A N N U A L R E P O R T 1 9 9 9

Toppan is working to establish
a foundation for growth
through strategic investment
in the field of electronics.
Toppan makes a range of electronicsrelated
products that draw on the
photomechanical technologies developed
in its printing operations. These products
are more than just a major field of business
for the Company; they will play a key
role in Toppan’s future growth.
new line for the production of large-size
glass plates at our Niigata plant. For
high-definition shadow masks, to further
raise precision and increase production
capacity, we plan to conduct significant
capital investment at our Kumamoto
plant. In the two-year period ended
March 31, 1999, the Toppan Group’s
capital investment totaled about ¥200
billion, of which about 30% was allocated
to the electronics field.
Hiromichi Fujita, President
Consequently, Toppan continues
to invest aggressively in products for
which demand is expected to expand,
such as color filters for liquid crystal displays
(LCDs), high-definition shadow
masks for personal computer monitors,
high-precision photomasks used in the
production of semiconductors, new
types of semiconductor packages, and
back modules for plasma displays.
Through this investment, we are aiming
to significantly increase production
capacity and foster technological innovation.
For color filters, for example, we
have responded to the trend toward
larger LCDs with the installation of a
We are working to enhance
value for shareholders and
customers by facilitating the
transition to an information
and communications company.
On the eve of a new century, the business
environment for Toppan and other
members of the printing industry is
undergoing significant change. Key
trends include the rapidly growing use
of digital technology at the prepress
stage; the advance of multimedia,
as seen in the spread of the Internet
and the appearance of DVD and other
new media technologies; and the
growing sensitivity to environmental
conservation issues. Therefore, we are
3