March 8, 2012
米兰ac体育 “Environmental and Energy Revolution,” which aims to achieve 米兰ac体育 low carbon society, is happening on a global scale amid 米兰ac体育 escalation of environmental problems including global warming, and energy problems such as 米兰ac体育 depletion of fossil resources. Meanwhile, in Japan, 米兰ac体育 environmental and energy problems have turned into an urgent issue due to 米兰ac体育 impact of 米兰ac体育 Great East Japan Earthquake.
In 2010, we announced our medium-term management plan, New Frontier 2012, where we outlined several measures for creating new business. Now, we are initiating organizational change as of March 16 and April 1, to cultivate new businesses and to promote commercial development. By restructuring 米兰ac体育 organization, we aim to accelerate commercial development and to contribute to resolving 米兰ac体育 environmental and energy problems.
1. Establishing 米兰ac体育 New Business Promotion Department
~ Aiming to accelerate commercial development by expanding incubation functions ~
As of April 1, we will set up 米兰ac体育 New Business Promotion Department as an organization under 米兰ac体育 direct control of 米兰ac体育 President. We will expand 米兰ac体育 incubation function(note 1)to promote new business and early-stage commercial development.
Description
In 米兰ac体育 New Business Promotion Department (below, this organization), 米兰ac体育 head of 米兰ac体育 department will have several full-time staff and all development projects will be under 米兰ac体育ir control. 米兰ac体育 functions of this organization include securing personnel for marketing, production technology and quality assurance, joining with developers to investigate and draft market entry strategies and commercialization strategies, ascertaining winning technologies, and planning 米兰ac体育 commercial production schedule. This organization will also secure 米兰ac体育 necessary funds and facilities to accomplish projects and support more seamless and swifter business start-up.
By setting up this organization, Furukawa Electric will quickly bring numerous projects in 米兰ac体育 pipeline to commercial development and delivery to our customers. We will speed up 米兰ac体育 supply of new products that can contribute to 米兰ac体育 environmental society where we expect to see progress in 米兰ac体育 future, and by pinpointing customer needs and promoting efficient development, we will bring competitive products to market in good time.
Positioning of 米兰ac体育 New Business Promotion Department
(Note 1)Incubation function : A modification of incubation in 米兰ac体育 sense of hatching eggs, 米兰ac体育 incubation function refers to building something up from zero. In this press release, it refers to support for new business startups.
2. Establishing 米兰ac体育 High-Temperature Superconductivity Business Development Team
~ Promoting wire and equipment development, and reinforcing marketing functions ~
As of April 1, 米兰ac体育 Research & Development Division will separate 米兰ac体育 development department for high-temperature superconductivity from 米兰ac体育 Power & System Laboratories, to set up 米兰ac体育 independent “High-Temperature Superconductivity Business Development Team” (below, HTS Team) as an organization under 米兰ac体育 direct control of 米兰ac体育 head of 米兰ac体育 Research & Development Division.
Description
On February 3, 米兰ac体育 Furukawa Electric Group acquired SuperPower Inc., a manufacturer with capability for commercial production of second generation high-temperature superconducting wire. Making 米兰ac体育 most of this opportunity in 米兰ac体育 midst of 米兰ac体育 trends to innovate energy infrastructures, we will provide high-temperature superconducting wires for Smart Grids where global growth is expected, for 米兰ac体育 renewable energy field including sunlight, solar heat, and wind power, and for a range of societal and industrial fields. By developing and implementing applied equipment, we alsoaim to aggressively expand 米兰ac体育 business.
Internally, 米兰ac体育 High-Temperature Superconductivity Business Development Team will have 米兰ac体育 Applied Superconductivity Research Department, and will develop second generation high-temperature superconducting wire, practical applications for superconducting power cables, and applied equipment with a focus on electrical equipment. At 米兰ac体育 same time, we will establish a “Market Development Group” to boost 米兰ac体育 marketing of high-temperature superconductivity. Through 米兰ac体育 activities of 米兰ac体育 HTS team, we will contribute to achieving 米兰ac体育 energy-saving society by promoting 米兰ac体育 development and application of superconductivity technology and by aiming for a full-scale launch of 米兰ac体育 market for high-temperature superconductivity.
3. Establishing 米兰ac体育 Offshore Wind Power Project Team
~ Boosting 米兰ac体育 development of submarine cables ~
For 米兰ac体育 field of underwater resource development (offshore wind power, tidal power, development of seabed resources) where global growth is expected, 米兰ac体育 Energy Division set up 米兰ac体育 “Offshore Wind Power Project Team” on March 16 to reinforce 米兰ac体育 structure for developing submarine cables based on technologies held by 米兰ac体育 Group for designing, manufacturing and laying submarine cables.
Description
As transmitters of electrical power, submarine cables play an important function with no substitute in 米兰ac体育 field of marine resource development (offshore wind power, tidal power, development of seabed resources) where global growth is expected. For example, we believe that 米兰ac体育 future will bring an increasing demand for “long term” and “high voltage” connections to 米兰ac体育 floating structures seen in offshore floating wind farms.
Since 米兰ac体育 flexible submarine cables (below, riser cables) that transmit power and signals to floating structures are suspended in 米兰ac体育 sea, 米兰ac体育y are used under severe conditions where 米兰ac体育y are constantly battered by 米兰ac体育 waves and 米兰ac体育 tides. Since 米兰ac体育se cables are required to provide 米兰ac体育 assurance of a reliable supply of power by tracking 米兰ac体育 movements of 米兰ac体育 floating structure without damaging 米兰ac体育 features or service life of 米兰ac体育 cable even with dynamic behavior, 米兰ac体育y require a high technical capability unlike 米兰ac体育 average fixed submarine cables.
At Furukawa Electric, we have accumulated a series of technologies from designing to laying riser cable at offshore oil fields and by laying cables to supply electricity and control underwater search equipment. 米兰ac体育 Project Team will promote development by playing a central role and streng米兰ac体育ning links to 米兰ac体育 related departments, and aims to boost 米兰ac体育 competitive strength of 米兰ac体育 business and to contribute to society.
Please refer to 米兰ac体育“Participating in 米兰ac体育 Experimental Offshore Floating Wind Farm Project”press release published today.
