Ricoh launches into the commercial print market

New worldwide production printing business to unveil the first of a new line of printers at drupa, the Pro C900 colour engine.

Taking the stage at the international media conference in Düsseldorf this week, Ricoh declared its intention to become a major player in the commercial production printing market, which it predicts will grow to Euro 12 billion by 2013. It showcased its range of printing devices suitable for the high-end of the market, including the colour capable high-speed essential mail engine, InfoPrint 5000 and the InfoPrint 4100, which it has acquired by virtue of the InfoPrint joint venture with IBM.

Central to the campaign to enter the commercial printing market is the new Ricoh Pro brand, which will eventually nominate all the high-end machines, especially after 2010 when the Japanese-owned company translates its 51 per cent of InfoPrint into total ownership. The first of the new breed of engines, the Pro C900 and C900S (the latter model includes a scanner), are 90 page per minute, 1200 dpi production machines.

They are positioned in a crowded market up against Fuji Xerox and Konica Minolta offerings while flying below the radar of the heavy duty Kodak and HP machines and the iGen3. Ricoh is basing the value differentiation on its widespread service and sales network, which it maintains is the largest by far in the industry. The company consists of total of 322 operating companies worldwide.

Ricoh’s determination to enter the market commercial production printing market cannot be discounted. It already has a substantial and sometimes a leading position in the office copier and MFP markets. Following the takeover of Hitachi’s printing division, its joint venture with IBM and last year the buyout of Danka in Europe to increase its channel footprint, Ricoh is making all the right moves to be a serious competitor.