In the cinema area of the imaging equipment field, although sales volume of digital cinema projectors increased, unit prices continued to decline for small and medium-sized models, for which demand has been increasing. In general imaging equipment, sales of projectors for amusement parks and events trended firmly, but sales were sluggish primarily for small and medium-sized projectors for stationary imaging.
In the optical equipment field, sales were lackluster due to soft capital investment for lithography equipment for various electronic devices related to smartphones. However, sales increased for LCD panel manufacturing equipment, excimer cleaning units for organic electroluminescent displays (OLEDs) and direct image exposure systems for main substrates of next-generation smartphones.
As a result, equipment business sales were ¥97,834 million, a decrease of 1.0% year on year. Segment income was ¥74 million.
In the cinema area of the imaging equipment field, we anticipate lower sales volume of lamp-based digital cinema projectors, but expect sales of laser projectors to increase. In the general imaging field, we forecast higher sales to the entertainment sector, as well as growth in new businesses such as stationary imaging systems for projection mapping.
In optical equipment, we expect higher demand for lithography equipment for sensor-type electronic parts. However, we are forecasting lower sales based on our strategy of emphasizing profits over sales growth.
| Sales | 2017 | 2018 (plan) |
|---|---|---|
| Imaging equipment | ¥67.0 billion | ¥72.5 billion |
| Optical equipment | ¥28.5 billion | ¥27.5 billion |
| Illumination and related facilities | ¥2.0 billion | ¥2.5 billion |
| Total | ¥97.6 billion | ¥102.5 billion |
