Global GlobalThese include the Frontier Core-Technology Laboratories, Synthetic Organic Chemistry Laboratories, and Advanced Marking Research Laboratories. In addition to being responsible for long-term research aimed at creating the cutting-edgetechnologies that will play a role in the future of the Fujifilm's Group's operations, these facilities have the task of accumulating shared technological bases that are common to the whole company.
The idea of creating Advanced Core Technology Laboratories within the Fujifilm Group's corporate laboratories was conceived 5 to 10 years ago. The mission of these laboratories is to develop and cultivate the core technologies underpinning new operations and new products that competitors would not be able to copy by effectively and rapidly creating cutting-edge basic technologies relating to materials and devise systems. Fujifilm has adopted the slogan “Intellectual Fusion, Innovation, and Value Creation” to encapsulate this concept of creating technological innovation by bringing together technicians from different cultures using different technologies and having them challenge the limits of individual technologies by bringing advanced, complex, cutting-edge technologies into contact to interact, complement and fuse with each other.
Digital X-ray diagnostic imaging systems, bioscience image analysis systems, endoscopes, digital minilabs, digital platesetters, large-size inkjet color printers, industrial digital imaging, digital cameras
Fujifilm integrated its Synthesis Division to establish the Synthetic Organic Chemistry Laboratories to further develop its organic synthesis technology and functional materials technology cultivated over many years. These laboratories undertake research & development in materials across a broad range of areas from imaging to biotechnology and electronics, and as corporate laboratories tasked with the development of raw materials to advance existing business, the creation of material technologies leading to new business, and the strengthening of basic technologies and nurturing of human resources to promote these activities, they play an integral role in supporting the foundations of Fujifilm's material technologies.
Silver halide photosensitive materials (color film, color printing paper), electronic display materials (viewing angle compensation film, anti-reflection film), recording media materials (coloring material for optical disks, holographic recording material), thermosensitive recording materials, inkjet recording materials, optoelectronic materials, printing materials (CTP, PS plate), semiconductor materials (photoresist material, color resist), life science materials (medical diagnostic material, biosensing material)
These facilities have short- and medium-term goals and undertake programs that are directly linked to product development objectives of each business division.
The Life Science Laboratories research and develop the Fuji Dri-Chem (FDC) biochemical analyzer used for analyzing blood and other substances and the QuickGene gene extraction system. Fujifilm was already active in the blood component analysis market due to the research and development of the Fuji Dri-Chem, but the marketing in June 2004 of its QuickGene gene extraction system propelled the company into the world of genetic research as well, enabling Fujifilm to make a significant leap forward into the life science development sector. The goal of the Life Science Laboratories is to create new value through the fusion of research and the diverse core technologies cultivated by the company over the years. By strengthening research and development in the life science sector, we will contribute to building a healthy and happy future for the people of the world.
Fuji Dri-Chem (FDC), gene extraction systems
The Imaging Materials Laboratories conduct technological development and product development of materials starting from the company's core silver halide photosensitive materials and encompassing the latest digital imaging materials such as laser recording and inkjet materials, as well as materials developed to respond to the digitalization of information, including optical device materials and optical functional materials. The Imaging Materials Laboratories were formed by merging the Silver Halide Photosensitive Materials Research Center and the Digital Imaging Materials Research Center. The purpose of these laboratories is to create core business in new materials by developing state-of-the-art materials technologies in line with the slogan “Meeting the Challenge of New Technologies”, while continuing to develop Fujifilm's unique, advanced core technologies.
Silver halide photosensitive materials (color film, color paper), thermosensitive materials, laser recording materials, flat panel display materials (color filtering film, etc.), inkjet information recording materials, optical sector materials, nanotechnology sector
The Flat Panel Display Materials Laboratories conduct research and development of materials used in the liquid crystal panels that are now standard components of TV and computer monitors and other devices. Fujifilm developed a groundbreaking solution (viewing angle compensation film) that dramatically improved the narrow viewing angle that was a major drawback of liquid crystal displays, in the process, giving birth to what is now one of the company's core businesses. In addition to continuing to develop viewing angle compensation films in anticipation of the evolution of flat panel displays, including increases in their size, brightness and response speed, it is the objective of Fujifilm to create new markets by using its laboratories to develop films possessing anti-reflection properties and other optical functions and to supply the world with technologies and products that will set the global standards.
WV film (viewing angle compensation film for LCD TVs), CV film (anti-reflection film for LCD TVs)
The Graphic Materials Laboratories conduct research and development of materials and systems for printing under the slogan “Creating the Print Culture for the Next Generation”. We are surrounded by a sea of books, magazines, posters and other printed material, and it is a fact that more than half of these items use materials that have been developed in these laboratories. Fujifilm's laboratories are now in the midst of research on the digitalization of these materials. In particular, we are progressing with research on digital printing plates using blue and red lasers, while also conducting forward-looking research into future challenges such as new printing solutions using inkjets. These laboratories are developing multifunctional materials through such research projects and, in the case of photopolymers in particular, have become a breeding ground for pioneering materials research.
CTP (Computer-to-Plate) digital printing plates, printing materials
The Electronic Materials Laboratories develop materials such as semiconductor photoresist, insulation film and protective film materials and chemical-mechanical polishing materials as well as materials for color filters for image sensors. Fujifilm's semiconductor materials business started out with the application to semiconductor devices of patterning technology based on the silver halide photosensitive materials technology cultivated by the company over many years. The company is now expanding its research from patterning to semiconductor and electronic materials in general.
Semiconductor photoresist, chemical-mechanical polishing materials, cleaning agents, insulating materials, color resist
These centers develop equipment system products primarily in the medical equipment, printing equipment and general photographic equipment sectors. Leading products to have emerged from these centers include a digital X-ray diagnostic imaging system for medical use employing an X-ray sensor (imaging plate), the first of its kind in the world, and digital minilabs incorporating a high performance solid state laser developed exclusively by Fujifilm. These products incorporate the Image Intelligence ultra-high quality digital image processing software developed by Fujifilm for image enhancement. The centers play a central role in the creation of Fujifilm's digital imaging (DI) culture by bringing into play the collective strength of the three elements of materials, equipment and software.
These facilities are engaged in the development and design of products such as digital still cameras and camera modules incorporated into mobile phones that have brought digital imaging to the consumer worldwide and have been realized as a result of Fujifilm's commitment to the pursuit of high quality photographic images over many years. They also strive independently to bring about the evolution of the key technologies and key devices that make these products possible, including CCDs (charge coupled devices), lenses and LSIs, in the quest for higher quality and functionality. And since this is a market that is growing worldwide, we are also working to develop the fastest possible product cycles. It is our objective to pursue the potential for being world leader in digital imaging and to supply the world with products incorporating unique new technologies and ideas.
Digital still cameras, camera modules incorporated in mobile phones, etc.
The Recording Media Laboratories conduct research and development of media used for recording digitalized information, including video, audio and written information, as well as new recording systems. Fujifilm developed Japan's first videotape for broadcast use. Continuing that tradition, Fujifilm is today the number one manufacturer in the computer backup tape sector as a result of its proprietary ultra-thin metal coating technology (ATOMM) and Nanocubic technology, and is continuing to develop technology building upon that foundation. As future R&D objectives for the laboratories, Fujifilm intends to expand research into recording media and systems based on new materials and recording principles including creating recording media with higher densities and transfer rates and faster access as realized with the shift from tape to disk, as well as developing new magnetic recording technologies using magnetic transfer.
The Software Development Center was launched for the purpose of providing the systems and creating the basic technology required to respond to the systemization and solutions demanded to meet society's rapid and growing need for software accompanying the global IT revolution. The center functions as an organization to link the various business sectors and deploy technologies across all the companies of the group. To achieve this objective, the center contributes to business expansion by creating and deploying core, differentiated image technologies and new business models and undertaking software development across all business sectors.
Digital medical imaging systems, electronic endoscopes, hospital information systems, printing equipment for business use, printing solutions, photographic printing applications & services, biochemical analyzers, bio-image analyzers, digital imaging equipment for industrial use, Keitai Picture service (mobile image system)
The Production Technology Center serves as the base for creating the production technology to produce appealing products incorporating superior materials developed with the R&D Division. It develops proprietary production technology to leave its competitors standing, from traditional high speed, precision, thin layer coating and thin film deposition technologies to nano-processing and mounting technologies, precision molding technologies, precision automatic assembly technologies, engineering technologies, and others. The center provides the production technology for a broad range of products from media and electronic components to a variety of imaging systems. Fujifilm is pursuing technological development by bringing together all its technicians into a single, object-oriented organization with the objective of utilizing its production technology capabilities to create the products for the future.
The Analysis Technology Center was established to consolidate the analysis research departments that had previously been spread around various workplaces into a unified core technology research division responsible for undertaking the analysis essential for research and development across the entire Fujifilm Group. It is the center's mission to contribute directly to research and development through analysis of the mechanisms of functional materials and devices by means of exhaustive analysis conducted from the viewpoints of analytic chemistry, physical chemistry and computational science. The center conducts research on various products, including functional materials such as viewing angle compensation films and semiconductor photoresist, life science materials and honeycomb CCD devices, in close cooperation with the product development laboratories. To ensure that this cooperative research and problem solving proceed to best effect, the center collaborates with domestic and overseas universities and public research institutions to develop world-leading analysis technologies.
