Toshiba's Discrete Semiconductor Products Strategy

TOKYO. - Tuesday, August 26th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) Toshiba (TOKYO:6502) aims for stable business expansion by providing discrete devices in growth markets.

The business environment is changing, and markets for smartphone, tablet PC, wireless base stations and data centers are expanding, automobile are becoming more intelligent, new energy sources, such as wind power, are expanding, primarily in emerging countries, and energy efficiency is emphasized more than ever in industry.

Small-signal device and OPTO device

Small-signal and OPTO devices, the foundation products of the business, have seen strong demand since last year. Every site, Toshiba Semiconductor (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (TST), which moved location after the Thai floods, is operating at full capacity. Our photo couplers, OPTO devices, have held the world No.1 share for four consecutive years. We aim for further productivity improvements from expanding TST, expanding the product line-up in high value-added areas, mainly in the industrial market, and to expand business by responding to market changes and expansions.

Power Devices

MOSFETs are a focus product, and we will support customers by exerting comprehensive strengths in respect of performance, quality and supply capacity to meet industrial market in China, which is expected to see market expansion, and market of strong Japanese automotive manufacturers. We have already won orders of next-generation automotive products. We will continue to advance the capacity of the 200mm line in Kaga Toshiba Electronics and to provide solutions to customers.

Furthermore, as next-generation products using new materials responding diverse market needs, we will launch up SiC devices for high voltage and high frequency field, GaN power devices for super high frequency filed, applied GaN on Si technology for white LED. We will also collaborate with the in-house system companies. We will lead expanding market in the future.

Toshiba Discrete Semiconductor Business will anticipate future demands to achieve business growth in the global market.

About Toshiba

Toshiba Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, channels world-class capabilities in advanced electronic and electrical product and systems into five strategic business domains: Energy & Infrastructure, Community Solutions, Healthcare Systems & Services, Electronic Devices & Components, and Lifestyles Products & Services. Guided by the principles of The Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, “Committed to People, Committed to the Future”, Toshiba promotes global operations towards securing “Growth Through Creativity and Innovation”, and is contributing to the achievement of a world in which people everywhere live in safe, secure and comfortable society.

Founded in Tokyo in 1875, today’s Toshiba is at the heart of a global network of over 590 consolidated companies employing over 200,000 people worldwide, with annual sales surpassing 6.5 trillion yen (US$63 billion). To find out more about Toshiba, visit www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm

Contacts

Toshiba Corporation

Semiconductor & Storage Products Company

Megumi Genchi / Kota Yamaji, +81-3-3457-3576

Communication IR Promotion Group

Business Planning Division

semicon-NR-mailbox@ml.toshiba.co.jp









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/11911/en

ZTE Wins COSMOTE Romania LTE Contract

SHENZHEN, China. - Tuesday, August 26th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) ZTE Corporation (“ZTE”) (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment, network solutions and mobile devices, has won a wireless project contract from COSMOTE Romania, the largest multinational mobile operator in the Balkans, to transform its existing 2G/3G network and build a new LTE network in southern Romania.

The deal is expected to require construction of more than 3,000 base stations, reinforcing ZTE's leading place in the European LTE market.

Based in Greece, COSMOTE Group has its major operations in South Eastern European countries, including Greece, Albania and Romania. Deutsche Telekom is the largest of its shareholders, holding 40 percent of shares in Greece’s OTE Group. In 2012, COSMOTE Romania won the auction for the 25M 1800M and 10M 2600M LTE spectrums and planned to launch LTE services in the hope of better customer experience and competitiveness.

In 2010, ZTE successfully completed a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) project for COSMOTE Romania using ZTE’s industry-leading SDR (software defined radio) technologies and network delivery capabilities. The previous cooperation on UMTS networks has laid a solid foundation for further work on LTE projects between COSMOTE and ZTE.

Xiong Hui, SVP of ZTE, said, "ZTE is very grateful that COSMOTE Romania once again selected us as a strategic partner. With our series of innovative solutions, led by Cloud Radio, ZTE is taking the lead in the development of LTE technologies. The LTE network of COSMOTE Romania will use the world's most advanced products and solutions to enhance the customer experience. We will employ ZTE's best resources to make the project a successful one."

As of the end of July 2014, ZTE has won 146 commercial LTE/EPC contracts around the world, covering 70 percent of the countries that have invested in LTE. ZTE is the world's fastest growing LTE vendor and in 2013, the company’s share of the new LTE market was close to 20 percent. ZTE has successfully launched LTE networks for operators including China Mobile, China Telecom, Hutchison, Softbank, KPN, Telenor, TeliaSonera, Vodafone, VimpelCom, and Bharti.

About ZTE

ZTE is a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions with the most comprehensive product range covering virtually every telecommunications sector, including wireless, access & bearer, VAS, terminals and professional services. The company delivers innovative, custom-made products and services to over 500 operators in more than 160 countries, helping them to meet the changing needs of their customers while growing revenue. ZTE commits 10 per cent of its annual revenue to research and development and has leadership roles in several international bodies devoted to developing telecommunications industry standards. ZTE is committed to corporate social responsibility and is a member of the UN Global Compact. The company is China’s only listed telecom manufacturer that is publicly traded on both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ). For more information, please visit www.zte.com.cn.

Contacts

ZTE Corporation

Margrete Ma, +86 755 26775207

ma.gaili@zte.com.cn



AxiCom PR

William de la Bedoyere, +44 (0)20 8392 8074

william.delabedoyere@axicom.com







Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/11909/en

CPI Card Group To Acquire EFT Source, Inc.

Acquisition strengthens existing EMV, personalization and fulfillment capabilities, delivering comprehensive, secure customized payment solutions for the burgeoning payments industry

LITTLETON, Colo. - Tuesday, August 26th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) CPI Card Group, a global leader in financial and EMV card production and related services, announced today that the company has signed a definitive agreement to acquire EFT Source, a provider of turnkey card programs and personalization services for the financial payments industry.

With the acquisition of EFT Source, CPI will be poised to continue to meet the increasing demand for innovative payment solutions in its global markets. The acquisition provides extended capacity and expertise in card personalization and fulfillment to support the U.S. market migration to EMV for small, medium and large financial card issuers. In addition, EFT’s patented Instant Issuance Solution, Card@Once®, will now be made available to CPI customers.

EFT Source will maintain its existing facilities located in Nashville, Tenn. and Colorado Springs, Colo.

“EFT Source’s partnership with CPI spans over 15 years and we share a common philosophy regarding the priority of client service delivery,” said Steve Montross, president and CEO of CPI Card Group. “This acquisition combines CPI’s expertise in card production technology and related services including personalization, with EFT Source’s advanced personalization and fulfillment capabilities, providing our mutual customers with unmatched products and services to meet their needs. We are very excited about this combination and the value it will bring to our customers.”

“Through our close work with CPI over the years, there is great familiarity between our organizations, including our management teams,” said Bill Dinker, president of EFT Source. “Our company is a natural fit with CPI. It allows us to better support our customers through a greater depth of resources and expertise and a more comprehensive product offering and to drive greater growth in the payments industry.”

EFT Source, Inc. was advised by Raymond James and CPI Card Group was advised by William Blair & Company, L.L.C.

About CPI Card Group

CPI, a global leader in financial card production and related services under the VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover payment brands, offers a single source for cards and other form factors, from financial and prepaid debit to EMV chip and mobile, and personalization and fulfillment services. CPI offers the largest secure and commercial production network in North America and the UK. CPI's production sites include: Denver, Colo.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Colchester, England; Liverpool, England; Petersfield, England and Toronto, Canada. CPI’s facilities in Colo., Nev., Ind., Canada and Liverpool are ISO 9001 certified. For more information, visit www.cpicardgroup.com.

About EFT Source

Established in 1977, EFT Source provides more than 3,000 U.S. financial institutions with turnkey card programs and secure personalization of debit, credit and ATM cards under the VISA, MasterCard and Discover payment brands from conceptual art to creative fulfillment services. Based in Nashville, Tenn., EFT Source also has a production facility in Colorado Springs, Colo. For more information, visit www.EFTsource.com.

Contacts

Scream Agency for CPI Card Group

Katie Knoch, 303-893-8608 ex 208

Katie@screamagency.com









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/11907/en

Centaur Announces CFO Transition Plan

SAN ANTONIO. - Tuesday, August 26th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) Centaur Guernsey L.P. Inc. (Centaur) today announced that Robert Hureau, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Centaur and each of its operating subsidiaries Kinetic Concepts, Inc., LifeCell Corporation and Systagenix Wound Management, Limited, has notified the Company that he will be resigning to pursue another career opportunity. Mr. Hureau will continue in his current role until September 23, 2014. Following Mr. Hureau’s departure, Brian Busenlehner, Vice President, Corporate Controller, will serve as interim Chief Financial Officer, working closely with President and CEO Joe Woody and the company’s senior leadership team on all financial matters. Mr. Busenlehner has served as Vice President, Controller since 2007 and in that role has been responsible for global accounting, financial consolidation and external reporting in addition to providing leadership in support of the Company’s Global Shared Service Center in Budapest, Hungary.

The Company has started a search to identify and select a new CFO and has retained executive search firm Crist|Kolder Associates to conduct the process.

“The Board and I thank Bob for his contributions to the Company and wish him and his family the best in the future,” said Woody. “Brian Busenlehner is a highly experienced finance professional, and I’m pleased to have him step into this role on an interim basis while the search for a new CFO is conducted.”

About Centaur

Centaur Guernsey L.P. Inc., through its subsidiaries KCI, LifeCell and Systagenix, is a leading global medical technology company devoted to understanding, developing and commercializing innovative, high-technology transformational healing solutions for customers and patients in more than 75 countries around the world. The three companies form one globally diversified wound care, biologics and regenerative medicine company, committed to advancing the science of medicine to reduce complications, speed healing and improve patient lives. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, the company is a leader in the medical technology industry with the most comprehensive offering of best-in-class surgical and chronic wound therapies. Additional information about the company and its products is available at www.KCI1.com.

Contacts

KCI Corporate Communications

Mike Barger, +1-210-255-6824

mike.barger@kci1.com



KCI Investor Relations

Nathan Speicher, +1-210-255-6027

nathan.Speicher@kci1.com







Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/11908/en

Clear Quality Vision and Values Key to Culture of Quality that Drives Results: ASQ, Forbes Research

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Monday, August 25th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Clearly stated quality vision and values, and unequivocal leadership are key components to a successful culture of quality that can help organizations drive results, according to new research from ASQ and Forbes Insights.

But only about 60 percent of all respondents say management unequivocally supports their organization’s quality vision and values, of which about 60 percent say are clearly stated. In Europe and Asia, about 50 percent of respondents say their organizations have clear quality visions and values, according to the research.

The research — “Culture of Quality: Accelerating Growth and Performance in the Enterprise” — explores organizations’ support of quality and the key components of a successful culture of quality. This study offers — from organizations like Samsung, FedEx, and Tata — actionable insight into how a quality-driven culture can accelerate business performance.

The research draws on the responses of 1,010 senior leaders and 1,281 quality professionals worldwide from a multitude of industries. The survey was conducted online in April.

“In order to be effective, a culture of quality must permeate an entire organization,” said ASQ Chair Stephen Hacker. “This research provides first-hand and real-world examples from industry leaders of how to strengthen and sustain a high-impact quality culture — which can have dramatic and positive effects on an organization’s bottom line.”

"Organizations range from those where quality is just a slogan to those where quality is a deep focus for everyone from the CEO on down," said Bruce Rogers, Chief Insights Officer at Forbes Media. "This study shows which elements are vital for a strong culture of quality."

The survey results also reveal gaps between senior leaders’ and quality professionals’ views on culture of quality.

According to the research, 72 percent of senior leaders rate their quality programs as world class — the strongest in the world — or advanced. In comparison, 40 percent of midlevel, quality-focused respondents view their programs as world class or advanced. Sixty percent of quality-focused respondents instead rank their quality program as average or below average.

The disparity is likely due to “filtered, big-picture material that has been ‘prettied up’ for management,” according to Elizabeth Keim, a managing partner at Integrated Quality Resources, and project advisor.

“I think the deeper you dive into an organization’s chart, the closer those people are to the detail of what is happening,” according to Dan Afseth, software development leader at Intuit and project advisor. “If you’re close to the challenge, you see the precise changes still needing to be made. Whereas from the top, you see great progress.”

Other findings include:

    59 percent of respondents say their organization has a comprehensive, groupwide culture of quality.
    48 percent say customer needs are the key driver of their quality programs.
    24 percent of respondents strongly agree that they actively involve customers in quality discussions.
    53 percent say their organization plans to increase investment in quality programs in the next 18 months.

To download the research paper, or for more information about the research, visit cultureofquality.org.

About ASQ

ASQ is a global community of people dedicated to quality who share the ideas and tools that make our world work better. With millions of individual and organizational members of the community in 150 countries, ASQ has the reputation and reach to bring together the diverse quality champions who are transforming the world’s corporations, organizations and communities to meet tomorrow’s critical challenges. Learn more about ASQ’s members, mission, technologies and training at asq.org.

Contacts

ASQ

Kevin Braley

414-272-8575 ext. 7587

800-248-1946

kbraley@asq.org









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/11900/en

New Pradaxa® Data to be Presented at the ESC Congress 2014

INGELHEIM, Germany. - Monday, August 25th 2014

    HOT LINE: New results from RE-LY® compare the effect of warfarin and Pradaxa® on kidney function in patients requiring anticoagulation
    HOT LINE: GLORIA™-AF Registry Program benchmarks patient characteristics and antithrombotic use for stroke prevention in AF worldwide

For Non-US/Non-UK/Non-Canadian Media

New Pradaxa® (dabigatran etexilate) data for the treatment of a broad range of thromboembolic diseases will be presented at the ESC Congress 2014, 30th August – 3rd September, 2014, Barcelona, Spain, organised by the European Society of Cardiology. Study results, including data being presented in two Hot Line sessions, will provide further clinical insights for Pradaxa® and help inform future anticoagulation treatment decisions.

    On August 31st, the Registry Hot Line session will reveal data from the first 10,000 patients included in the GLORIA™-AF Registry Program, which will provide insights into patterns of antithrombotic treatment use for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF).
    On September 2nd, a Clinical Trial Update Hot Line session will announce new data from a RE-LY® sub-analysis comparing the effects of warfarin and Pradaxa® on kidney function in AF patients requiring anticoagulation.
    Further new data sets from company-sponsored studies involving Pradaxa® in AF, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism will also feature as poster and oral presentations during the ESC Congress 2014.

Abstracts are available from the ESC website at: http://spo.escardio.org/default.aspx?eevtid=69

In Barcelona, five years ago, the landmark RE-LY® study results were presented at the ESC Congress 2009. Since then, the RE-LY® findings have been reconfirmed in numerous sub-analyses, supported by Regulatory Authorities worldwide and were most recently replicated outside of a clinical study setting by an independent FDA assessment involving more than 134,000 Medicare patients.1-4

Boehringer Ingelheim will be hosting a media briefing during the ESC congress to present the new data, discuss how Pradaxa® is impacting patients in everyday clinical practice and give an update on the ongoing R&D programme including the progress of the investigational antidote idarucizumab. Medical media who are interested in attending the Boehringer Ingelheim briefing ‘Setting the Record Straight - Pradaxa® Protection Today and Tomorrow’ on Monday 1st September, 14.00-15.00 in the Industry Press Conference Room, should contact pradaxa@ogilvy.com




Contacts

Boehringer Ingelheim

Corporate Communications

Media + PR

Friederike Middeke

Phone: +49 6132 – 77 141 575

Fax: +49 6132 – 77 6601

Email: press@boehringer-ingelheim.com









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/11903/en

Toshiba's Storage Products Strategy

TOKYO - Monday, August 25th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The storage business is one of Toshiba’s (TOKYO:6502) strategic focus businesses, alongside energy and healthcare. Our data storage products, such as HDD and SSD, are the key components of the storage business, along with NAND Flash, and we will make our business more competitive and larger by supporting cloud and social network service businesses that are expected to see rapid expansion.

HDD responsible for storing large amount of data and SSD responsible for high speed processing are seen as co-existing, complementing each other's characteristics. While offering a wide line-up of storage products, our main focus will be the enterprise market and the following products and targets.

·         Near line HDD: Expand market share by increasing the capacity.

·         Enterprise SSD: Gain market share by utilizing advantages of in-house NAND flash memory and expanding line-up for high speed processing storage at data centers.

Through these measures, we aim to expand HDD market share to more than 20% in 2016. We aim to gain more than a 30% share of market of SSD (SAS interface) for data centers in the same year.

We will expand into high value-added business area such as software for storage systems and solution (appliances), etc. as a way to further expand and improve the profitability of the storage products business.

Industry’s utilization of digital data will continue to grow. It is estimated that data generated worldwide will continue to expand, to reach 44 zettabytes in 2020 annually. Most notably, in a movement that can be called the big data revolution, a new market is being born that requires new computer architecture to save and analyze petabyte-class large scale data at a time, at a very high speed.

Trends in storage products business

    To September 2009: Expand HDD business, specializing in products for such applications as PCs, automotive and portable music players.
    October 2009: Enter enterprise HDD business by acquiring Fujitsu Limited’s HDD business
    July 2011: Integrate memory and SSD business for consumers and industry to establish "Semiconductor & Storage Company". Productize enterprise SSD by integrating the storage products business
    May 2012: Line up 3.5-inch HDD for both consumer and enterprise by taking over part of the 3.5-inch HDD business from WDC
    Toshiba is sole company able to deliver all storage products for clients and enterprises, such as NAND, SSD and HDD

About Toshiba

Toshiba Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, channels world-class capabilities in advanced electronic and electrical product and systems into five strategic business domains: Energy & Infrastructure, Community Solutions, Healthcare Systems & Services, Electronic Devices & Components, and Lifestyles Products & Services. Guided by the principles of The Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, “Committed to People, Committed to the Future”, Toshiba promotes global operations towards securing “Growth Through Creativity and Innovation”, and is contributing to the achievement of a world in which people everywhere live in safe, secure and comfortable society.

Founded in Tokyo in 1875, today’s Toshiba is at the heart of a global network of over 590 consolidated companies employing over 200,000 people worldwide, with annual sales surpassing 6.5 trillion yen (US$63 billion). To find out more about Toshiba, visit www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm

Contacts

Toshiba Corporation
Semiconductor & Storage Products Company
Megumi Genchi / Kota Yamaji, +81-3-3457-3576
Communication IR Promotion Group
Business Planning Division
semicon-NR-mailbox@ml.toshiba.co.jp









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/11901/en