Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 7:52 pm
good to know someone is reading this...
Here are a few for today: No link for this one from the WSJ
Sony Apologizes for Battery Recall
Executives Seek to Stem Overheating Concerns Before the Holiday Season
By YUKARI IWATANI KANE, October 25, 2006; Page B2
TOKYO -- Two months after a defect in Sony Corp.'s laptop batteries sparked mass recalls world-wide, company executives gave a detailed explanation yesterday of what went wrong, in an effort to put the issue behind them before the all-important holiday season.
In August, Dell Inc. announced plans to recall Sony laptop batteries because of worries they could overheat and catch fire. Since then, almost every major computer maker has made similar recalls, putting the total number of batteries involved at more than nine million.
Sony, the world's second-largest maker of lithium-ion batteries after Sanyo Electric Co., said it first became aware of a problem with its batteries in Dell computers about a year ago, but it thought the issue was tackled soon afterward. It realized that the number of batteries affected was much larger than it first thought only after Dell and Apple Computer Inc. reported problems earlier this year.
Sony's corporate executive officer, Yutaka Nakagawa, center, and corporate executives Makoto Kogure, left, and Naofumi Hara, right, bow during a news conference yesterday in Tokyo.
The issue enveloped Sony and hurt its brand image just as the Japanese company had begun turning around its consumer-electronics business. In September, Sony initiated a global replacement program for its lithium-ion batteries used in laptop computers. Last week it said the recall will cut its July-September quarterly earnings by about $430 million when it reports results tomorrow.
Until yesterday, company executives hadn't provided a full explanation of the battery problem, which spawned concerns about whether there was an overall decline in Sony's manufacturing capabilities.
"We would like to apologize for the worry that we've caused," said Yutaka Nakagawa, Sony's corporate executive officer, as he bowed slightly. "I take the matter seriously and I want to complete the battery-replacement program as quickly as possible to wipe away concerns." Mr. Nakagawa said the battery problem was an isolated incident, and he stood by Sony's overall quality of manufacturing.
Sony stopped short of offering comment from its top executives, Chief Executive Howard Stringer or President Ryoji Chubachi. The company said no executive would resign over the recall.
While apologizing, Sony maintained that lithium-ion batteries overheat and catch fire in rare instances that depend on how they are set up for recharging. The battery is typically charged via the computer, which is connected to an electrical cord.
Sony didn't explain why it was the only battery maker with problems.
Here are a few for today: No link for this one from the WSJ
Sony Apologizes for Battery Recall
Executives Seek to Stem Overheating Concerns Before the Holiday Season
By YUKARI IWATANI KANE, October 25, 2006; Page B2
TOKYO -- Two months after a defect in Sony Corp.'s laptop batteries sparked mass recalls world-wide, company executives gave a detailed explanation yesterday of what went wrong, in an effort to put the issue behind them before the all-important holiday season.
In August, Dell Inc. announced plans to recall Sony laptop batteries because of worries they could overheat and catch fire. Since then, almost every major computer maker has made similar recalls, putting the total number of batteries involved at more than nine million.
Sony, the world's second-largest maker of lithium-ion batteries after Sanyo Electric Co., said it first became aware of a problem with its batteries in Dell computers about a year ago, but it thought the issue was tackled soon afterward. It realized that the number of batteries affected was much larger than it first thought only after Dell and Apple Computer Inc. reported problems earlier this year.
Sony's corporate executive officer, Yutaka Nakagawa, center, and corporate executives Makoto Kogure, left, and Naofumi Hara, right, bow during a news conference yesterday in Tokyo.
The issue enveloped Sony and hurt its brand image just as the Japanese company had begun turning around its consumer-electronics business. In September, Sony initiated a global replacement program for its lithium-ion batteries used in laptop computers. Last week it said the recall will cut its July-September quarterly earnings by about $430 million when it reports results tomorrow.
Until yesterday, company executives hadn't provided a full explanation of the battery problem, which spawned concerns about whether there was an overall decline in Sony's manufacturing capabilities.
"We would like to apologize for the worry that we've caused," said Yutaka Nakagawa, Sony's corporate executive officer, as he bowed slightly. "I take the matter seriously and I want to complete the battery-replacement program as quickly as possible to wipe away concerns." Mr. Nakagawa said the battery problem was an isolated incident, and he stood by Sony's overall quality of manufacturing.
Sony stopped short of offering comment from its top executives, Chief Executive Howard Stringer or President Ryoji Chubachi. The company said no executive would resign over the recall.
While apologizing, Sony maintained that lithium-ion batteries overheat and catch fire in rare instances that depend on how they are set up for recharging. The battery is typically charged via the computer, which is connected to an electrical cord.
Sony didn't explain why it was the only battery maker with problems.