– What should we know about the new factory which was opened in Juny?
– This is a new factory where we are going to produce solar energy panels. The factory started its production in June 2005. To the official opening ceremony, held on 25. June, many people, government and other officials, personalities, business partners were invited and, of course, the Japanese Ambassador, Mr. Inagawa Teruyoshi also attended it.
– Does solar energy mean a completely different energy system? How many solar panel are used around the world?
– We are always talking about that more and more energy is required by the world to operate. So solar energy technology is considered sometime by many people as not only generating electricity, but meaning something else too.
Nowadays solar energy is used by only a few and the price is too high. It is however something that is already here, something we must reckon with. We must consider that fossiles, petroleum and coal may cause damages to us, to our environment, so we must consider to use other alternative energy sources, such as solar, water, wind, etc.
Our products, although on a small basis, are already supplied and by used in Germany, Italy and Spain by our biggest buyers.
Unfortunately, we are not supplying solar panels/modules to Hungary yet. But we had talks and consultations with the mayor of Dorog, dr. Tittmann János, and on the basis of these talks we would like to make Dorog an eco-town, in the framework of a cooperation, a certain construction programme. This plan is an interesting and somehow contradictory thing, as Dorog, considering its historical background, is a real mining town, it does not make associations to the World Heritage. Therefore this plan is even more interesting and exemplary, namely we want to transform a former mining town into an eco-center, operating with solar energy. And we would like to do this as soon as possible.
– Is the demand for solar energy increasing?
– Definitely, demand is increasing considerably. As development and production are considered, up to now, Japan is in a leading position as solar systems and market size are concerned. But new, recent statistics show that Europe, the European Union is now the number one market in the world. Therefore we established our factory here, in Hungary, that is located in the centre of the EU.
– What are the characteristics of the project?
– As manpower is considered, the working force increased from zero to 150 employees, and as the production capacity will increase, it is expected to increase to double, to 300. It should be mentioned that before this project we had already a mobile phone battery factory here, where 1500 employees are working, and, through employment agency, occasionally we employ more people. And we plan a third factory to be established in one year, where we will produce big size air conditioning equipments for office use. Or corporate concept is that we will produce environmentally friendly products, such as solar powered air conditioning machines etc., and in the technology we use less dangerous materials, and in less quantities.
– Japanese companies are famous for their innovation habit. Is this so in the case of Sanyo as well?
– The reason for this is the fact that Japan is a small insular country, with dense population and limited possibilities. Therefore, without cooperation, without creativity and innovation the Japanese people could not survive in the tough world market competition. So, as all Japanese corporations, Sanyo is a highly innovative company as well, the continuing development of our products, services, technology and organization is part of our business philosophy.
