Annual Report 1998 - Omron

The E3T is an ultracompact photoelectric
sensor inside amplifiers, fusing
original OMRON technology in
achieving wire conservation and
lower costs.
Including all the necessary functions
and properties for temperature control
applications, the E5DN temperature
controller is now featured in a
new size (far right).
The SYSMAC system is an intelligent
factory compatible controller incorporating
information exchange
capabilities.
(VC 2400) that features 360-degree viewing; a low-cost, high-performance vision sensor
(F150); and a laser micrometer (NEW3Z4L) contributed significantly to sales.
In our sensor operations, in April 1998 we established an application development group to
improve our sensor application development capabilities. This group will facilitate our ability
to provide solutions to customers’ problems more rapidly and lead to expanded sales of sensors.
Our major strategy for sensors in fiscal 1999 is to focus on providing an expanded line of
inspection and measurement sensors for growth markets, such as the semiconductor industry.
Among supervisory control products, the domestic market for timers and counters was
extremely difficult, but sales of power supply and temperature controllers continued to
achieve growth in domestic and overseas markets. Among general-purpose components,
sales of large switches and industrial relays were negatively affected by the decline in capital
investment, remaining at the previous fiscal year’s levels. By industry, demand expanded
for machine-safety-related products, while power supply and specialty switches continued
to sell well in the amusement industry. The growing popularity of numerical control applications
in response to the need for energy conservation and reduced labor related to environmental
issues is expected to increase demand for temperature controllers and counters.
Demand is also anticipated to grow for machine-safety-related components, thanks to
heightened interest in working safety in Japan and Europe as well as the widening market
penetration of these products.
New products were introduced not only in Japan but also overseas during the fiscal year under
review to strengthen sales, including a power supply series (S82J), temperature controllers
(E5N series), and large switches (A16 and A22). Seeking market expansion, the division entered
new fields with such products as FA vibration sensors, inclination sensors, and flexible
monitors. Overseas, the division aimed for stronger sales by promoting global development
in the markets for timers and counters by introducing products that target regional markets and
by dispatching liaison personnel to shore up sales activities in North America, Europe, and China.
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
Favorable exports by the Japanese automobile and semiconductor industries—our major customers—helped
system components record double-digit growth in global sales in fiscal 1998.
Among our core products, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) posted double-digit
growth in sales. The expansion in sales of our series of FA network (CompoBus/D) products,
which are used to line PLCs with component devices, was notable.
Improving cost-competitiveness and efficiency by shortening product development time
and utilizing flexible, small-lot production systems remained important trends during the fiscal
year under review. With advances in information technology and in global standardization,
demand rose for virtual (premanufacturing testing) and more flexible (variable
production) systems. The progressive downsizing of PLCs and the shift to open systems
controllers and communication systems are producing heightened competition. In response,
we are upgrading the features of our PLCs, including making them open system compatible.
New products and technologies that contributed to sales during the fiscal year included
CPT, our programmable support tool for PLCs, as well as the C200HX, E, G, and W series of
upgraded SYSMAC (alpha) systems. The ISA bus compatible SYSMAC board, C200PC-ISA01-
DRM, and the FA network family of CompoBus/D slave chips and multiple-I/O terminals
also sold well.
We have integrated product planning, production, and development to a single location
to speed up our product development and enable us to focus on the release and sale of
new versions of this division’s core products—PLCs and programmable terminals.
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