The Elpida Memory Group extends its sympathy to all those who were affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, and wishes the entire region a speedy recovery.
FY2010 business overview
The market showed increasing demand for computers starting in the second half of 2009, but sales of notebook computers for individual users began to lag during the second half of FY2010. This change affected the supply and demand of computing DRAM in dramatic fashion. On the other hand, brisk sales of mobile information handsets such as smartphones and tablet computers kept supplies of mobile DRAM tight.
To respond with fl exibility to market changes, the Hiroshima Plant reduced computing DRAM production volume starting in November 2010, transitioning to mobile DRAM production and switching to a 40 nm process. We had completed the transition to a 40 nm process for computing DRAM production at Rexchip Electronics Corporation by the end of 2010.
A new mission for information devices
Our information-oriented society entered a new phase with the Great East Japan Earthquake, which has been widely described as unprecedented. Until the disaster, the focus had been on advancing design features by improving convenience and adding value. However, the functionality craved by users in times of emergency has more to do with use of handsets to maintain life and stay in touch by relying on their ability to replace newspapers and television by gathering information and their ability to replace the telephone by providing a means of contacting friends and family. Many have pointed to the limits of information infrastructure and the problems with an information-oriented society, but it goes without saying that these technologies have been given a new mission - one that includes the resolution of those issues.
The information devices and handsets of the future will likely be called upon to deliver both reliability and convenience of use while serving as environmentally responsible tools. We at the Elpida Memory Group look forward to further increasing the environmental performance of DRAM in terms of low power consumption, high speed, and high capacity in order to fulfi ll these exacting requirements.
Management in harmony with the environment
Today, initiatives designed to address global-scale environmental problems, particularly energy conservation and the prevention of global warming, are gaining momentum. However, as its track record shows, Elpida Memory has considered such activities to be a core part of its business activities since its establishment.
Both the Hiroshima Plant and Rexchip have completed the transition to a 40 nm process, and we are working to shift to a 30 nm process in FY2011. We announced a 25 nm process .the world's smallest chip. this May, and we have set our sights on starting mass production before the end of this fi scal year.
We will continue to create eco-products that contribute to society throughout their life cycle through process miniaturization like this to achieve compact size, advanced functionality, and low power consumption. We will also strive to operate eco-factories with extremely high production effi ciency by pursuing these advanced technologies.
Going forward, Elpida Memory will continue to strive to be the World's No.1 in design, development, and manufacturing by treating the harmonization of its management with the environment as a top priority.