It’s a big honour to have been invited to Germany for the first drupa in eight years. I know a lot of people have been very much looking forward to attending, although it goes without saying that the world and our industry have undergone significant changes since the previous exhibition in 2016.
We are in uncertain times. When I speak to people within Epson and outside it’s clear that many people believe the industry is at a turning point. Not only are we seeing advances in digital and other technologies, but we are facing customer demands for greater sustainability, enhanced customization and supply chain transparency. Sometimes the changes are so fast it’s difficult to stay ahead, but that’s what we must do if we are to survive and thrive.
Although we are now past the pandemic, the world is still facing some serious issues, climate change, ongoing conflicts and rising prices among them. As people have sought to enrich their lives, the focus was placed on material and economic wealth, and the drive to enrich only ourselves may have caused many of the societal issues we face today. Moving forward, therefore, I believe we should seek to enrich the entire planet, and not just ourselves. Rather than only material and economic enrichment, we should also seek spiritual and cultural enrichment.
To understand how this belief developed and became part of Epson’s corporate ethos, it’s necessary to look back at our origins. Epson began more than 80 years ago as a small watchmaking factory with nine employees deep in the Japanese countryside. Our Head Office is located about 2,5 hours from Tokyo surrounded by nature and near a large lake in the mountainous center of Japan.
The company was basically a watchmaker for the first 20 or so years, but making watches is all about creating and innovating mechanisms that save energy, and that are small and accurate. Combining these efficient, compact and precise technologies – in Japanese sho-sho-sei - with our capability in monozukuri, which we translate as the art and science of manufacturing, we gradually expanded into other markets. Eventually we developed into the leading supplier of C&I solutions that you will experience at drupa.
These days our products lineup includes items ranging from home printers, commercial and industrial printers, projectors, and industrial robots. The common thread throughout this entire lineup is sho-sho-sei, and an unshakeable commitment to protect the natural environment in which our company was founded and brought up.
To recognize the importance of this mindset in our company and to determine the path forward in uncertain times, we established our corporate purpose in 2022. This reads, “Our philosophy of efficient, compact and precise innovation enriches lives and helps create a better world.”
The pursuit of ever greater efficiency, compactness, and precision that we have embraced for so long goes well beyond technology. "Efficient, compact, and precise" encompass a philosophy for eliminating waste, reducing dimensions, and increasing precision. I believe that this approach can enable us to create even greater social value. In other words, it is the idea that less is more. We will continue to adhere to Epson's unique philosophy of efficient, compact, and precise innovation, take advantage of the tremendous value that those innovations yield to overcome global environmental problems and other societal issues, and work together to enrich people's lives and make a better world. Everything you will see and hear from Epson at drupa is aimed at bringing this about.
Armed with this purpose, it will come as no surprise that I am optimistic about the future of Epson and of the industry. The key is to not go into denial about the changes we as a company and industry are facing, and to embrace the opportunities that exist. With our sho-sho-sei philosophy and commitment to sustainability, I believe we are in a good place. I hope you can visit our stand at drupa to look at firsthand what I mean with products featured including:
- Epson’s latest industrial robust printhead, the D3000, designed for aqueous and UV ink applications
- The recently announced Surecolor SC-P20500 large format for high-quality fine art photography, posters and indoor signage, displayed for the first time at drupa.
- The new direct-to-fabric printer - Monna Lisa 13000 – a digital fabric printing solution that integrates pre- and post-processes
- The SureColor F10000 with new optional jumbo roll, Epson’s most productive dye-sublimation printer to date.
- The new additions designed for the growing personalisation and micro-production market including the new hybrid DTG/DTFilm SureColor F1000 and the A4 UV flatbed SureColor V1000.
I also hope you have the opportunity to listen to me speak on the subject of “Up Close and Personal: Printing in the Digital Age” at The Cube at 12:30 on May 28. I will take the opportunity to talk more about Epson’s Japanese origins, referencing our commitment to sustainability and how we have reinvented ourselves over the years. As the industry moves away from analogue, I will also discuss the potential for digital in C&I printing, how this is more sustainable, less wasteful and meets a growing demand for personalisation through micro-production. I will also mention recent Epson C&I case studies, and end with a look at future innovations such as Epson’s strategy of building partnerships.
We have a lot to be optimistic about. I hope to see you at drupa in May!
