Other Businesses

State-of-the-art Technologies for Space

Nikon’s Customized Products Business addresses advanced customer needs by capitalizing on our state-of-the-art technologies. For example, our technologies are used in the exploration of the unknown domain of outer space. As a participant in the Subaru large-scale optical infrared telescope project in Hawaii, we delivered two large-scale observation systems to the Subaru Telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea, contributing to many results that will go down in history. We are also involved in the production of onboard observation devices for many satellites and probes, such as the Advanced Land Observing Satellite Daichi and Akatsuki, a Venus climate orbiter.

Optics that Use Accumulated Technologies

Nikon started research on glass manufacturing in 1918, the year after our founding as Nippon Kogaku K.K. Today, we continue to produce high-quality optical glass and LCD photomask substrates using a comprehensive system — from melting raw materials to final processing. Technologies we have amassed by manufacturing synthetic silica glass and calcium fluoride (fluorite) used in IC steppers and scanners are employed in components for lasers and other optics. We also provide analyzing and measuring services for optical materials and optics, contributing to quality control in different sectors.

• Products & Support — Optical Materials

Contribution to Advancing Robotic Technology

Encoders are essential in the fields of industrial robots and machine tools, measuring the quantum or angles of rotation. Absolute Encoders, our flagship encoders, adopt Nikon’s original M sequence pattern to achieve smaller size and higher reliability. They are indispensible in factory automation, such as the robots used on automobile assembly lines. Along with our linear encoders, Digimicro digital length measuring system and high-precision rotary encoders, Nikon’s Absolute Encoders make significant contributions across many industrial sectors.

Optical Technology for Today’s Environment

At Nikon, we have been researching the eye and ophthalmic lenses for more than half a century, developing many groundbreaking products by applying our cutting-edge technology to vision. Today, Nikon-Essilor Co., Ltd., a joint company with Essilor International — the worldwide leader in the field — is in charge of ophthalmic lenses. The latest generation of Presio progressive lenses has been designed for modern lifestyles. They provide a wide, comfortable viewing zone ideal for using personal computers and mobile phone screens. The newly developed SeeCoat Blue coating, exclusively for ophthalmic lenses, delivers comfortable vision by curbing flickering of screens (e.g., computers and TVs) inside and glare outside.