Panasonic is planning to invest US $860million in a new sensor production facility in Japan.

Construction of the new facility will commence in September 2008, with production launched in August 2009. The site will produce sensors for various digital appliances ? including DSLRs, compacts and camcorders ? and comes as a result of a ?rapid expansion of the digital camera and other image-related markets and demand for more sophisticated features including higher resolutions.?

Outline of New Expansion

* Address: 271 Higashikaihotsu, Tonami-City, Toyama Prefecture, Japan
* Investment: Approximately 94 billion yen
* Land area: 17,000 square meters
* Total floor space: 48,000 square meters
* Cleanroom floor space: Approximately 10,000 square meters
* Products: Image sensors
* Production capacity: 30,000 (200-mm diameter equivalent) wafers per month