PRINT.IT
35
GRAPHICS ARTS
Like other printer companies,
OKI Systems UK is relying on
innovation and diversification for
future growth.
At a dealer event held late
last summer, managing director
Takaaki Hagiwara said: “OKI’s future
vision is based on growth through
diversification. This is only possible
through innovation. What makes OKI
stand out in the printer market is
this commitment to innovation. Our
development of LED technology is
one of the great successes of this
approach. Our vision is to meet our
goals through a strategy designed
to stimulate and sustain sales
performance.”
To this end, as well as continuing
to expand its office print offering
with high definition colour LED
devices, printer-based solutions and
managed print services (MPS), OKI
will be exploring and developing new
markets, including graphic arts and
professional printing.
The first fruits of this approach
were revealed in October, both at a
corporate level, when OKI announced
that it had acquired the wide format
division of Japan’s Seiko Group, and
locally with the unveiling of a new
narrow format label printer and a
new sub-brand for graphics arts (GA)
devices.
Wide format division
On October 1 2015, OKI Data
Corporation completed the
acquisition of the wide format
printer business of Seiko I Infotech
Inc. (SIIT), a subsidiary of Seiko
Instruments Inc. (SII), and set up OKI
Data Infotech Corporation. As part
of the agreement, OKI subsidiaries
acquired the wide format printer
business and assets of SII’s
European and US group companies.
Takao Hiramoto, President of
OKI Data Corporation, claims the
acquisition will help OKI expand
into the professional print market
with ColorPainter inkjet-based wide
format graphics devices and the
Teriostar range of
LED-based engineering printers.
He said: “Through this acquisition,
we have not only acquired a portfolio
of wide format inkjet printers for
signs and LED graphic plotters, but
also the corresponding technologies,
development resources and sales
channels. By offering one-stop
printing solutions targeting the
printing, distribution and retail
industry sectors, we will strengthen
our printer business in the
professional printer market.”
Narrow format printing
At the same time, OKI announced
a new application of its core colour
LED technology that will enable it
to pursue new opportunities in the
short-run label printing market.
Providing reel-to-reel and cut-sheet
label printing, OKI’s modular label
printer, to be launched in January
2016, presents new opportunities
and revenue streams for high street
print shops and small print houses,
whilst also enabling end user
organisations to bring label printing
in-house.
OKI Systems UK Marketing
Director Graham Lowes said: “OKI
toner technology gives us a lot more
flexibility with the type of substrates we
can print on. The white toner product
especially opens up new applications
where you can start printing on clear
OKI diversifies for growth
LED specialist acquires Seiko’s wide format inkjet business, launches
new label printer and targets graphics market with new sub-brand
labels and get good imagery on gold
and silver labels as well. It really does
open up new market opportunities for
this type of product.
“This is going to be key for short-
run markets where variable data is
important and for industries that
have short, customised runs where
using traditional print technologies
involves huge amounts of time and
cost in setting up the device and
doing a relatively short print run.”
Graphics expansion
The graphics arts (GA) market is
another area of interest. Two years
ago, OKI re-invigorated its presence
in this market with the introduction of
a new four- and five-station A3 colour
engine. It now plans to build on this
and generate further growth with the
launch of the Pro Series sub-brand
for the GA market.
Lowes says that OKI is introducing
the Pro Series sub-brand to
differentiate its GA products from its C
series of IT devices and to strengthen
its offering for proofing and light
production and on-demand printing by
commercial printers and advertising,
design and creative agencies.
“What we want to do with this
product range is to move into the
short-run, lower production space and
offer a higher contract volume click
on the engine so we can start bringing
in even more competitive click pricing
at the high volume stages,” he said.
The Pro Series includes the
Pro9541 (previously the ES9541),
which can print a fifth spot colour
(white or clear gloss) in addition to the
four process colours; the five-colour
Pro9542 (previously the ES9542),
which can print full colour plus white
toner in a single pass onto substrates
for use on glass, leather, fabrics and
plastics; and the Pro9431 50ppm
High Definition A3 colour printer.
The latter is also available in a
version for medium-to-large office
workgroups. The newly launched
C911 dn is up to 40% faster than
its nearest rivals and can print High
Definition 1200 x 1200dpi colour
output onto A3 media up to 360gsm
(320gsm duplex).
