Japanese companies relocate operations

Canon Inc., has suspended work at two plants and plans to move production of printers and print papers to plants in dry parts of Thailand and Vietnam to avoid a negative impact on product supplies. Pioneer Corp. is considering increasing production in China because flooding has submerged two plants that produced 40 percent of in-vehicle equipment, including car navigation devices. Panasonic Electric Works Co. and Nidec Corp., a manufacturer of precision motors, have also begun considering increasing production in China or the Philippines. ----- Source: The Asahi Shimbun