Sharp to Make Low-End Microwave Ovens in Thailand Apr 6, 2004

Printable format  Email this Article  Search

Sharp Corp. intends to concentrate all production of low-end microwave ovens to Thailand this fiscal year, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported.

The company will cease the manufacture of low-priced microwave ovens at its factories in Japan, the U.K., and the U.S. and use these facilities instead to make higher-priced units that match regional demand.

Sharp will make Thailand its global export base for all microwave ovens priced below Y 30,000 (approx. U.S.$286), leveraging the low production costs there to better compete with makers from China and South Korea.

In shifting all such production to Thailand, Sharp's output of microwave ovens there will rise 70 percent to some 5 million units a year. This will be accomplished using existing facilities with no additional investments in plant and equipment.

At the same time, Sharp will reduce its lineup of microwave ovens to around 20 models from the current approximately 50 models. (Nikkei)

Back to Daily News