KYOTO, Japan, May 14, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nidec Corporation ("Nidec") (NYSE:NJ) today announced that Nagano Technical Center ("NTC"), one of its Japan-based laboratories engaged in the research and development of spindle motors for HDDs (Hard Disk Drives), celebrated the start of operation in a new location on May 14, 2009.
Since its original establishment as Nagano Nidec Corporation in 1989, NTC has served to evolve Nidec's HDD motor technology in Ina County, Nagano. The refreshed NTC, whose construction was completed in Komagane-city in March 2009, is designed to match diversifying demand opportunities and rising technical threshold presented by today's fast-moving HDD market.
Situated amid the scenic beauty of the Japan Alps, the new NTC headquarter laboratory provides the most advanced R&D environments and excellent amenities.
The former headquarter laboratory in Ina has been renamed "NTC Ijima Branch" and is operating as NTC's reliability assessment division.
Outline of New NTC Building
(1) Features
(a) The floor space is twice as large as that of Ina laboratory
and includes 6 clean rooms, designed to cover all stages of
product development.
(b) All divisions are located on a single floor to promote
inter-departmental communication.
(c) A quarter of the site space is maintained as natural forest
area.
(d) Well water is used for bathroom cleaning, garden watering,
laboratory operations and summertime air-conditioning
(During the summer season, the use of naturally cold well
water helps reduce energy to cool tap water for
air-conditioning). Well water used in R&D operations goes
through a purification process before disposal.
(e) LED (light-emitting diode) is used for the entrance/showroom
signboards and outer signage to save electricity
consumption.
(f) The product showroom is designed as a community-interactive
space and offers exhibits and gaming on electric motors.
(2) Location & Employment Plan
(a) Location: 20-51, Akaho, Komagane-city, Nagano, Japan
(b) Site space: 32,890sqm
(c) Floor space: 16,852sqm
(d) Number of floors: 2 floors above the ground, 1 basement
floor
(e) Capital investment: Approx. 7 billion yen
(f) Number of employees: 300 employed at present plus planned
yearly recruitment of 50-70 (primarily
engineers and researchers) with a plan
to increase the total number of
employees to 600-700.
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