Sharp Reorganizes to Beef up Solar Cell, Health, Environment Bizs

Apr 2, 2008 19:32 Yukiko Kanoh, Nikkei Electronics

Sharp Corp announced that it will restructure the company organization April 1, 2008. In addition to the establishment of new business groups including the Thin Film Solar Business Group and the Health and Environmental Systems Business Group, the company will reorganize the Technology Development Group to strengthen its R&D capability.

Regarding businesses related to solar systems, "Thin Film Solar Business Group" was set up. The previous Solar Systems Group was renamed "Crystal Solar Systems Group."

Sharp is currently constructing a new thin film solar cell plant in Sakai, Osaka. The company announced in March 2008 that it would boost the new plant's output to 1GW per year (See related article). The company is aiming to expand its groupwide thin film solar cell output to a total of 6GW per year in the future.

Furthermore, in order to accelerate business development centering on health and environmental systems, Sharp will dissolve the current Appliance Systems Group in stages and set up the new "Health and Environmental Systems Business Group." The "Refrigeration Systems Division," "Kitchen Appliances Systems Division" and "Environmental Solutions Laboratories" will be under the umbrella of the new group.

Set under the Environmental Solutions Center are the new "Environmental Systems Division," which originated from the Air-Conditioning Systems Division and the Laundry Systems Division, the new "PCI Business Promotion Center," which will promote the plasmacluster ion business, and the "New Businesses Promotion Center," which promotes businesses related to LED and solar cell application products.

In the reorganization of the R&D unit, a new "Research and Development Group" was set up, integrating the previous Corporate Research and Development Group and the Display Technology Development Group. Under this group, "Open Innovation Laboratories," "Device Engineering Laboratories," "System Engineering Laboratories" and "Display Engineering Laboratories" are placed.

Functions of the previous "Audio-Visual and LCD Visual Technology Development Group," "LCD Production Technology Development Group," "Information and Communication R&D Group" and "Electronic Components and Devices Development Group" have been transferred to the new Research and Development Group and other relevant divisions.

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