SATO announces establishment of Knowledge and Intellectual Property Institute in Tokyo, Japan

Singapore, March 01, 2007, SATO, a pioneer in the Automatic Identification and Data Collection (AIDC) industry and a leader in barcode printing, labelling, and EPC /RFID solutions, announced today the establishment of SATO Knowledge and Intellectual Property Institute, a subsidiary company, in Tokyo, Japan. The new company is scheduled to start operation on the April 2, 2007.

The company will be a profit-making enterprise that will focus on developing and managing SATO’s intellectual properties, including knowledge within SATO such as its unique business model, and domains of expertise from marketing, to operations to financial management and other invaluable know-how. The objective of the company is to manage intellectual properties, to use and protect them as business resources and to enhance SATO Group’s corporate value. The company will also drive collaboration and facilitate knowledge transfer. Practically this means sharing of good ideas, R&D results, skills and experience between the companies and the wider community to enable innovative new products and services to be developed.
The new company will be incorporated as a 100% subsidiary of SATO Corporation. It will be headed by the President & COO, Mr. Masanori Otsuka.


About SATO
SATO is a pioneer in the Automatic Identification and Data Collection (AIDC) industry and
the inventor of the world’s first electronic thermal transfer barcode printer. It revolutionised the barcoding industry by introducing the Data Collection System (DCS) & Labelling concept – a total barcode and labelling solution providing high quality barcode printers, scanners/hand-held terminals, label design software and consumables. SATO is one of the first in the industry to introduce a complete, multi-protocol EPC-compliant, UHF RFID solution.

SATO is publicly listed on the first section of Tokyo Stock Exchange in Japan. It has worldwide offices in the United States, Belgium, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Poland, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and China. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, it reported revenues of US$587 million. More information about SATO Corporation can be found at www.sato.co.jp/english


About SATO International
SATO’s international global headquarters, SATO International Pte. Ltd is located in Singapore. Previously an international division, it was incorporated as a holding company in Singapore in 2001 to oversee the sales, marketing and customer services activities of all its Group Member Companies. More information about SATO International can be found at www.satoworldwide.com


Contact:
Junko Ono
Manager, Communications & Business Planning
SATO International PTE. LTD.
438A, Alexandra Road #05-01/04
Alexandra Technopark
Singapore 119967
Tel: (65) 6271-2122
Fax: (65) 6271-2151
Email: junko.ono@sato-int.com