Epson is set to transform its business model by leveraging its printer manufacturing expertise to enter the robotics and industrial inkjet sectors. The company aims to expand its precision processing technology across the manufacturing landscape, targeting the business-to-business (B2B) market.
Junichi Yoshida, President of Seiko Epson, stated at a press conference on September 22 marking the 30th anniversary of Epson Korea, "Epson is evolving from a mere manufacturer of office and home equipment into a precision engineering technology company. We plan to expand our business into various B2B sectors, including manufacturing and healthcare, based on next-generation robotics technology."
According to industry reports, Epson's inkjet printers are projected to surpass cumulative global sales of 100 million units by 2024, maintaining a market share of 34.1%. Despite a shift towards paperless office environments, the global printer market is expected to grow steadily from $78.5 billion in 2025 to $129.8 billion by 2035, with an average annual growth rate of 5.2%.
However, Epson has set a goal to increase the share of its total revenue from the industrial B2B sector from 33% to 50% by 2035. The company also aims to boost the operating profit contribution from its high-value manufacturing solutions from 45% to 70%.
To achieve these objectives, Epson plans to invest a substantial 280 billion yen (approximately $2.5 billion) in key growth areas such as precision innovation and industrial robotics as part of its first medium-term management plan, which will be implemented by 2028. The strategy includes improving fixed cost structures and redesigning supply chains to achieve a return on invested capital (ROIC) of over 8% and a return on sales (ROS) of over 8%, establishing a high-profit structure centered on B2B operations.
Yoshida emphasized, "Although we are often perceived as a printer and projector company, we are ready to address societal challenges and build a sustainable growth structure based on our 'small, precise' technology capabilities."
Epson identifies precision control technology based on force sensors as a key element in its robotics initiative. By integrating these sensors with SCARA and six-axis robots, the company aims to automate assembly and processing tasks that require delicate force adjustments akin to human fingertips. Additionally, Epson plans to enhance the capabilities of its robots by incorporating physical AI.
Beyond robotics, Epson is accelerating its expansion into core component areas. The company reports that its semiconductor-level micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) precision processing technology, used in inkjet printer head production, is already evolving into industrial spraying and coating solutions. Furthermore, Epson is extending its reach into the timing device sector, a critical component for AI data centers and high-speed communication servers.
Korea serves as a key hub where the results of Epson's transformation strategy are becoming evident. Last year, Epson Korea achieved sales of 227.6 billion won, a 28% increase from the previous year, with the industrial robotics sector growing by 124% and driving performance.
Jun Morohushi, President of Epson Korea, remarked, "Over the past 30 years, we have aligned Epson's engineering capabilities with the technological changes in Korea, connecting them to industrial value. We will continue to support productivity improvements in Korean industries and create new value based on our unique precision technology."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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