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But like many other Japanese manufacturers, Yuasa is carving a niche for itself in advanced technology. Just over a year ago, it began construction in Ritto, Japan, of a factory that will eventually have the world's biggest capacity for lithium-ion batteries. The batteries used in the Dreamliner are built at GS Yuasa's flagship factory in Kyoto, Yamamoto said. Thales Alenia of France is providing the charger equipment, power conversion, standby flight instrument and in-flight entertainment systems. Early on, regulators acknowledged concerns over fire and overheating hazards from lithium-ion batteries, issuing special precautions for installing them to minimize risks. In a report on integrating lithium-ion batteries into aircraft systems, Thales researchers describe various protective devices and fail-safes meant to make the technology "perfectly safe." Illustrating Japan's commitment to the 787, its two main carriers, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, have been Boeing's biggest buyers for the jet, taking 24 of the 50 delivered so far. The troubles they have seen include leaked fuel and a cracked cockpit windshield. But the most alarming were the incidents involving batteries, including a fire centered in an auxiliary power unit of a Japan Airlines 787 that took firefighters 40 minutes to extinguish. GS Yuasa's Yamamoto said he was unsure how long the investigation into the problems with the 787 would take. Each day will likely hurt. The company's share price sank another 5 percent on Thursday and is approaching a 52-week low. Officials of both the Federal Aviation Administration and Japan's aviation authority say they want clear assurances the aircraft can be operated safely before they will allow it to fly. "This will not be decided by us. The Transport Ministry is in charge," Yamamoto said. "But I don't think this is going to be a matter of just a few days. Not quite so soon."
[Associated
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