Electronics parts manufacturer Toko, Inc. is expanding its HD Radio test and certification facility based in the Tokyo area.
Toko Senior General Manager, Automotive Electronics, Norio Uchida said the company is expanding its digital radio efforts because “this past year, we have seen a significant increase in the number of products featuring HD Radio technology and we have insight into the fact that this pattern will continue on into the foreseeable future.”
Over the past 12 months there has been an increase in HD Radio product development by Japan-based companies such as Alpine, Aisin, Clarion, Fujistu-Ten, Denon, Marantz, Mitsubishi Electric, Onkyo, Panasonic, Pioneer, Sanyo, Sony and Yamaha, among others, according to Toko and iBiquity. Product categories are across the OEM, auto aftermarket and consumer electronics segments. Toko and iBiquity point to product development increases driving growth of HD Radio Technology in North America — not just in the United States — but also in Mexico, where, as we’ve reported, HD Radio will be formally launched in the consumer market April 16.
Through its HD Radio technology certification test laboratories, Toko has been a resource for product manufacturers introducing new HD Radio enabled consumer electronics products since 2004. The expansion is in the form of a second full service test and certification bench, which will effectively double the number of HD Radio enabled products that can be tested and certified by Toko each year, according to the company and iBiquity Digital Corp. iBiquity works closely with the Toko engineering team and is pleased about the expansion, according to iBiquity COO Jeff Jury, who said: “It gives us great confidence to know that a firm of the quality of Toko is working with our licensed partners in Japan.”
