Canon Builds new toner cartridge plant December 03, 2010 08:28 by John Sollars

Canon Inc  is set to build a factory in southern Japan at a cost of 30 billion yen ($356 million) to make parts for laser printer cartridges, the company said on Thursday.

The firm had previously planned to open the plant in 2009, but put the scheme on ice following the global financial crisis.

"A careful on-going review of market and economic conditions by the company indicates that the laser printer market is headed toward a recovery which, in turn, is expected to drive steady growth in demand for toner cartridges," Canon said in a press release.

Construction of the plant in Oita, on the country's southernmost main island of Kyushu, will start in June next year, with production expected to begin in May 2012, the company said. The factory is slated to employ about 350 people by 2015.