Sanyo Looks To Tighten Hold on Top Spot in Small Battery Field

摘要

By honing its production technology, Soft Energy Co. of Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. aims to improve productivity in FY2003. The company looks for a larger share of the small rechargeable battery market and greater profitability. Mitsuru Honma, Vice President, CRM Division of Soft Energy, says, "We aim to increase sales volume substantially from FY2002 and aim at a double digit growth in terms of value." As the world's top manufacturer of small rechargeable batteries, Soft Energy maintains the number one position for all three main categories of small rechargeable batteries ― nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) and lithium ion. In the latter half of FY2002, the market for small rechargeable batteries showed signs of recovery, says Honma. Even so, for the year as a whole, sales in the industry overall were about level with those of FY2001, when sales plunged after a peak in FY2000, says Honma.