Kao Corp Espana has firmed up its plans to manufacture 3.5 floppy disks, saying that it will start manufacturing the disks in Barcelona next spring. According to the managing director, Joan Durran, the company has invested approximately $34m in a new factory which will produce 3m disks per month, the majority of which will go for export to the rest of the European Community. Kao holds 10% of the Spanish 3.5 disk market but hopes to increase this with the added technical support of the new plant, which will be officially opened in January. The total output from all Kao plants, including those in Japan, Canada and the US, is forecast at 150m 3.5 floppies during 1990 putting the company among the world’s top producers of this disk format. Kao is also developing its world distribution network to back up the developments in its production capacity. Kao Corp Espana is a subsidiary of Kao Corp Japan which first came to Europe 20 years ago: the parent’s core business is in chemicals.
