Nikon 3D metal printers will be used in the aerospace industry

Nikon is known to most as a manufacturer of cameras and optics, but the company’s scope of activity is much broader. For example, Nikon is developing 3D printers for metal printing, and they have attracted the interest of defense and aerospace companies from the United States. The president of the Japanese company, Muneaki Tokunari, stated this in a conversation with reporters.

«We’re betting on a lot of things. We’re looking to expand our customer base. A lot of people in the defense and aerospace industries in the U.S. are showing interest,” Tokunari said during a call with reporters on Bloomberg TV.

As US defense spending increases, more Japanese companies are looking to enter the military market. Nikon, known for its cameras and lithography equipment for chip production, opened a company store in California last year. This happened after Nikon became the owner of the German metal 3D printer manufacturer SLM Solutions Group.

In addition, earlier this year, a strategic advisor to subsidiary Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Inc. became Mike Mullen, former chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. Nikon also has a contract with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop a portable camera for use in the American lunar program.

Nikon has lost its leadership in the chip production equipment market to the Dutch ASML Holding. However, Nikon and Canon have benefited from a surge in demand for equipment to make simpler semiconductor products used in cars and home appliances, for example.