Sony USA says it is too soon to know what effect the floods in Thailand will have on A65 and NEX-7 shipments. In response to reports from Japan that the launches will be delayed, a spokesman said: 'In Japan, a press announcement was made on October 20th regarding launch delays to the Japanese market. This does not apply to the US market, as the impact of the flood on US product shipping is still under investigation.' He also said that, as a: '"temporary emergency operation", Sony is planning to move production of Alpha / NEX to another factory facility in Thailand that was unaffected by the flood.' Nikon, meanwhile, has made no further comment, beyond confirming that its sole factory making APS-C DSLRs is currently out of action. So far the company's Chinese-made 1 Series mirrorless models and lenses appear unaffected.
Updated: Nikon issues revised statement.
Sony USA's statement:
“Operations of our factory in Thailand have been temporarily suspended due to flooding, supply chain and transportation difficulties. The flooding at the STT-A [Sony Technology Thailand – Ayutthaya ] factory, which manufactures Alpha / NEX camera bodies and interchangeable lenses, began on October 14th, and some equipment has been partially damaged. We’re currently investigating the impact to overall supply chain and future product launch timing.”
Nikon's 2nd statement:
October 21, 2011
This is to advise you, following our first notice of October 11, of the latest situations of submersion at Nikon (Thailand) Co., Ltd., a consolidated manufacturing subsidiary of Nikon Corporation in the Rojana Industrial Park in Ayutthaya Province located in Central Thailand.
- Damages
The 1st floor of all buildings at the premises are presently submerged and the water level is as high as around 2 meters and there arose no remarkable change since October 12. Operation of the factory has been suspended since October 6. It is reported that there is no human damage.
- Estimated impact to our business performance
We still have difficulty to grasp the overall damages of our equipment and facility since access to the premises continues to be prohibited. We are now continuing our utmost to estimate the impact of the flood to our group companies and business performance. We assure you to immediately advise our findings once it is judged there will be an important change in our forecast.
- Recovery
We are unable to define how soon operation will be resumed. It will take a certain time before the situation normalizes including completion of water pumping out from the Rojana Industrial Park. We have set up support system under the Emergency Headquarters for Disaster Control headed by the president and will endeavor to restart the operation as early as possible. Every possible measure is now under preparation to resume production by means as purchase of new manufacturing equipment, review of production assignment among whole Nikon group companies. As for drainage from the industrial park, we are requesting its acceleration to the Thai government, together with the Rojana Industrial Park authority, other companies in the Park and Japan External Trade Organization.
We deeply apologize you for any inconvenience caused by the disaster such as short supply of our products.
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