinforce the manufacturing system of interchangeable lenses for digital cameras and microscope objectives. This construction will begin in fiscal year 2025 and is scheduled to complete in fiscal year 2027. Nikon will build a resilient system that can flexibly respond to customer requests and efficiently produce a variety of lenses.Overview of the new buildings
Construction site Tochigi Nikon Corporation (770 Midori, Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan) Number of buildings 2 Total floor space Approx. 20,000 m2 Main production items Interchangeable lenses for digital cameras, microscope objectives and optical components, etc.
Nikon reaches a new milestone: 120 million NIKKOR lenses produced