1 NEC TOKIN - Our Solution Strategy

With material technology positioned as our core technolo-gy, NEC TOKIN aims at becoming a “Device Creation Com-pany Originating from Innovative Materials” that offers

Fig. NEC TOKIN Research & Development Strategy.

customers the fruit of its development of cutting-edge devicesfeaturing increasingly compact form and sophisticated func-tionality. By offering solutions to the three primary concerns ofcustomers: “Energy,” “Noise & Power” and “Access” - solu-tions that exploit the performance of these state-of-the-art de-vices, we have built our business.

Amid a market environment that is evolving at dizzying speedand against the background of ever higher performance andhigher functionality as exemplified by IT devices, devices thatare embedded in such products are expected to deliver greatermulti-functionality and higher performance in step with the di-versification of market needs.

For this reason, a look at future business development will beincluded within the scope of this overview, which will de-scribe the basic R&D strategy of NEC TOKIN (see Fig. )founded on the unique characteristics of our product lineup, ourcore technologies and the state of development of new products.

2 Basic R&D Strategy

In the markets served by NEC TOKIN, we are witnessing arapid leap in both sophistication and functionality of mobilephones, personal computers, thin TVs and other IT equipment.At the same time, the needs of the market in general and the

General Explanationof Special Issue

NEC TOKIN, Bringing You Material Technology-drivenProducts and Solution Strategies

In this special issue, NEC TOKIN will introduce the solution strategythat positions our company as a “Device Creation Company Originatingfrom Innovative Materials” and the current state of our productdevelopment.Among the cutting-edge products of NEC TOKIN, we will introduce ourProadlizer, tantalum capacitor, Supercapacitor (electric double-layercapacitor), large-capacity rechargeable battery, Magnetic materials forlow-loss inductor and UHF-band reader/writer and antenna technologies.Through our development and commercialization of cutting-edge devicesbased on our material technologies, NEC TOKIN is steadily realizingits vision to be a company that proposes device solutions that not onlysatisfy current requirements but anticipate future needs ranging fromenergy to the environment - always with an eye on the broad sociallandscape and its expectations.

Associate Senior Vice PresidentNEC TOKIN Corporation

KUBO Yoshimi

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demands of individual customers are diversifying. While thesecircumstances demand that the devices incorporated in theseelectronic products deliver more advanced functionality and di-verse performance, the necessity to meet needs that are inconflict with such requirements has also arisen.

General-use products such as capacitors and inductors thatcomprise the core of NEC TOKIN’s business are expected tooffer new answers to the needs of the market while satisfyingthe demand for more compact design and more advanced func-tions and a continuous reduction in prices. On the other hand, inthe case of “custom” products such as batteries, piezoelectricdevices and RFID, it is necessary to work hand in hand withcustomers and pioneer new markets by further exploiting theessential functionality of each device while proposing new sol-utions that respond to the needs of customers and the increas-ing diversification and advanced functionality demanded bytheir cutting-edge products.

For this reason, our future R&D strategy, as explained in thefollowing sections, is divided into two main directions: a strat-egy for our more “general-purpose” products (C&L products)such as all-purpose type capacitors and magnetic devices, andanother strategy for “custom” products such as batteries, piezo-electric devices and RFID.

2.1 C&L Product Development Strategy[Noise & Power Solutions]

Among the products of NEC TOKIN, tantalum capacitors,Proadlizer, and magnetic devices such as inductors and noisesuppression sheets face a constant demand for ever-enhancedmodels that respond to challenges such as solving the increas-ingly serious problem of electromagnetic noise and need forpower supply that is more compact and delivers higher efficien-cy. By developing and making these state-of-the-art productsavailable to customers ahead of our competition, NEC TOKINis able to offer our clientele effective “Noise & Power Solu-tions.”

In the markets where these products are used, the competi-tion among suppliers continues to be a battle focused on win-ning share. Consequently, the source of competitivenessstrength lies in the capability to continuously launch more com-pact/thinner products and respond to the demand for lower cost.For this reason, R&D activities for this category of products isfocused on establishing technologies that enable the manufac-turer of more compact and thinner devices while practicallyapplying our unique edge in materials such as conductive pol-ymers and low-loss magnetic materials and constantly drivingcosts down.

In this special issue, we will introduce our development ofcompact large-capacity tantalum capacitors, Proadlizer lineup

for digital appliances and telecommunications devices and thenext-generation of inductors featuring the use of low-loss mag-netic material.

2.2 Custom Product Development Strategy[Energy Solutions and Access Solutions]

In response to energy and environmental issues, technolo-gies for the safe charging and discharging of large-capacityelectrical energy and large-capacity rechargeable batteries aredemanded. Also to make the electric-powered car a practicalreality, electrical storage devices that optimally respond to var-iable loads are needed. In order to meet this applications, NECTOKIN is building a lineup of products that conform to a widevariety of uses, ranging from large-capacity rechargeable bat-teries to electrical double-layer capacitors and lithium-ion ca-pacitors. Through our commercialization of leading-edgedevices that exploit our originally developed materials that areconstantly enhanced through tireless R&D activities, NEC TO-KIN is offering optimized “energy solutions” that deliver highquality, safety, large capacity and low cost.

Also for the manufacture and construction of advanced wire-less telecommunications networks, manufacturing manage-ment in logistics, and inventory management, there is growingdemand for high-functionality, high-performance devices thatincorporate the core technologies of wireless technology andantenna technology. To meet these needs, NEC TOKIN isworking in close collaboration with the NEC Group on the de-velopment and commercialization of UHF-band RFID reader/writers, IC tags incorporating various types of sensors and oth-er “access solutions” for our customers.

Unlike the C&L products, the lineup of products describedhere are specialized to a degree that could be described as “cus-tom.” Consequently, for the development of product proposalsand their commercialization, it is necessary to fine tune to meetcustomer specifications and constantly feedback refinements inthe device design. To achieve this, NEC TOKIN R&D engag-es in the development of sample activities to confirm the needsof customers and constantly reviews R&D themes to ensure thatthey are in synch with the needs of the market while movingforward with activities that lead to the proposal of optimumsolutions for customers.

In this special issue, we will introduce our large-capacity,high-output lithium-ion rechargeable battery, electrical double-layer capacitor designed for the variable load of mobile devi-ces, and UHF-band RFID portable reader/writer for use inmanufacturing and logistics processes.

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3 Paving the Way for the Future with R&D

For the development of the cutting-edge devices describedabove and the next-generation of advanced functional materi-als, NEC TOKIN is pressing forward with research and devel-opment activities - not only planting the seeds of futuretechnologies, but also building various technological alliances.

In the area of material development and manufacturing proc-ess development, we have organized a formal alliance withTohoku University, which is globally leading institution in thefield of material development. Also while fully exploiting ouredge as a member of the NEC Group, working in close collab-oration with NEC Central Research Laboratories and NECoperation divisions for the development and commercializa-tion of cutting-edge products, we solve technological prob-lems, offer effective solutions to our customers, and systemati-cally open new markets.

Pressing forward with the pursuit of R&D that is keyed onour upstream strength in material development, NEC TOKINpursues and provides innovative solutions that answer environ-mental concerns ranging from energy and the environment toresource conservation. We look forward to hearing your frankfeedback regarding the R&D activities of NEC TOKIN intro-duced in this special issue.

General Explanation

of Special IssueNEC TOKIN, Bringing You Material Technology-driven Products and Solution Strategies

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