Nikon Corporation is drawing significant interest from the US defense and aerospace sectors for its metal 3D printing technology, as stated by the company’s president. The Japanese precision equipment maker, renowned for its cameras and chipmaking lithography equipment, is actively expanding its customer base into digital manufacturing, a sector with promising growth potential.
Muneaki Tokunari, who also serves as Nikon’s chief financial officer, highlighted this strategic move during a recent interview on Bloomberg TV, emphasizing the strong interest from US defense and aerospace companies.
This interest aligns with a broader trend of Japanese companies venturing into military-use products, coinciding with Japan’s increased defense spending. Nikon established its presence in California last year after acquiring SLM Solutions Group, a German specialist in 3D printing.
This acquisition marks a significant step in Nikon’s diversification into advanced manufacturing technologies. To bolster its strategic efforts in the US, Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Inc., a subsidiary, recently appointed Mike Mullen, a former US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as a strategic adviser.
In addition to its defense and aerospace ventures, Nikon has strategically partnered with NASA to develop a handheld camera intended for use on the moon’s south pole. This collaboration underscores Nikon’s commitment to leveraging its advanced imaging technology in critical and innovative applications, reassuring investors and industry professionals about the company’s strategic direction.
The company’s strategic moves have also attracted attention from investors. Earlier this year, London-based activist Silchester International Investors acquired a 5 percent stake in Nikon, signaling potential demands for dividend increases, share buybacks, or other capital policy changes. This development led Nikon’s shares to experience their most significant surge over the past decade.
Nikon’s journey in the lithography market has ceded the cutting-edge segment to the Netherlands’ ASML Holding NV.
However, both Nikon and Canon Inc. are benefiting from a surge in demand for legacy tools essential for producing simpler semiconductors widely used in cars and household appliances. This demand underscores Nikon’s established technologies’ ongoing relevance and importance to current manufacturing needs.
Tokunari, reflecting on these developments, expressed a balanced view, urging patience from investors while pushing his colleagues to expedite product development. This strategic push aims to capitalize on the growing opportunities and solidify Nikon’s position in the expanding fields of digital manufacturing and defense technology.
