Nikon Corp. announced the closure of its Yokohama manufacturing facility today, September 30th. The plant was primarily responsible for microscope production and served as a research and development center for flat panel display manufacturing equipment. The company revealed that personnel and operations from the facility will be relocated to other plants, though no details have been disclosed regarding the future use of the site.

The precision equipment division of Nikon Corp. has faced declining revenues in recent years due to economic stagnation, Japan's changing demographic structure, and shrinking demand in the semiconductor and display markets. Additional pressure has mounted from operational difficulties at major customer Intel and U.S. tariff issues, ultimately leading to the closure of the Yokohama facility. This closure marks the end of an era for the company as a semiconductor industry pioneer.

Going forward, Nikon Corp. plans to transfer related production and research and development operations to other locations in Kanagawa Prefecture and its Tokyo headquarters to optimize resource allocation.

According to public records, the Yokohama plant was established in 1967 and has operated for 58 years. It was Nikon Corp.'s first production facility established outside its headquarters and held significant importance in Japan's semiconductor industry.

The company stated that the facility closure is expected to impact its 2025 financial performance. Revenue from the precision equipment business is projected to decline 8.4% in fiscal year 2025, with expected revenues of 185 billion yen (approximately $1.24 billion at current exchange rates).