01732 759725 COVER STORY 36 10 years · I00 issues Sharp Corporation commemorated its 110th anniversary in September this year. 2022 also saw Sharp UK celebrate an incredible 50 years of printer innovation within its document business and a new range of colour and monochrome MFPs. To top it off, the company is ending the year on a high after scooping several wins at the 2022 PrintIT Awards 110 years of global innovation and workplace transformation first all transistor calculator in 1964. In 2000, Sharp delivered an industry-first camera-equipped mobile phone and 2019 saw the launch of the first commercially available 8k monitor. Today, Sharp also offers a leading range of Plasmacluster air purification and humidification products. Sharp’s history has not only been filled with product innovation, but the development of the brand, its people, dealer support and portfolio. All of which have played a role in shaping the company today. Transformation over stagnation The pandemic accelerated a transformation in the workplace and the technology needed to support it. Whilst this change created simplifications in workplace technology, it also created complexity. As the wants and needs of customers shifted, Sharp UK has proactively invested in extending its range of products and services, to continue to make technology easy for customers and dealer partners alike. The acquisition of Dynabook created an offering of award-winning laptops, ideally suited for the hybrid workplace. Sharp met customers’ demands with a recently announced joint venture with NEC, which lead to a 500% increase in its display business in Europe. Sharp also extended its offerings to IT services in 2019, with the acquisition of Complete I.T., continuing its journey to become a full-service technology partner. Engineering 50 years of print Innovation is in the very DNA of Sharp, and since the launch of the Sharp SF-201 wet-toner copier way back in 1972, it has continued to innovate in the printer space. Sharp’s very first copier used the Electrofax (EF) method, where paper is given a static electric charge before being exposed to light reflected from the original document. As the pace of technological change accelerated, the 1980s marked the introduction of the SF-750 – the first model to utilise an OPC (Organic Photoconductor) sheet. The 1990s saw Sharp continue to add functionality to its copiers, including unique advanced mechanism RDH (recirculating document handler), an air-feeding mechanism, electronic sort function, fax, and network printing functions to support changing ways of working and the digital world. In 1912, Tokuji Hayakawa established a metalworking shop in Tokyo, inventing the ‘Ever-Ready Sharp Pencil’ in 1915 – a twist-type mechanical pencil that would become the origin of the Sharp brand. Fast-forward 110 years, Sharp is today an expert in innovation and continues its commitment to developing unique products and solutions. Its continued success is fuelled by a history of innovations, a forward-thinking portfolio, acquisitions, and a growing workforce driving transformation. Following a significant acquisition in 2019, Sharp UK supports its customers with workplace solutions, centred around managed print and IT services. This has paved the way for significant growth potential for the company, supported by a team of over 700 dedicated and innovative minds. Building a brand Over the years, Sharp has introduced several world-firsts. As one of the world’s largest photovoltaic manufacturers, Sharp is the driving force behind the use of such technologies globally. The manufacturer introduced the world’s www.sharp.co.uk
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