Olympus has completed its sale of its Imaging Business to Japan Industrial Partners, which is reviving the business as OM Digital Solutions.
With the sale now complete, Olympus’s imaging R&D and marketing teams will move over to the OM Digital Solutions, which promises to develop new imaging products while continuing to support existing Olympus products.
In particular, OM Digital Solutions says it will “endeavour to further improve our services and enhance our product lineup for all those who love our brands, including OM-D, PEN, and Zuiko.”
The new company unveiled its website and released the following statement to the press:
On January 1, 2021, we progress as OM Digital Solutions Corporation. In recent years, moves towards digitalization have accelerated in response to changes in the marketplace, and new technological developments are being made in a number of fields. At the same time, the sense of value is critical, and we believe that what is truly being sought right now is a fulfilling life.
During our business as the Imaging Division of Olympus Corporation, we contributed to society with products such as cameras, audio recorders, and binoculars. With the camera business in particular, we utilized original ideas when developing products. In the film era, we succeeded with the development of the unprecedented compact, lightweight design of the OM series of 35mm SLR cameras. We have inherited this passion and development philosophy in the digital age, leading to the Micro Four Thirds standard, and a compact, lightweight design, through the mirrorless OM-D series. In addition, we have developed various state-of-the-art technologies, including lens groups with high optical performance, world-class image stabilization, and the High-Res Shot function, delivering high resolution imaging to photographers everywhere.
It is our manufacturing capabilities that have supported this business. This has been accomplished through forward-looking insight, a challenging spirit, and close relationships with our manufacturing site. We will continue to launch innovative products in existing business areas such as cameras, audio recorders, and binoculars, while combining our inherited manufacturing capabilities with state-of-the-art digital technologies, and will provide new solutions that stretch beyond the boundaries of existing products on the market.
The launch of this new company brings together a more focused and flexible organizational structure. Moving forward, this will allow the freedom to explore new business opportunities, enabling us to contribute to society with more passion than ever.
Thoughts behind the company name
There are two key principles behind the company name, “OM Digital Solutions”. “OM” is legendary, a piece of history and, expressing our identity. In the 1970s, the Olympus OM System was developed to overcome the three obstacles that had faced SLR cameras at the time: their large size, their heavy weight, and the loud sound and shock caused by shutter operation. Olympus managed to reduce the shock sound, making the cameras more compact and light weight, while maintaining the highest level of performance. Olympus pursued drastic size and weight reductions to allow the camera to fit comfortably in one’s hand, and were able to accomplish this thanks to the uncompromising attitude towards design and manufacturing.
The letters “OM” in the company name, embody the posture of always challenging difficult situations, and developing new products and technologies. In the current day, “OM” has been reborn as “OM-D”, and it is leading our imaging brand as the prominent mirrorless camera. Next, “Digital Solutions” incorporates our corporate posture and determination towards the future of challenging the digital domain; both the carefully cultivated imaging-related business, and expanding boundaries beyond.
We take pride in manufacturing products that meet and exceed market demands. OM Digital Solutions Corporation is a state-of-the-art business that challenges preconceived notions and provides solutions for professionals and consumers, allowing them to lead fuller, richer lives.