KYOCERA Group Consolidates Optical Components Business

Company builds new synergies to meet growing demand for machine vision and robot vision in factory automation and related applications

Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO)(TOKYO:6971) announced today that it has consolidated its optical components businesses, effective November 1, 2016, by combining two wholly owned subsidiaries: Kyocera Optec Co., Ltd. and recently acquired Melles Griot KK.

Kyocera Optec, based in Tokyo with operations dating back to 1949, specializes in optical design, measurement and manufacturing of aspherical and infrared lenses for diverse factory automation applications — as well as lenses for cameras, copiers, printers, microscopes, projection equipment and automotive driver-assist technologies.

Melles Griot KK was a Japan-based manufacturer originally part of the larger Melles Griot network, and until recently, a subsidiary of U.S.-based IDEX Corporation. In September 2016, a share transfer agreement was concluded, making Melles Griot KK a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyocera Corporation.

The combined enterprise started operation as Kyocera Optec Co., Ltd. as of November 1, 2016.

Kyocera Optec Overview (after consolidation)

        
      
      
        
          Company name
        
        
           
        
        
          Kyocera Optec Co., Ltd.
        
      
      
        
          Headquarters
        
        
        
        
          3-1778 Osoki, Ome City, Tokyo 198-0003 Japan
        
      
      
        
          Representatives
        
        
        
        
          

Chairman: Tetsuo KubaPresident: Fuminori Yamagiwa

        
      
      
        
          Capital
        
        
        
        
          

JPY240 million (USD2.29 million*)

        
      
      
        
          Employees
        
        
        
        
          255
        
      
      
        
          Date of Consolidation
        
        
           
        
        
          November 1, 2016
        
      
      
        
           
        
      
    
    

Main Objectives

In addition to the automotive and medical markets, demand for optical components is expected to grow in the factory automation market, fueled by efforts to streamline and automate production processes worldwide — with fast-growing applications in machine vision, robot vision and other image-recognition systems for positioning and inspection processes.

This consolidation aims to yield synergies in the development and manufacturing technologies cultivated over the years by Kyocera Optec and Melles Griot KK, while enhancing the business’ sales and marketing networks worldwide.

* Conversion based on the rate of USD1=JPY105 (as of October 31, 2016).

About KYOCERA

Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO)(TOKYO:6971) (http://global.kyocera.com/), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of fine ceramics (also known as “advanced ceramics”). By combining these engineered materials with metals and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of electronic components, printers, copiers, solar power generating systems, mobile phones, semiconductor packages, cutting tools and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2016, the company’s net sales totaled 1.48 trillion yen (approx. USD13.1 billion). Kyocera appears on the 2014 and 2015 listings of the “Top 100 Global Innovators” by Thomson Reuters, and is ranked #531 on Forbes magazine’s 2016 “Global 2000” listing of the world’s largest publicly traded companies.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161101005734/en/

KYOCERA Corporation (Japan)Kenichi Hara, [phone]Corporate [e-mail]: [phone]