Nikon announces Additive Manufacturing global headquarters in US
April 27, 2023
Nikon Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, has announced that the global headquarters for its new Advanced Manufacturing Business Unit will be located in California, USA, bringing resources and decision makers closer to the company’s customers and partners. Nikon has established a new company, Nikon Advanced Manufacturing, Inc., and intends to begin operations in July 2023.
Nikon stated that SLM Solutions and Morf3D will consolidate within Nikon Advanced Manufacturing, Inc., but added that the companies will continue to separately support their own customers’ programmes and requirements.
Forming Nikon Advanced Manufacturing, Inc. in California marks the first time in its 100-year history that the global headquarters of a Nikon business unit is outside of Japan. Nikon states that the new company, headed by Hamid Zarringhalam as CEO and Yuichi Shibazaki as co-CEO, will bring together a highly skilled, diverse and inclusive team focused on the success of the organisation and its customers. The location is said to provide excellent proximity to customers and partners, including the aerospace, space and defense industries.
In 2019, Nikon established a specialised division to accelerate the launch of new growth businesses such as Additive Manufacturing. Since then, by leveraging synergies resulting from strategic investments including the acquisition of SLM Solutions Group AG and prior to that, Morf3D Inc., the company stated it has taken major steps towards the industrialisation of digital manufacturing.
“In recent years, Nikon has executed pivotal investments and bold acquisitions focused on building a comprehensive portfolio of technology, industry knowledge and vision,” stated Hamid Zarringhalam, CEO.
Nikon Advanced Manufacturing, Inc. will combine extensive Nikon experience in high-tech manufacturing with the capabilities of SLM Solutions and Morf3D. Nikon envisions providing options for holistic, industrialised and fully scalable solutions, including enabling global turn-key factory opportunities for customers at locations of their choosing.
Yuichi Shibazaki, co-CEO, explained, “Nikon DED additive, subtractive and CT scanning solutions are perfectly complemented by the industry-leading [PBF-LB] systems from SLM Solutions as well as Morf3D’s strong innovation pipeline and specialised aerospace qualifications. Nikon Advanced Manufacturing will enable us to work together with our partners and customers to unlock the incredible potential of advanced manufacturing and contribute to a more sustainable society.”
Download Metal AM magazine
