Corporate
Profile

[Company strength]
Our strength lies in the fact that we create new things with free thinking. This is done under the principle of creating pioneering products and services earlier than competitors, without being second to anyone. Every one of our employees is multi-skilled, and has experienced a wide range of imaging device development. Our company’s experience over the last 40 years has included the fields of amusements, factory automation, and broadcasting. We have been insatiably committed to customer-oriented business. We have refined our core technology from these fields to expand the number of image signals our devices can handle without losing compatibility with the standards. We have been able to ensure connectivity with other standards-compliant devices, while our competitors can connect only to specific devices.

[Business description]
Our company develops, manufactures, and sells devices, with a focus on optical transmission devices. These devices securely transmit, distribute, and switch signals for quality control departments in manufacturing plants, and universities and research institutions such as RIKEN (Institute of Physical and Chemical Research). The aim of our devices is to faithfully transmit signals, as well as to enhance the flexibility of designing image processing systems (combinations of image sensors and image processing units). Our line of products allows our customers to create inspection systems in environments where it they are difficult to install with conventional options. Our devices also enhance productivity while maintaining consistent inspection accuracy. Our company has been mainly engaged in developing industrial imaging devices since its establishment in 1977. Our products are the result of image signal processing technologies that have been acquired from a wide range of fields, from TV broadcasting to factory automation. 

[Industry]
Image processing device development, manufacturing, and sales

[Strength of products/technologies]
Our company succeeded in productizing a previously impossible transmission rate through extensive electronic circuit design technology, which we obtained from our past broadcasting and FA imaging device development. A competing product has a transmission rate of 2.3 Gbps, which transmits video signals from one camera (85-MHz clock rate) through a dual-core optical fiber. Our product excels in cost performance, as it transmits 85-MHz signals from 4 cameras at a transmission rate of 9.2 Gbps with a single-core optical fiber. This transmission rate can handle high-definition signals for up to 6 inputs. Our extensive lineup (mainly Camera Link) is second to none in the industrial image peripheral device industry. This allows us to provide a one-stop service for our customers. These ready-made products can be easily customized to meet advanced customer requirements. 

[Representative's message]
Our company contributes to society with its unique, top-selling products that dramatically improve the functions and performance of imaging systems. We have long developed and sold highly reliable products that support the severe requirements imposed on imaging inspection equipment for auto parts and pharmaceutical tablet production lines. This is why many of these products have been introduced to many major companies and advanced research institutions in Japan. We intend to enhance our technology development capabilities. We will actively strive to increase sales of our unique products and technologies on the global market, with the goal of becoming a global niche top company. We have participated in image processing exhibitions in June and December for the past 15 years, and we have exhibited unique new products every year. We have responded only when we are contacted by an overseas company or institution that had heard about us. However, we hope to enhance our website, and actively transmit information so that we can expand overseas sales. 

[Company structure for market development/overseas expansion]
Two staff members from technical sales and two from technical marketing are working together to acquire new customers. We have 10 engineers who can visit customers needing advanced technical follow-up for technical advice. For overseas expansion we are trying to increase sales in the Chinese market by participating in the Taiwan FA Business Study Group. This is held by the Saitama Industrial Promotion Public Corporation. We also plan to set up a corporate website in English, and gradually acquire safety standards certifications for our main products. We are also considering recruiting retired business people to enhance our international business capabilities.

[Market share/Ranking]
We have acquired over 80% of the market for optical transmission units that employ the Camera Link image signal format. This figure was derived based on the volume of industrial camera shipments (by Fuji Keizai, a private research institute). We also considered the ratio of optical transmission units that are actually used (results obtained from our customers). This figure indicates that we are the leading manufacturer in the extender segment of the industrial image peripheral device field. 

[Awards and media coverage]
[Awards]
Letter of appreciation from RIKEN (Institute of Physical and Chemical Research) regarding research equipment at SACLA (x-ray, free-electron laser equipment). 

[Media]
None.


[Authorization/Certification]
ISO 9001:2008; ISO 14001:2004; Saitama Prefectural Management Innovation Plan.

[Joint research and development]
None.

[Main Clients / Business History (domestic)]
Sony; Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal group; Fujitsu; Meidensha Electric Manufacturing; Panasonic; Hamamatsu Photonics; NEC; Toshiba; Mitsubishi Electrics; Omron; Sharp; Honda Motor; Hitachi Kokusai Electric; Itochu Techno-Solutions; Olympus; Canon; Fuji Heavy Industries; JEOL; Shimadzu; Toray; Murata Manufacturing; Toyota Motor; Bridgestone; Hitachi; many others. 

[Main Clients / Business History (overseas)]
Utechzone Co., Ltd. (Taiwan): Our CameraLink Repeater has been adopted in their LCD panel inspection equipment.Paul Scherrer Institute (Switzerland): Our CLE-560 optical transmission unit has been adopted as a signal transmission component for their high-sensitivity camera for use in advanced experiments.