Sanyo Electric Co. said on Sept. 29 that it will spend about $80 million to build a new U.S. plant to make parts for solar power cells. The plant, which will be built in Oregon, will manufacture solar ingots and wafers, which are key components of solar cells.
It is expected to begin operations in October 2009, employing about 200 employees.
Sanyo has slashed thousands of jobs and sold non-core operations as part of a massive overhaul in recent years, while increasing its focus on rechargeable and solar power batteries.
Rival Japanese electronics makers including Sharp Corp. and Mitsubishi Electric Corp. are also expanding actively in the area of solar power equipment.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2008
