Sony DADC to Expand Its Blu-Ray Hi-Def Disc Manufacturing Operations in Indiana
TOKYO (June 13, 2008) - Indiana Secretary of Commerce Nate Feltman met with senior Sony Corporation executives here Thursday to ink a deal with the technology giant to expand its Blu-ray Disc manufacturing operations in Indiana.
The announcement, made during the state's five-day Japanese trade mission, is expected to create up to 85 new jobs in the western Indiana city of Terre Haute as the company invests more than $113 million to expand its one million plus square-foot manufacturing operations.
"Sony's decision to expand its operations in Indiana is more hard evidence that our international roadwork is a good investment and is a solid step toward creating more jobs for Hoosiers," said Feltman.
Sony DADC, which currently employs approximately 1,180 associates at its U.S. manufacturing and distribution center in Terre Haute, will hire professional staff, engineers, technicians and operators in connection with the expansion plans. The facility is Sony DADC's only Blu-ray Disc manufacturing facility in the United States and currently produces 425,000 Blu-ray Discs per day in addition to compact discs, DVDs and UMDs. Blu-ray Discs are high-definition, high-capacity optical media discs.
"The rapid adoption of the new Blu-ray Disc format by consumers allows us to quickly expand Blu-ray Disc capacity in the United States. Based on the past experience with manufacturing in Terre Haute, the selection of this facility for the expansion was logical. We are thrilled with the support of the State of Indiana," said Dieter Daum, Executive Chairman of Sony DADC Global.
As part of the multi-million dollar project, the company will expand its Blu-ray Disc mastering and replication operations at the Terre Haute, Indiana facility and expand its packaging and distribution center to handle the increased production volume, Daum said.
Since Blu-ray Disc manufacturing began in Terre Haute in May 2006, the company has produced more than 100 million Blu-ray Discs in its manufacturing facilities in Indiana, Austria and Japan. By October, the three facilities combined will have more than doubled its Blu-ray Disc manufacturing capacity of 21 million discs per month to 47 million discs per month.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Sony DADC up to $975,000 in performance-based tax credits and up to $655,000 in training grants based on the company's investment and job creation.
Sony is one of more than 20 companies Feltman and the six-member Indiana delegation will meet with on the six-day trade mission to Japan that began Monday. The group will return to the United States Saturday. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels planned to lead the delegation on the job attraction trip. However, heavy rains, tornados and flooding prompted the Governor to remain in the state to lead the recovery efforts.
Since 2005, Indiana officials have made trade missions to Japan four times. During that period, Japanese companies have invested nearly $1.5 billion in Indiana and created nearly 5,500 new jobs. In total, more than 220 Japanese companies operate in Indiana and employ more than 40,000 Hossiers.
Following the state's 2007 trip to Japan, Toyota Boshoku Corporation made the decision to locate a new seat frame production and assembly facility in Princeton, creating more than 300 jobs. After trips to Japan and Taiwan in 2005 and 2006, Indiana became home to a new Toyota plant in Lafayette, a new Honda plant in Greensburg that will open this fall and employ about 2,000 people and suppliers to those companies, such as TS Tech and Tomasco. Indiana ranks first in North America in foreign investment for manufacturing jobs, according to a 2007 study from IBM Global Services.
About Sony DADC
Sony DADC, a total supply chain provider, has twenty-three optical media, distribution and digital facilities located globally. Although widely known for its quality disc production and distribution services, Sony DADC also develops and delivers dynamic technologies that not only protect disc content, but transforms discs into powerful marketing tools by adding secure links to bonus web-site content or prize incentives. Sony DADC operates within the Sony Corporation of America corporate group.
For more information, visit www.sonydadc.com or call 1.800.358.7316.
About IEDC
Created by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Daniels. Indiana Secretary of Commerce Nathan Feltman serves as the chief executive officer of the IEDC. Since Daniels created the IEDC, the state has posted three consecutive years of record-breaking job creation.
For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.
Media Contacts:
Shelley Klingerman (Sony DADC)
812.462.8260
or shelley.klingerman@sonydadc.com
Mitch Frazier (IEDC)
317.232.8873
or MFrazier@iedc.in.gov
