Tohoku Epson to Begin Construction on a ¥5.1-Billion Inkjet Printhead Production Plant

PRESS ROOM

12 Jun

Written By Debbie Mckeegan

Epson invests to quadruple future printhead production capacity

TOKYO, Japan, June 12, 2024 – Tohoku Epson Corporation, a Group company of Seiko Epson Corporation (TSE: 6724, "Epson"), will invest approximately ¥5.1 billion in constructing a new factory dedicated to inkjet printheads.

A ground-breaking ceremony was held today for the new facility, which will be situated on Tohoku Epson premises.

Construction is set to commence on June 15, 2024, with an expected completion date in September 2025. This strategic investment aims to approximately quadruple Tohoku Epson’s existing printhead production capacity.

Epson’s printing solutions business offers products and services grounded in original Micro Piezo inkjet technology to a diverse market, including office, home, commercial, and industrial sectors.

With current growth trends in high-speed office units and sustained demand for high-capacity ink tank printers in emerging markets and North America, Epson anticipates robust global demand for inkjet printers.

Commercial and industrial inkjet printer demand is surging as industries transition from analog to digital printing, especially in areas beyond paper, such as digital textile printing.

Many of these printers utilize PrecisionCore MicroTFP printheads*, known for their flexibility and adaptability across various applications.

Epson aims to further the adoption of PrecisionCore printheads in commercial, industrial, and high-speed multifunction printers. The company is committed to enhancing its printhead sales business to drive inkjet innovation and broaden digital printing applications, which have a significantly lower environmental impact than traditional printing. Epson is open to collaborations with partners bringing fresh ideas and technologies, aiming to expand the potential of PrecisionCore technology through open innovation.

Tohoku Epson has been producing printheads since 1995 and started volume production of PrecisionCore printheads in June 2013 using a fully automated assembly line. The facility has developed extensive expertise in printhead production, bolstering its competitive advantage as a domestic manufacturing site.

Seiko Epson's Hirooka Office in Nagano Prefecture will increase the production of micro-TFP print chips over the next three years. The new Tohoku Epson factory will support this increase and, along with the newly completed Akita Epson Building No. 10, will enhance domestic back-end process production capacity.

To ensure stable production, Tohoku Epson will allocate different models to each of its two sites in the Tohoku region. Both sites will maintain flexible production lines for popular models and shared lines to adapt to production fluctuations, thereby strengthening the product lineup for inkjet printers equipped with PrecisionCore printheads.

The new factory will incorporate an innovative process to save manpower and space, employing automated transfer robots and an efficient layout to minimize in-process inventory and reduce personnel workload. This initiative addresses manufacturing industry challenges and aims to create a future-oriented, efficient, and worker-friendly factory.

This project marks the first new building at Tohoku Epson since the construction of a semiconductor fabrication facility in 1997. The company will take measures to limit noise and ensure safety during the construction period, including pouring the concrete floor in winter to shorten the timeline. As a corporate citizen rooted in the local community, Tohoku Epson is dedicated to contributing to the development and harmony of the area.