Thai Flooding Delays Sony Camera Launch

[webfact]

Thai flooding delays Sony camera launch

TOKYO, October 20, 2011 (AFP) - Sony said Thursday it would postpone the launch of its latest digital single-lens reflex cameras and headphones as a result of massive flooding in Thailand.

The flooding has halted production at the company's manufacturing base in Ayutthaya and its contracted plants and parts suppliers in the country, the Japanese electronics giant said in a statement.

Sony had planned to put on the market two types of digital single-lens reflex cameras on November 11 but the new launch date has yet to be decided, the statement said.

The company had also planned to launch different types of headphones on November 10 and 21. Some of the models will be marketed instead on December 10 but the new launch date for the others will be decided later.

Sony has three manufacturing plants in Thailand and operations at the Ayutthaya plant, which produces digital cameras, has been halted since October 11 as flooding disrupted the supply of parts and prevented workers from coming to work, Sony spokeswoman Satsuki Shinnaka said.

"On October 14, floodwater began to inundate the plant's building and part of its equipment there has since been affected," she said.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-10-20

[ratcatcher]

They could have used this flooding to showcase their waterproof cameras?

[Soi Sauce]

I weep as the news of another consumer product takes precedence over people who have no homes, food or future.

[Stan42]

Not worrying about a massive flood. Complaining about delay of consumer products instead?

[IsaanUSA]

I weep as the news of another consumer product takes precedence over people who have no homes, food or future.

Hence the worldwide protests. Occupy Wall Street. Occupy Ayutthaya.

The corporations don't care, they just want to make stock holders "happy" (not really).

[Tywais]

That is the camera I've been thinking of getting. Doesn't mention if the A77, which has been released, will be effected.

Sony postpones product launches due to Thailand floods

Flooding in Thailand Thailand has been hit by severe floods causing widespread damage in the country

Japanese electronics maker Sony has postponed launches of various products after flooding in Thailand disrupted production at its factories. Sony said it was delaying the launch of products including its NEX-7 camera and the Reflex Alpha 65 indefinitely. The move comes after the floods forced Sony to shut production at two of its three units in Thailand.

Sony's output was also hit earlier this year due to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

"However, we are taking measures to move production to our third factory in Thailand which is operational and also to other sites," he added.

The products were supposed to go on sale in November.

BBC News

-- BBC October 20, 2011

[IsaanUSA]

UPDATE

Sony Resumes SLT and NEX Production in Thailand

After the tragic flooding in Thailand that rendered entire factories and production plants inoperable, it's nice to get a little bit of good news.

Sony has confirmed today that they've begun SLT and NEX production again. This doesn't mean that their damaged plant is back up and running though. Sony ended up moving production from Ayuthaya to Chonburi, a city farther south.

According to Sony, the cost of all the damage from the flood totals to 25 billion yen, or around $324 million. The company has not yet stated whether we can expect the new plant to produce the same amount of cameras as the old one.

Source for quote: Steves-Digicams

Edited November 17, 2011 by Tywais
Added link to source of quotation above