The metal 3D printers of Nikon Corp. are being explored by US defence and aerospace companies, according to the president of the Japanese precision equipment manufacturer.&nbsp;

In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Muneaki Tokunari, who serves as Nikon's chief financial officer, disclosed interest from those industries. According to Tokunari, Nikon is raising its global customer base and diversifying into sectors like digital manufacturing amid rigorous interest coming in from the US defence and aerospace industries.

With Japan ramping up its defence spending, a growing number of Japanese firms are expanding into military-use products. Nikon, known for its cameras and chipmaking lithography equipment, took its footprint last year in California following its acquisition of Germany's 3D-printing specialist SLM Solutions Group. In what may have been a politically savvy move, a Nikon subsidiary, Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Inc., last month appointed Mike Mullen, former chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, as a strategic adviser.

Moreover, Nikon is jointly making a handheld camera that NASA is going to send to the south pole of the moon. This collaboration reflects Nikon's paradigm that it will further its technology to other developing avenues different from the traditional market.

A London-based activist investor Silchester International Investors had, in an earlier development this year, acquired a 5 per cent stake in Nikon. Silchester hinted it may demand higher dividends, share buybacks, and other changes to Nikon's capital policy. The move saw Nikon shares soar upwards by the most in more than a decade.

“One of my assignments is to ask patience of investors, while tackling my colleagues to please rush to make the products faster than the plan,” 64-year-old Tokunari said.

Even though Nikon let the Netherlands' ASML Holding NV corner the market for cutting-edge lithography market, Nikon and Canon Inc. have both gained from the surge in demand for legacy tools used in baking simpler semiconductors for autos and appliances.

The strategic diversification that Nikon may make into defence, aerospace, and sophisticated manufacturing testifies to the adaptability and ability of the company to look ahead. The fact that the company has been able to attract interest in big tickets and forge important partnerships underlines its relevance and potential for growth in changing times.

The metal 3D printers of Nikon Corp. are being explored by US defence and aerospace companies, according to the president of the Japanese precision equipment manufacturer.

The metal 3D printers of Nikon Corp. are being explored by US defence and aerospace companies, according to the president of the Japanese precision equipment manufacturer. In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Muneaki Tokunari, who serves as Nikon's chief financial officer, disclosed interest from those industries. According to Tokunari, Nikon is raising its global customer base and diversifying into sectors like digital manufacturing amid rigorous interest coming in from the US defence and aerospace industries. With Japan ramping up its defence spending, a growing number of Japanese firms are expanding into military-use products. Nikon, known for its cameras and chipmaking lithography equipment, took its footprint last year in California following its acquisition of Germany's 3D-printing specialist SLM Solutions Group. In what may have been a politically savvy move, a Nikon subsidiary, Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Inc., last month appointed Mike Mullen, former chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, as a strategic adviser. Moreover, Nikon is jointly making a handheld camera that NASA is going to send to the south pole of the moon. This collaboration reflects Nikon's paradigm that it will further its technology to other developing avenues different from the traditional market. A London-based activist investor Silchester International Investors had, in an earlier development this year, acquired a 5 per cent stake in Nikon. Silchester hinted it may demand higher dividends, share buybacks, and other changes to Nikon's capital policy. The move saw Nikon shares soar upwards by the most in more than a decade. “One of my assignments is to ask patience of investors, while tackling my colleagues to please rush to make the products faster than the plan,” 64-year-old Tokunari said. Even though Nikon let the Netherlands' ASML Holding NV corner the market for cutting-edge lithography market, Nikon and Canon Inc. have both gained from the surge in demand for legacy tools used in baking simpler semiconductors for autos and appliances. The strategic diversification that Nikon may make into defence, aerospace, and sophisticated manufacturing testifies to the adaptability and ability of the company to look ahead. The fact that the company has been able to attract interest in big tickets and forge important partnerships underlines its relevance and potential for growth in changing times.

Nikon's bold foray into defence and aerospace

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Japan has approved the shipment of a high-tech material to South Korea for the first time since imposing export curbs last month, but doubled down on political pressure and warned it could broaden restrictions on deliveries to its Asian neighbour.

Japan has approved the shipment of a high-tech material to South Korea for the first time since imposing export curbs last month, but doubled down on political pressure and warned it could broaden restrictions on deliveries to its Asian neighbour. The approval and subsequent warning illustrate how Tokyo is ready to up the ante in the diplomatic row and yet unwilling to fully cut off exports to South Korea. The dispute, rooted in their wartime past and exacerbated by the recent tightening of curbs on shipments of three high-tech components, has stoked nationalism and raised trade concerns. Relations between the two US allies worsened late last year as part of a decades-old dispute over compensation for forced labourers during Japan's occupation. South Korea has invoked its difficult history with Japan, which colonised the Korean peninsula during World War Two. "Usually, we don't announce each time we give export permission. However, the South Korean government has referred to our moves as an embargo on exports, which is unfair criticism," Japanese Industry Minister Hiroshige Seko told a briefing. It is the first time since the export curbs were introduced last month that Japan has allowed shipment of one of the three high-tech materials, he said. He was quick to add Tokyo would expand the curbs beyond the three specialised chemicals - fluorinated polyimides, photoresists and hydrogen fluoride - if there were any cases of "improper" use. Some of the chemicals, which are used to make smartphone displays and chips, can also be used in weapons. Japanese officials have cited unspecified security reasons for their export curbs. But they have pointed to an erosion of trust after South Korean court rulings last year ordered Japanese firms to compensate wartime forced labourers. Tokyo says the matter was settled by a 1965 treaty normalising bilateral ties. South Korea's president, Moon Jae-in, said on Thursday that tighter curbs would undermine Japan's international credibility and accused Tokyo of using its industrial advantage as a weapon against another country. "Even if there are any gains, it will be short-lived. In the end, it is a game without winners, where everyone, including Japan itself, becomes a victim," Moon said. White list The high-tech material that has been just cleared by Japan for export is EUV photoresists, South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said. The chemical is crucial for Samsung's advanced contract chipmaking production. Samsung declined to comment. But it remains unclear if this approval from Tokyo signals a breakthrough in trade relations. "They approved only one out of a number of items," a South Korean senior trade ministry official pointed out. A presidential official said: "It doesn't mean that uncertainties have been completely removed for the other items." Japan has removed South Korea from the "white list" of countries with fast-track trade status, meaning some exporters may have to go through a lengthy permit application process to ship restricted items to South Korea. That covers a broad range of items, including those applicable to weapons production and machine tools. South Korea, which was scheduled to take a call on a plan to drop Japan from its "white list" on Thursday, has, however, put off the decision until further discussions. But the country has said it plans to tighten regulations on imported coal ashes, mostly from Japan, used to produce cement, and has proposed tax benefits for local firms in case they need to buy foreign chemical makers as Seoul tries to cut reliance on Japan. The curbs have also prompted concern among corporate Japan. "This situation benefits neither Japan nor South Korea," Masashi Oka, senior executive vice president at Nikon, told a recent briefing. "We strongly hope that both countries can return to normal economic activity as soon as possible." Given the curbs in place, Japan's approval to export the three materials could take up to 90 days, slowing shipments. Vital link The export curbs highlight how Japan controls a vital link in the global supply chain. It remains a major player in specialised chip components, even though it was overtaken as a chipmaker years ago by South Korea. At a New York event for a new flagship phone launch, the head of Samsung's mobile division told reporters he could not rule out a potential impact on the supply chain for smartphone production if the curbs dragged on for more than four months. Shares of Tokyo Ohka Kogyo rose 3.9% and Stella Chemifa surged 10.1% after the latest export approval. Tokyo Ohka Kogyo makes photoresists and Stella Chemifa produces hydrogen fluoride, both materials affected by the export curbs. South Korean chipmakers are hitting a dead-end in their quest to find alternatives for key Japanese materials that have been slapped with restrictions, raising the prospect of major disruption to their operations in coming months.

Japan greenlights first South Korea export since July curbs, but with a warning

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