Ricoh Plans New Factory to Double Inkjet Printhead Production Capacity
Ricoh has announced plans to build a new factory at its Atsugi manufacturing site in Kanagawa, Japan, as part of its strategy to expand its industrial inkjet printing business and strengthen the global supply of high-quality inkjet printheads.
The new four-story facility will have a total floor area of approximately 39,000 square meters. Construction is scheduled to begin in November 2026, with completion expected in the first half of fiscal 2028.
Once operational, the new factory is expected to gradually increase Ricoh’s printhead production capacity to more than twice its current level.
Advanced Manufacturing for Industrial Inkjet Printing
The new facility will combine Ricoh’s expertise in ultra-precision manufacturing and quality engineering with automation, artificial intelligence and digital technologies. The goal is to create a next-generation manufacturing platform capable of delivering high-quality products with greater production efficiency and a more stable supply chain.
The investment comes as demand for industrial inkjet printing continues to expand across applications such as labels, packaging and textile printing. Customers are increasingly looking for short production runs, fast turnaround times, variable data and more environmentally friendly printing solutions.
At the same time, high-precision inkjet technology is expanding beyond conventional printing into functional applications, including areas such as battery manufacturing and automotive coating.
Combining Manufacturing Expertise with AI
Printhead manufacturing requires extremely precise processing, often at the micrometer level. Experienced engineers and technicians play an important role in maintaining and improving manufacturing quality.
Ricoh plans to combine this accumulated manufacturing expertise with AI and digital technologies. The company aims to create a factory where skilled workers and AI work together, helping preserve valuable manufacturing knowledge while improving production consistency and efficiency.
The new facility will also consolidate production functions currently distributed across multiple buildings at the Atsugi site. Automated production lines, digital equipment and automated material handling systems will connect manufacturing, quality control and logistics processes.
This integrated approach is designed to improve both material and information flows, allowing production to respond more flexibly to changing market demand while maintaining stable product quality.
Growing Demand for Industrial Inkjet Printheads
The global industrial inkjet printhead market is expected to continue expanding, driven by the growing adoption of digital printing in industrial applications. Along with market growth, customers are also placing greater emphasis on printhead consistency, reliability and long-term stability.
Ricoh’s investment highlights the increasing importance of printheads as a core component of modern industrial inkjet printing systems. By expanding manufacturing capacity and introducing more automated and digitally connected production processes, Ricoh aims to strengthen its ability to supply high-quality Ricoh printheads to customers worldwide.
For the industrial printing industry, continued investment in printhead manufacturing capacity also reflects the broader shift toward high-speed, flexible and digitally controlled printing technologies.
