We see India as a key focus market: Koji Miyao of Ricoh

Rahul Kumar (RK): How has your company's installation number and customer base evolved throughout 2024? What is your outlook for 2025, specifically in the Indian market?

Koji Miyao (KM): Our global financial year ends in March, and we anticipate a revenue growth of over 20% compared to last year. This growth is primarily driven by demand in North America, Europe, China, and Thailand. India is also experiencing significant growth, and we see it as a key focus market. Our main strategy in India is targeting two segments: commercial printers who have offset printing presses and are adding digital capabilities, and businesses that are starting with 100% digital printing from the outset.

RK: Which has been your most popular machine in India over the past 12 months, and why?

KM: The Ricoh Pro C7500 has been our best-selling machine in India. It is a new-generation machine that we launched about a year ago. The C7500 stands out for its enhanced media handling capabilities, supporting paper from 40-gsm to over 400-gsm, and its ability to print on uneven surfaces. The improved image quality and ease of operation have made it a preferred choice for our customers.

RK: The Indian printing industry predominantly uses CMYK. Why not RGB or RYB?

KM: It’s not specific to India. The global printing industry has long standardised CMYK for print production, as it provides consistency across various applications. RGB is mainly used for digital screens and electronic displays, whereas CMYK remains the preferred choice for physical print due to its colour accuracy and suitability for paper-based media.

RK: How many units of the Ricoh Pro C7500 have been installed in India?

KM: Since we began installations in early 2024, around 70 units have been deployed. However, demand is high, and production capacity at our factory is struggling to keep up.

RK: How do you see the overall demand for digital print in India?

KM: The Indian market is unique in that both digital and offset printing are growing simultaneously. In markets like Europe, offset is declining while digital is increasing, but India is witnessing growth in both segments. This makes India a very attractive market for us.

RK: With the industry shifting towards digital printing, how is Ricoh adapting to this trend while ensuring the continued relevance of offset printing?

KM: Ricoh has been at the forefront of digital transformation. We focus on three key areas: enhancing our digital print engines for better quality and efficiency; expanding our workflow solutions to optimise production; and supporting customers in managing the transition from offset to digital by providing hybrid solutions.

We also have five customer experience centres worldwide, including one in Thailand, where we demonstrate digital applications and educate print service providers.

RK: Is there any plan to open a customer experience Centre in India?

KM: Not at the moment. Thailand was chosen due to its accessibility and ease of travel for visitors from various countries. However, we continue to support our Indian customers through our local teams and technical collaborations.

RK: As demand grows for shorter print runs and personalisation, how is Ricoh innovating to meet these changing requirements?

KM: There are three key strategies: enhancing our digital press capabilities to support more applications and media types; developing workflow solutions to improve turnaround times and operational efficiency; and assisting print businesses in managing increased order volumes by leveraging IT-driven automation and digital infrastructure.

RK: Sustainability is becoming a critical aspect of manufacturing. How is Ricoh incorporating sustainable practices in its digital printing solutions?

KM: Sustainability is a major focus for us. We are increasing the use of recycled materials in our hardware, with recycled content reaching up to 40%. Additionally, digital printing inherently consumes less energy and generates less waste compared to offset. We are also developing software solutions to track and optimise carbon footprint, helping customers make more environmentally conscious choices.

RK: Have you observed any sustainability initiatives among Ricoh’s digital press users in India?

KM: Some customers are adopting sustainable practices, but large-scale initiatives such as using renewable energy for printing operations are more common in markets like Europe, Japan, and Australia. In India, digital printing itself is a more sustainable option compared to traditional offset due to reduced waste and lower chemical usage.

RK: Partnerships are crucial for industry growth. Can you share any recent developments in your partnership with Monotech?

KM: Monotech has been a strong partner for Ricoh in India. Beyond sales, we collaborate closely on customer success, ensuring strong ROI for businesses investing in Ricoh solutions. We also focus on after-sales service enhancements through ongoing training programs and cloud-based knowledge-sharing platforms. Our technical teams in Japan and Monotech’s support teams in India conduct monthly reviews to address service challenges and improve response times.

RK: Can we expect an improvement in service response times in the next six months?

KM: Yes, we are actively working on reducing service downtime and enhancing support systems. Monthly reviews and continuous training are helping us improve service efficiency.