Barrington, NJ-The Saito Optics division of Edmund Optics (EO), has expanded its precision optical manufacturing capability to serve the growing Japanese markets for semiconductor manufacturing, robotics and solar energy businesses, as well as to support the needs of its global customers. Additionally, Edmund Optics recently moved its center of operations from Tokyo to a larger, 80,000-square-foot facility in Akita, Japan, where it will not only be expanding its manufacturing capabilities, but will further enhance its product inventory and customer support operation. The company's remodeled office in Tokyo will continue to provide local service to customers.

"Our new Akita-region facility in the city of Yuzawa gives us three times the factory space and larger administrative and warehousing capacity than we could hope to obtain in Tokyo,” said Timothy Paul Kennedy, president of Edmund Optics Japan. The facility formally opened on June 10, 2010, in a ceremony attended by EO executives, the Yuzawa mayor's office, and officials of the Akita Prefecture.

According to Walter Czajkowski, EO's vice president of global manufacturing, the newly expanded Akita facility will make key manufacturing capabilities locally available to Japanese customers as well as supplement the company's factories in the United States, Singapore and China. The facility has already added precision coating to EO's Japanese operations, and plans are in place to add cementing capability and new polishing machines for improved production.

Edmund Optics also opened a new sales office in Osaka. With further sites planned, the company sees the development of new local offices and retention of its support center in Tokyo as key in providing unrivaled service and technical advice to its customers throughout Japan.