新力: 在長崎等地投資１千億日圓設備在智能手機半導體

A few weeks ago the Asahi News on-line reported the following:

ソニー、長崎などで設備投資１千億円　スマホ向け半導体

長崎潤一郎

2015年2月3日01時20分

　ソニーは２日、スマートフォンのカメラなどに使われる画像センサーの生産能力を増やすため、長崎県や熊本県などの工場に計１０５０億円を投資すると発表した。生産能力を現在の月産６万枚（３００ミリウェハー換算）から３割増強し、来年６月末に月産８万枚に増やす。

　ＣＭＯＳイメージセンサーと呼ばれる半導体を増産する。レンズから入る光を電気信号に変える「目」の役割を果たし、カメラの性能を左右する半導体で、中国をはじめ、世界的に需要が拡大している。ソニーは昨年７月にも、長崎県と熊本県の２工場に計３５０億円を投じて生産能力を１割増強すると発表している。旺盛な需要を踏まえ、さらなる増産投資に踏み切る。

　ソニーはテレビ事業が１０年連続で赤字になるなど、主力の電機事業は苦戦しているが、イメージセンサーは好調。自社のスマホ向けに加えて外販もしており、世界シェアは３９・５％（１４年、金額ベース）でトップ。国際競争力の高い分野に投資を集中させる。

　投資額の内訳は、子会社ソニーセミコンダクタの長崎テクノロジーセンター（長崎県諫早市）に７８０億円、熊本テクノロジーセンター（熊本県菊陽町）に１７０億円、山形テクノロジーセンター（山形県鶴岡市）に１００億円。半導体チップを重ね合わせる設備などを増強する。

　一方、ゲーム向けなどのシステムＬＳＩをつくる大分テクノロジーセンター（大分県国東市）は来年３月末で閉鎖する。約２２０人の従業員は、イメージセンサーなど他の半導体工場への異動を予定している。（長崎潤一郎）

(試譯文)

In order to increase the production capacity of picture sensors used in cameras of smart phones, Sony on the 2^nd (February) announced that a total of 105,000 million yen would be invested into factories in Nagasaki prefecture and Kumamoto prefecture. The production capacity would be reinforced by a 30 percent increase from the present 60,000 monthly productions (based on 300 mm wafer conversion) to 80,000 monthly productions by the end of June next year.

  The production increase was for the so called CMOS image sensor semiconductor. It was the "eye" that played the role of changing the light entering from the lens into electronic signals. It was the semiconductor that influenced the performance of cameras. Starting from China the demand worldwide was expanding. In July last year it was being announced by Sony that it would throw in a total of 35,000 million yen to the 2 factories in Nagasaki prefecture and Kumamoto prefecture, and to reinforce their production capacities by 10 percent. Based on increasing demands, further increase in production investment would be made.

  For Sony, its television business had been in the red continuously for 10 years, and was having a hard time in its key business of electric machinery while its image sensor was favorable. In addition to using it in smart phones of the company, they were sold to the outside. Its world share was 39.5% (2014 price base) at the top. It focused its investment on the area of international competitiveness.

  Details of the investment were: 78,000 million yen at Nagasaki Technology Center of the Sony Semiconductor (Nagasaki, Isahaya city), a subsidiary company; 17,000 million yen in the Kumamoto Technology Center (Kumamoto prefecture Kikuyo city), and 10,000 million yen in the Yamagata Technology Center (Yamagata, Tsuruoka city). The equipment which put a semiconductor chip on top of one another would be reinforced.

  On the other hand the Oita Technology Center (Oita prefecture Kunisaki city), which made the system LSI for games, would be closed by the end of March next year. Some 220 employees were scheduled to be redeployed to other semiconductor factories of image sensor etc.

It is a normal business decision for Sony to adjust its investment.