Canon Nikon – DSLR Manufacturers Thailand Flood Updates

Reports of DSLR manufacturer’s plant re-openings in flooded Thailand industrial parks are, well, as mixed and muddy as the are the flood waters.

Predictions range from a few weeks, to a few months, before work can resume. Accurate information is always hard to confirm in a crisis. In Thailand, this problem is exacerbated by the many factions and power struggles occurring there.

Bangkok Post reports (November 3, 2011) that “All of the seven industrial estates ravaged by floods are expected to resume operations early next year, an assistant to the industry minister said on Thursday.”

Included is a reference to the Rojana Industrial Park where Canon has a facility, and Nikon has its DSLR and Lens plant. “Measures would also be taken to prevent the industrial estates from flooding again in the long run. As much as 1.2 billion baht ( $39,056,102 USD) would be needed to build a flood prevention systeam at Rojana Industrial Park in Ayutthaya alone, he said.”

IBTimes reports(November 1, 2011) “The listed Rojana Industrial Park Pcl — the estate worst hit by the floods — could start draining out water next week.  “The situation is improving,” Amara Charoengitwattanagun, director of the park, told Reuters. “The water at Rojana has now receded by about 30 cms measured from a peak around Rojana power plant area of 2.80 meters.” Canon Inc, Nikon Corp, Hitachi Metals Ltd… also have operations on the Rojana estate…”

Bloomberg reports(November 1, 2011) “Thailand’s government will start pumping floodwater from the Rojana industrial estate in Ayutthaya province on Nov. 7, Permanent Secretary for Industry Witoon Simachokedee said earlier this week.  ‘‘The drainage should be done within two weeks and the companies can start to get into their properties to fix machinery,’’ Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said yesterday.”

Noppatjak Attanon – Thailand Flood Photos – Twitter feed