When the clock strikes April 1st, 2012, Sony Manufacturing Systems, a division of Sony which makes factory equipment, will be absorbed by Sony EMCS which manufactures the company’s television sets. The move which will also result in a loss of a 100 contract workers and the shutting down of factories is designed to help Sony cut costs in TV manufacturing and bring back some much needed profits to the companies Bravia line.

With some big changes taking place behind the scenes of Sony’s TV manufacturing operations, many within the industry also expected Sony to make some formal announcements. However, as it turns out, this is not the case and the company has no plans for an announcement.

 “I am sorry if we have given the mistaken impression that there is going to be some big announcement,” Kato said of the TV unit restructuring. “We are not thinking of doing that.” 

Sony, who is currently hurting for profits from its television division, has also been in a bitter rivalry with Samsung, the South Korean giant. Samsung said last week it expected to beat consensus forecasts for the July-September quarter. Things for Sony, however are not nearly as rosy.

 “Looking at Europe and North America overall, the outlook is murky,” Kato said. “We don’t see any reasons for optimism.” 

Sony, who currently shares some manufacturing operations with Samsung, is looking to further itself from its now-main rival while looking for some new partners. Sony, Toshiba, and Hitachi have already formed a partnership for smaller LCD productions which power cameras and smartphones. Could the three companies also team up for TV manufacturing as well? If this means bringing some much need profits to Sony’s already battered bottom-line, then let’s hope so.

[Via Reuters]