Fuji Sendai Plant Tour in 2002

[CameraQuest]

Granted, this is a dated plant tour review from 2002
but it still provides info about the Fuji Sendai plant.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0207/02070504fujifilmfactory.asp

Stephen

 

[John Robertson]

Sadly looks as though there could be a bit of a wait for the X100. I would think that producing that will be furthest from their minds at the moment and will be more concerned about their workers and their families!!

 

[StuartR]

It's very sad that they have had such troubles there. I spent some time traveling in Eastern Tohoku, staying in Sendai, Miyako and visiting many of the areas that were hardest hit. It is a truly beautiful area and the people there were wonderful.
I only have a few pictures from the time on the web, but here are a few of Jodogahama (near Miyako where the famous video shows all the cars being washed away):

And this is of a temple's grounds in Hiraizumi, just a bit further inland.

In any case, thank you Stephen for the link. It's nice to see the Fuji factory...I did not know it was in Sendai. I hope they and their workers came out of it ok. They are one of the best supporters of film photographers left, and they are a great company.

 

[shashinka-ichiban]

FujiFilm Global facilities.
http://home.fujifilm.com/info/profile/affairs/network/homebase.html

The company said as a result it will dissolve Fujifilm Photonix Co Ltd. in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, and will sell related land and buildings in Miyagi to Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. The transfer of digital camera production operations from Japan to China is scheduled for August 2008.
http://www.photonics.com/Article.aspx?AID=30927

Do not see Sendai plant listed and the above article makes it sounds as if production was moved to china four years ago.

 

[Particular]

I'm visualizing how these tall manufacturing stations on casters must have been rocking and tipping over during the quake. It doesn't look like the employees would have had much opportunity to shelter under their desks.

 

[Terao]

So the question remains, if this camera is "Made in Japan", where is it made? Contracted out to Cosina perhaps?

Least of our concerns really at this time but would be interesting to know. Looks like Japanese-based production for many products is going to be seriously curtailed by power shortages for some months to come, have a feeling that this disaster is going to get worse before it gets better.

 

[Phantomas]

Official from Nikon (although not about Sendai):

http://www.nikon.com/about/news/2011/0314_01.htm

 

[sevo]

2002 is a long way off. I remember that Fujifilm sold Photonix to Toshiba some five years ago.

 

[Terao]

Well I guess this answers the question:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103142

Given demand was already outstripping supply there will be a long wait. Time to put my X100 fund to better use (via the IRC)