is a Japanese company based in Kyoto, Japan. The company was founded as in 1959 by Kazuo Inamori. It manufactures ceramics and printing-related devices, as well as a comprehensive line of imaging products. Kyocera acquired the famous Yashica Camera Company Ltd. in 1983, along with Yashica's prior licensing agreement with Carl Zeiss, and manufactured a line of high-quality film and digital cameras under the Yashica and Contax trade names. Under intense competition by other manufacturers, and hampered by limited marketing and increased production costs, Yashica and Contax failed to increase market share. Kyocera abandoned all film and digital camera production in 2005. In January 2000, Kyocera acquired photocopier manufacturer Mita Industrial, and a month later they bought the mobile phone manufacturing operations of the American company QUALCOMM to form Kyocera Wireless Corporation.
In the 1980s, Kyocera marketed audio components, such as CD players, receivers, turntables, and cassette decks. These featured unique elements, including Kyocera ceramic-based platforms, and are sought by collectors to the present day. At one time, Kyocera owned the famous KLH brand founded by Henry Kloss, though Kloss and the original Cambridge design and engineering staff had left the company by the time of the Kyocera purchase. In 1989, Kyocera stopped production of audio components and sought a buyer for the KLH brand.
Kyocera introduced a portable LCD screen computer in 1985, the Kyotronic 85. Kyocera also produces ceramics, such as their ceramic knives.
In 2003, Kyocera Wireless Corporation started an Indian subsidiary in Bangalore, Kyocera Wireless India. KWI has tied up with several leading players for providing CDMA services in India. For 2005, Kyocera copiers and printers have received J.D. Power and Associates' highest ranking in their latest customer satisfaction survey.
Kyocera Corporation, parent and headquarters of the worldwide Kyocera Group, announced on April 1, 2008 that it had completed a merger announced with Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (Sanyo) on January 21, 2008, in which Kyocera acquired Sanyo's global mobile phone business.
Kyocera also sponsor Paranaense's stadium, the Kyocera Arena, and have their insignia on the back of Atlético Madrid's shirts.
Kyocera Corporation has announced a plan to increase its solar cell production to 500 MW per year in 2010. 500 MW is about three times the 2007 output of 180 MW, and the company will reinforce production bases in Japan, the US, Europe and China, investing a total of about ¥30 billion through FY2010. Through this production enhancement, Kyocera looks to meet increasing demand across the world for solar cells.
It is also said that Kyocera solar panels will be an option available on the new Toyota Prius.
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