Epson

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The Epson Company
Type Publicly-traded
Founded April 1975
Founder(s) Seiko Epson Corporation
Headquarters Japan
Area served worldwide
Products printers, projectors, mobile display devices
Operating income 57,577 million yen (Seiko Epson Corporation, FYE 2008)[1]
Total equity http://www.epson.co.jp/e/company/business_strategy.htm
Employees 88,925
Parent Seiko Epson Corp
Website http://www.epson.com

Epson is a major brand of the electronics company Seiko Epson Corporation which is known for its production of printers, projectors, and mobile display devices. Seiko Epson is based in Japan, but Epson's sales are worldwide.


Company History

After Seiko released its first electric printer, the EP-101, 1968, the Epson brand was established, first through the development of the subsidiary, Epson, America, Inc., followed by the Epson Sales Japan Co,. Ltd., being established as the domestic manufacturing branch of the brand.[2]

Historical Financial Information

Business Strategy

"Epson will provide cutting-edge imaging solutions, focusing on the fields of imaging on paper, imaging on screen, and imaging on glass."[3] For more information, see: http://www.epson.co.jp/e/company/business_strategy.htm

Political and Public Influence

Political Contributions

Lobbying

Epson America, Inc., hired Bryan Cave Strategies lobbying firm in 2008.[4]

Corporate Accountability

Paragraph

Labor

Epson is a customer of Volex Cable Assembly Co., Ltd. "Volex is a global producer of electrical and optical fiber cable assemblies and power cords (plugs, cables and connectors)" which "operates offshore manufacturing facilities in Asia, Europe, and North and South America. In Asia, the Volex Group currently has three manufacturing facilities based in mainland China (in Zhongshan, Shenzhen, and Suzhou), and factories and/or offices in India, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. In total, the group manages over 30 production centers worldwide."[5] According to a May 2008 Report published by SACOM and Bread for All, the Volex factory in Zhongshan City, China, found that the factory employs 1500-2000 workers, and that while workers' overtime still exceeded the monthly legal limit by up to 84 hours a month, this figure was less than up to 140 hours of mandatory overtime per month employees worked in 2006.[6] In addition to work days that last a minimum of twelve hours (with two 45 minute breaks), workers are not given any days off during peak production times.[7] Occupational health and safety are problems at the Volex plant, where workers' hands often become swollen and blistered from handling cables and are not given any sort of protective gloves.[8] The past policy of deducting meal charges of 102 yuan per month from workers' wages whether or not they ate in the canteen is no longer in effect.[9] Volex management reported that the EICC has been presented to workers in 2007, but as of the beginning of 2008 workers did not claim any knowledge of either its contents or their implementation.[10]

Human Rights

Epson printers were among those discovered to print codes in tiny dots indicating the printer's serial number as well as the time and date of printing, as a means to track counterfitters, which has led to concerns from privacy groups.[11]

Environment

Consumer Protection and Product Safety

Anti-Trust and Tax Practices

Social Responsibility Initiatives

2007 Sustainability Report

Business Scope

Epson sales.gif[12]


Listed Subsidiary: Epson Toyocom[13]

Customers Suppliers Creditors Competitors
Customer 1 Supplier 1 Creditor 1 Competitor 1
Customer 2 Supplier 2 Creditor 2 Competitor 2
Customer 3 Supplier 3 Creditor 3 Competitor 3
Customer 4 Supplier 4 Creditor 4 Competitor 4


Financial Information

Ticker Symbol: TSE : 6724
Main Exchanges:TSE
Investor Website:http://www.epson.co.jp/e/IR/investor_relations_index.htm

Shareholder % Total Shares held
Shareholder 1 % Held 1
Shareholder 2 % Held 2
Shareholder 3 % Held 3
Shareholder 4 % Held 4

Largest Shareholders

Geographic scope paragraph

Country Revenue Profits Assets Employees
Country 1 Revenue 1 Profit 1 Assets 1 Employees 1
Country 2 Revenue 2 Profit 2 Assets 2 Employees 2
Country 3 Revenue 3 Profit 3 Assets 3 Employees 3
Country 4 Revenue 4 Profit 4 Assets 4 Employees 4

Governance

Epson remuneration.gif
Epson Director Pay Listed 2008[14]

Contact Information

Seiko Epson Corp Head Office
3-3-5 Owa, Suwa, Nagano 392-8502
Telephone: +81 266-52-3131

Articles and Resources

Books on the Company

Related SourceWatch Articles

Sources

  1. Seiko Epson Corporation Operating Income accessed July 2008]
  2. "Epson Corporate: History" accessed July 2008.
  3. "Epson Corporate: Business Strategy" accessed July 2008
  4. "Open Secrets: Epson America Inc., 2008"
  5. Jenny Chan, the Research Team of Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM) and Chantal Peyer (Bread for All). “High Tech – No Rights? A One Year Follow Up Report on Working Conditions in China’s Electronic Hardware Sector.” May 2008. p. 37.
  6. Jenny Chan, the Research Team of Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM) and Chantal Peyer (Bread for All). “High Tech – No Rights? A One Year Follow Up Report on Working Conditions in China’s Electronic Hardware Sector.” May 2008. p. 37-8.
  7. Jenny Chan, the Research Team of Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM) and Chantal Peyer (Bread for All). “High Tech – No Rights? A One Year Follow Up Report on Working Conditions in China’s Electronic Hardware Sector.” May 2008. p. 38.
  8. Jenny Chan, the Research Team of Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM) and Chantal Peyer (Bread for All). “High Tech – No Rights? A One Year Follow Up Report on Working Conditions in China’s Electronic Hardware Sector.” May 2008. p. 39.
  9. Jenny Chan, the Research Team of Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM) and Chantal Peyer (Bread for All). “High Tech – No Rights? A One Year Follow Up Report on Working Conditions in China’s Electronic Hardware Sector.” May 2008. p. 40.
  10. Jenny Chan, the Research Team of Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM) and Chantal Peyer (Bread for All). “High Tech – No Rights? A One Year Follow Up Report on Working Conditions in China’s Electronic Hardware Sector.” May 2008. p. 40.
  11. Eric Schmitt, "US: Secret Codes in Printers May Allow Government Tracking". "The New York Times. October 25th, 2005.
  12. "Epson Investor Relations: At a Glance" accessed July 2008
  13. "Epson Corporate: Investor Relations"accessed July 2008
  14. "Epson: Corporate Governance"

External Resources

External Articles

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