Epson 2008 Annual Report Download - page 12

20 Seiko Epson Corporation
21Annual Report 2008
In the inkjet printer business, Epson is leveraging its
Micro Piezo technology in the business and industrial
printing domains where high market growth is
anticipated. The Company introduced in the fiscal
year under review an Epson branded product for
business̶the Epson Stylus Pro 11880̶a 64-inch
wide large-format inkjet printer with a next-
generation high-speed print head.
Market for Large-Format Inkjet Printers
In recent years, the large-format inkjet printer market
has seen demand not only for mainstay printing
applications such as graphics and technical
drawings, but increasingly for business and industrial
applications such as product package proofs and
remote proofs. In these growth fields, the requirement
is for high-speed printers with high image quality
and durability, as well as the ability to print with
short turnaround times.
Epson Stylus Pro 11880 with Next-Generation
High-Speed Micro Piezo Thin-Film Print Head
Leveraging resolution and durability and other
traditional strengths of Epsons large format printers,
Epson demonstrates its competitive edge, especially
in graphics printing. However, to improve its future
competitiveness in growth markets, Epson believed
that a technology capable of printing at higher
speeds was needed. In March 2007, Epson
announced the development of a product equipped
with a next-generation, high-speed Micro Piezo
thin-film print head.
The Epson Stylus Pro 11880, a printer for the
business and industrial printing domains, was the
first equipped with the new print head. Thanks to its
360 dpi nozzle density, which is twice the density of
conventional print heads, the new print head offers
a further improvement in the firing of ink droplets
and the accuracy of droplet aim. As a result, Epson
printers deliver high image quality, durability and
speed that are competitive in markets where short
print turnaround times are required.
Future Directions
In large-format printers, Epson will maintain its
superiority in image quality and durability while
expanding applications by further improving inkjet
speed and increasing the number of inks and the
range of media that can be used. Having positioned
the new Micro Piezo thin-film print head as a core
technology, Epson will broadly promote its use in
business and industrial printing domains going
forward.
Page printers
Epson page printers are marketed as devices that meet
the wide-ranging needs of business customers office-
based and other working groups. Because of continuing
price competition, Epson is expanding sales of high
value-added models tailored to each region based on a
strategy that emphasizes profitability.
Business systems
Business systems primarily comprise serial impact dot
matrix (SIDM) printers and POS system products, which
include printers for POS applications. Epson offers a
rich lineup of business system products that are high in
quality and durability and that enjoy high market
recognition. The main applications for SIDM printers are
in situations requiring the printing of continuous business
forms and duplicates, as well as for such specialized
office applications as banking services and the printing
of tax forms. Point-of-sale (POS) printers are used to
print receipts, coupons, labels and tickets. Not only
does Epson sell standalone printers, but it also sells
them bundled with POS systems to meet specific
customer needs.
Epsons strategy for business systems in the above-
mentioned fields is to develop new forms of business
while promoting stable expansion. This will be achieved
by steadily meeting demand for tax-related systems
associated with the introduction of new tax systems or
changes to existing tax systems in each country, and by
procuring demand for POS systems in the wake of new
IT investments. With the trust, market visibility and rich
product lineup that it has built up in existing fields, Epson
will continue to offer products suited to the needs of
business and industry by proposing solutions that solve
potential customer problems. Epson is steadily
expanding its business with new printers equipped with
color coupon printing capabilities, such as those used
by Catalina Marketing Corporation, which were
introduced in the Companys 2007 annual report.
Visual Instruments Business
3LCD projectors
The market for business-use projectors has spread
beyond traditional applications and is now expanding
into educational fields in many countries and regions.
Home projector use is also expected to grow, with
demand centering on models offering higher resolution,
including high definition models, as well as for more
compact and lightweight models with integrated
DVD players.
As a result, in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008,
Epson was able to beat its competitors to market with
the launch of attractive products that matched customer
needs. Making use of its highly acclaimed 3LCD
technology,* Epson was able to expand sales at a level
over and above the markets rate of growth and
substantially increase its market share.
In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009, both
business and home projector sales volumes are
expected to grow by 15%. Going forward, Epson will
launch products that provide greater customer value
and that are tailored to specific regions and applications.
Epson will also take steps to improve customer
satisfaction by boosting image quality and product
durability as well as by strengthening its service support
network.
* 3LCD is a projection technology in which images are projected using three
high-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD panels. 3LCD projectors boast low
energy consumption and bright images, and are easy on the eyes.
Epson EMP-400W
(ultra-short throw multimedia
projector for education and
business)
Epson EMP-G5350
(multimedia business projector)
Launch of 64-Inch Wide Large-Format Printer with Next-Generation
High-Speed Print Head
Epson Stylus Pro 11880
Density comparison of Micro Piezo print heads and
conventional print heads
Nozzle Ink chamber
Next generation
180dpi
141 μ m
360dpi
71μm
360dpi
71μm
720dpi
35μm
180dpi
141μm
360dpi
71μm
Conventional
Next generation
Conventional
Commercial Application of Inkjet Printers in Business
Epson EMP-TW2000
(ultimate high-definition home
cinema projector)