Sony Pulls Plug on DSLR Lens Factory, Hands Out 840 Pink Slips
When Sony unveiled its “One Sony” game plan back in March after posting billions in losses, the company highlighted digital photography as one of its three main pillars going forward. It was a bit of a surprise, then, when Sony announced today that it will soon be closing a large lens manufacturing factory in Japan as part of the restructuring efforts.
In order to enhance the efficiency of Sony’s manufacturing operations relating to its digital imaging business, the manufacture of interchangeable lenses and lens blocks currently being conducted at Sony EMCS Corp.’s Minokamo Site (located in Minokamo, Gifu Prefecture) will be absorbed by EMCS Corp.’s Kohda Site (located in Kohda, Aichi Prefecture).
So when the Minokamo plant is closed in March 2013, the DSLR lens manufacturing that used to be done there will be moved a different plant in Kohda. In the process, 840 Minokamo employees will be shown the door. That’s a lot of layoffs, but only a small portion of the 10,000 job cuts the company aims to make as it executes its $945 million reshuffling game plan.
P.S. In other news, Kodak is trying to end its retiree benefits program in order to rid itself of $1.2 billion in obligations.
