Olympus has put the imaging division up for sale to a Japanese

[flamin lib]

'turnaround company". What it means remains to be seen but I am really surprised to see this. The imaging division is only 3% of the company's revenues and contributes much to the R&D and mass manufacturing technology.

My contacts in the company are below the decision making level and can't say what will happen but I can foretell lay-offs and a decrease in R&D.

What a shame, the most innovative company in the industry for 50 years gets sold to bean counters . . .

[alfredo]

1. Press release

https://www.43rumors.com/it-happened-olympus-sold-the-imaging-business-to-jip/


NewCo will succeed and maintain the research and development functions and manufacturing functions globally as reformed under the contemplated structuring reforms to continue to offer high-quality, highly reliable products; and also continue to provide supports to the imaging solution products that have been distributed by Olympus.

[flamin lib]

2. I have no doubt that the brand will survive but the personality of the division will

change. It was only 3% of the parent company's revenues but was a place to hide costs and had a more or less free range for innovation and expansion.

A 'turnaround" usually means lay offs, a reduction in manufacturing and a fast return on the investment above all else. I'm concerned that the innovation that Oly has been known for will be stifled.

The product line, 4/3 format and quality of the product will remain. The question I have is, will the crazy strange innovation continue?


What can I say but, 'Watch this space.'

Haven't felt like this since they stopped supporting the OM line.

[alfredo]

4. I guess we will have to wait and see.

[Thunderbeast]

3. Remember the genius of Bell Labs

Now a shell of it's former glory with research priorities decided in Helsinki (Is that part of Russia?)