Under the terms of the agreement, Solectron is providing lead-free printed circuit board assembly, testing and volume manufacturing for a miniature optical scan engine designed by Olympus for one of its OEM customers. Solectron will produce the lead-free product in Singapore. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
"In response to the global movement toward environmental-friendly products, Olympus has adopted companywide targets and programs based on the Olympus 2002 environmental plan," said Tomoo Ito, OST managing director. "We are pleased to work with Solectron, which has vast experience in lead-free manufacturing, to produce our first lead-free optical product in Singapore."
"Olympus is one of the cutting-edge companies that is quickly responding to increasing customer demand for lead-free products," said Srinivas Rao, Solectron vice president of technology. "Solectron is a leading provider of lead-free services that are tried, tested and reliable. Olympus will benefit from our extensive lead-free manufacturing experience, in both prototyping and volume-manufacturing."
Legislation targeting products manufactured with lead is changing the way electronics makers conduct business worldwide. As a result of recent European legislation, the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), most new electronics products containing lead will be banned from sale in Europe by 2006. Countries such as Japan and the United States are considering similar laws.
Solectron has nearly 10 years of experience developing and testing lead-free technologies. Solectron has manufactured more than one million lead-free electronics units, providing prototypes and high-volume manufacturing services for lead-free products in the automotive, computing, consumer electronics and communications industries. The company provides lead-free services at locations worldwide.
About Olympus Technologies Singapore Pte Ltd.
Olympus Technologies Singapore Pte Ltd. (OST) is an innovation-driven company that focuses on research and development of Information Peripheral Products, including optical scanning and mobile computing devices. Making use of Singapore's international business infrastructure, OST is able to respond to rapid changes in the information equipment business and provides world-class quality products with cost-effectiveness achieved through successful partnerships with local contract manufacturers.
About Solectron
Solectron (www.solectron.com) provides a full range of global manufacturing and supply-chain management services to the world's premier high-tech electronics companies. Solectron's offerings include new-product design and introduction services, materials management, high-tech product manufacturing, and product warranty and end-of-life support. Solectron, based in Milpitas, Calif., is the first two-time winner of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The company had sales of $12.3 billion in fiscal 2002.
Safe Harbor
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, regarding, among other things, the anticipated consummation of the transaction, based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Several business, economic and industry wide risks and uncertainties may keep the companies from realizing the full value of the proposed relationship. These risks and uncertainties include, changes in existing legislation and adoption of new legislation relating to hazardous substances, the risk of falling demand for products and services, price fluctuation, changes in technology, competition, and the ability to manage rapid declines in customer demand. Other potential risks that could cause actual events to differ materially are included in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Forms 8-K, 10-K, 10-Q, S-3, S-4 and S-8 for Solectron Corporation. Solectron disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
CONTACT: Solectron Corporation
Solectron Analysts Contact:
Tonya Chin, 408/956-6537 (U.S.)
tonyachin@ca.slr.com
Solectron Media Contact:
Birgit Johnston, 408/956-6995 (U.S.)
birgitjohnston@ca.slr.com
or
Olympus Technologies Singapore Pte Ltd.
Olympus Media Contact:
Tan Ming Li, (65) 6777-8978
ml_tan.ost@olympus.com.sg