Japanese equipment manufacturer Inspec (TSE: 6656) announced a series of strategic developments this month, including large-scale inspection equipment orders tied to the AI boom and a company-wide starting salary increase aimed at strengthening talent acquisition.

On April 28, Inspec reported it had received multiple major orders from domestic clients for roll-to-roll inspection systems and visual inspection equipment, with a total contract value of approximately ¥370 million. The systems are designed to meet demand fueled by the rise of generative AI smartphones, and will be used to inspect flexible printed circuits (FPCs) and precision parts used in advanced AI semiconductor devices and production lines.

Delivery is scheduled for the fiscal year ending April 2026 (FY2026), meaning the orders will not impact FY2025 earnings. Inspec said it discloses any single order exceeding 10% of its full-year revenue forecast as a major contract. Following the announcement, the company’s shares saw strong buying interest after the market closed on April 28.

Earlier this month, on April 9, Inspec revealed another large order from an overseas customer, involving multiple semiconductor packaging substrate inspection systems and related equipment. The contract is valued at over ¥780 million, including ¥230 million that was already booked in February 2025. Delivery is also expected to take place in or after FY2026. Inspec noted that the deal reflects growing infrastructure demand from the rapid expansion of AI data centers, driven by breakthroughs in generative AI and large-scale data processing needs.

In addition to the strong business momentum, Inspec also announced a starting salary increase effective May 1, 2025, for new employees joining from that date onward. The revised monthly salaries are as follows:

 ● Master’s graduates: ¥260,000 (up from ¥238,300, +9.1%)

 ● University graduates: ¥240,000 (up from ¥218,300, +9.9%)

 ● Junior college graduates: ¥210,000 (up from ¥188,300, +11.5%)

 ● High school graduates: ¥190,000 (up from ¥168,300, +12.9%)

Inspec stated the move is part of a broader effort to invest in human capital, improve employee engagement, and strengthen its organizational capacity to support sustainable long-term growth.