A couple of weeks after announcing it would phase out laser MFPs to focus on inkjet, Epson has reopened its Fujimi Inkjet Innovation Lab with new features including direct-to-surface colour inkjet printers and new facilities for testing Epson’s inkjet printheads. In October, the company announced plans to triple its production capacity of PrecisionCore printheads.
Seiko Epson Corp. has re-equipped and reopened the Fujimi Inkjet Innovation Lab at its Fujimi Plant in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, the company announced.
“Epson sees commercial and industrial printing as a growth area,” it said. “The Fujimi Inkjet Innovation Lab, which first opened in October 2019, was created to promote the exploration of new inkjet printing applications in manufacturing in collaboration with a variety of partners.
“The re-equipped Fujimi Inkjet Innovation Lab is part of Epson’s strategy to expand applications for printhead-based solutions in new markets and to accelerate innovation in its customers’ printing and production processes," Epson said.
“The Lab has been newly outfitted with direct-to-surface colour inkjet printers along with facilities for performing tests using Epson’s inkjet printheads. Furnished also with other new facilities such as a meeting area and a studio that can broadcast a view of tests performed, the Lab is spacious, open and conducive to the growth of ideas.
“Until now used mainly for conventional printing applications, Epson’s inkjet printheads also show promise in new fields such as electronics and bioprinting. The Fujimi Inkjet Innovation Lab is equipped with inkjet machine for R&D mounted with these printheads, as well as a battery of other machines, instruments, and tools for running trial production and evaluations.
“Inkjet systems eliminate much of the waste associated with traditional production methods and are expected to transform the way companies manufacture, which is especially important given today’s increased focus on sustainability. Epson will continue to drive the creation of new value that contributes to a more sustainable world through the Fujimi Inkjet Innovation Lab and through co-creation with partners from a variety of fields.”
In October 2022, Epson announced plans to invest 3.5 billion yen ($A37 million) to build a new factory that will triple its production capacity of PrecisionCore printheads for inkjet printers to meet the predicted growth in demand.
