Ricoh, from a university startup to a printer brand known everywhere

Present in many private homes and offices, Ricoh printers are a common presence when the need is to have economical and quality printing.

But where did it all start? What does Ricoh's proposal for our country consist of? What more should we expect from this prestigious brand? Let's find out together!

Ricoh, it all started from a university startup

We are in 1936, and well ahead of the rest of the world, Japanese university culture is already business-oriented. Ricoh was born exactly like this, like a modern startup launched on the sidelines of a research institute.

This institute is the Riken (Chemical and Physical Research Institute), a facility located in the municipality of Ota, Japan. In fact, Riken decides to commercialize the fruits of its research and discoveries. To do this, he founded Ricoh's progenitor, a "sui generis" company, called Rikagaku Kogyo , which was founded in 1927. The success of this company's products was immediately positive, but among the various products there is one that garners the majority of consensus and orders: sensitized paper.

The business possibilities relating to this product do not remain unrealized and unexplored and it is decided to proceed with a new split, with the aim of creating a new company that deals only with this . We are in 1936 and on February 6 of this year Riken Kankoshi Co., Ltd. was born, a true precursor of Ricoh.

The director of this new company is that he will manage it for over 30 years. Thirty is also the number of employees who took care of what would later become Ricoh from the beginning.

The founder

Mr. Kiyoshi Ichimura will not be a sole manager of this company, but will represent its soul for its subsequent years, up to the current date, thanks to three Founding Principles which are still Ricoh's mantra today. Principles known as "the spirit of the three loves" for a concept that came out "from the confines" of Ricoh to permeate the entire Japanese spirit prostrated by the effects of the Second World War.

These are the principles of the spirit of the three loves:

“Love your neighbor”,

“Love your country”,

“Love your job.”

The objective of the three principles is to help every employee of the company grow in each of the important areas of their life, from the business to the personal and family aspects. Consequently, the application of the same leads to the growth of the company in every aspect, starting from the fundamental one of the business, up to the no less important one of continuous innovation and customer service.

The three principles were the guiding star of the newly formed Ricoh for continuous growth divided into various successive phases.

The first phase of the growth of the brand that will become Ricoh is focused on the main business, that of sensitized paper. But the company is too dynamic and eager to improve to stop at a single product

Ricoh camera

In fact, a few years were enough before the expansion of Ricoh products. In 1950, the group's first camera, the Ricohflex Model III, was presented. The technological project is combined with innovation in the production process. Ricoh in fact invents "chain production", allowing the production of approximately 10,000 pieces per month. The high productivity, combined with reduced costs immediately brought the camera to the success it deserves, projecting Ricoh to be a protagonist in another sector after that of sensitized paper, for a range of products that will remain over time.

Ricoh photocopiers

Ricoh's main business is still sensitized paper, so why not create and produce the machine that uses it? With this idea in mind, Ricopy 101 was born, the first of a long series of office photocopiers from the Ricoh brand. We are in the year 1953 and this product also achieves great success in the Japanese business market in a very short time.

Ricoh becomes Ricoh

With three successful product categories hitting the market, it's time to get serious. So the company changes its name, also to prepare for the inevitable internationalization. He did so in 1963, choosing as his new name the one that would remain definitive over time: Ricoh Company Ltd.

The "renaming" also becomes an opportunity to celebrate the 10 billion Yen sales achieved in just three years and to make a new "zero point" from which to achieve even more ambitious goals.

Internalisation

The name change and the success found in the country of origin lead Ricoh to an internalization process that will continue over the years. The expansion towards external markets began in the 1960s, with the opening of three new offices: Ricoh Europe in Switzerland, Ricoh USA and Taiwan Ricoh Co. Ltd.

The first electrostatic photocopier

Not only business but also technical innovation characterized and saved Ricoh's 60s. The change in the corporate structure, combined with a rapidly changing market, have in fact taken away from Ricoh the supremacy that allowed the brand to develop in its first 20 years of history.

An ingenious product created by the brand saves the situation . In fact, in 1965 the Ricopy BS-1 was presented, the first desktop photocopier in the world, which thanks to its construction structure allows copying from many originals. The BS-1 does not only photocopy sheets of paper, but is capable of photocopying any type of material.

The success of this product is disruptive and brings the Ricoh brand back to the top all over the world.

The Ricoh watch

The 60s were those of experimentation with new businesses for Ricoh. In fact, in these years the first watch was launched, created in partnership with Hamilton. The success of this new type of product will be discreet and will allow Ricoh to enter a new niche throughout the 60s and 70s.

But the core business is not abandoned.

Despite many experiments, Ricoh does not forget its main business and the reason why it is known throughout the world, the copying and printing sector. The 60s and 70s were therefore years of great innovations for this brand, which designed and produced some products that would make the history of the sector.

Ricoh's first computer

The theme of "office electronics" remains at the center of Ricoh's attention and the brand decides to also enter the IT niche. In fact, in 1971, in collaboration with TDK, it presented Ricom 8, an office computer with exceptional performance (for the period) and a form factor that was highly appreciated by the market and users.

But not only that, the 70s also saw Ricoh's creation of the PPC900, the first dry electrostatic transfer photocopier on plain paper.

Ricoh then also enters the fax transmission sector, demonstrating its technical capabilities thanks to a successful transmission between Tokyo and New York.

80s

The first part of the 80s saw Ricoh as an absolute protagonist in the world of printing. In fact, the Japanese brand presents, in sequence, some of the photocopiers and faxes that will make the history of office IT:

• the Ricopy DT1200, a wet plain paper machine, which will become the best-selling photocopier in the world;

• Ricopy FT4060, first powder toner photocopier for plain paper;

• the RICOH LP4120 laser printer;

• the first plain paper fax the Rifax 1300;

• the Color5000, the first analog color copier;

• and the first digital office copier IMAGIO 320.

Many developments, which however do not totally absorb the production and innovative capabilities of the group, which are also destined for electronics for the gaming sector.

Ricoh will in fact become an electronic supplier for gaming systems developed by Nintendo (Nintendo Entertainment System) and Sega (Genesis console).

90's

The last decade of the millennium still sees Ricoh at the forefront, with important innovations in each of the group's product lines:

In the photocopier sector, Ricoh presents its first digital copier, the Artage 8000.

As for the camera sector, the brand's first digital camera, the DC-1, is presented and makes its debut on American soil with moderate success.

Ricoh also embraces new technologies, starting to produce CD-RWs under its own brand in 1996.

Beyond the products , Ricoh makes a major shift in its relationship with customers. In 1994 the brand launched a remote diagnostic service for photocopiers in Japan.

This will lead Ricoh to insist on the theme of customer support, making it predominant in the group's business logic every year.

2000s

Ricoh's innovation continues, with new models being introduced and updated over time. Among the new products we find the introduction of the Imagio series, for a product that will remain current and updated until today.

Ricoh then presents

also its first 3D printer, the RICOH AM S5500P.

Other brands

Ricoh's product is not only released on the market with its main brand, but is also present in some markets with the Lanier brand, a company totally owned by the Japanese brand, and in Europe with the jointly owned brand called Danka Business Systems PLC.

Besides Lanier, another brand owned by Ricoh is Pentax, which was founded in 2011.

Acquisitions and collaborations

Ricoh's growth strategy is also implemented through acquisitions, collaborations and alliances, the major of which are:

• Acquisition of Hitachi Printing Solutions, Ltd. (renamed Ricoh Printing Systems, Ltd.) as a first step toward entering the production printing industry.

• Establishment of a global strategic alliance with Heidelberg in the field of graphic arts.

• Purchase of IBM Printing Systems Division and creation of a new subsidiary of Ricoh called InfoPrint Solutions Company.

• Partnership with Cisco Systems.

Ricoh's current proposal

After more than 80 years of history and 40,000 patents, Ricoh's strategy is now defined, albeit continuously innovated. To date, Ricoh is mainly active in these sectors:

• Electronic and IT solutions for the office. From printers to smart working systems, up to the small daily innovations fundamental for the correct management of offices.

• IT services. Network infrastructures and cloud services, but also management of printing processes and data security.

• Commercial and industrial printing, not only in the documentary sector, but also in the sectors of industrial printing, visual communication, interior decoration and fabric printing.

Not just sales

The Ricoh Group has sales and support, manufacturing and research and development operations in nearly 180 countries. It has its global headquarters in Tokyo, Japan and regional headquarters in Japan, the Americas, Europe, China and Asia-Pacific.

Ricoh has 272 subsidiaries (72 domestic and 200 overseas) specializing in customer and technology research groups around the world.

Through its subsidiaries, branches and agents today, the proposal has expanded to Ricoh printer rental and Ricoh photocopier rental .

The reliability of the brand, combined with a premium assistance service, located in the area, makes Ricoh printer rental an excellent option for all business activities that prefer to have a valuable activity such as printing and storage managed externally. documents.

Print rental

Ricoh panti and Ricoh photocopier rental

These two important activities are managed independently, but under the strict supervision of the brand by the Official Ricoh Partners.

The Ricoh Partners are the local branch of the Ricoh group. Companies in which the group's work ethic is enriched by knowledge of the local fabric, for a service that is recognized every year as one of the best globally.

Official Ricoh Partner

Being a Ricoh Partner does not just mean having a plaque in the office, but indicates that the company with this "investiture" has shown over time that it is able to respect the strict criteria and expectations of the parent company.

Relying on an official Ricoh Partner like Computer Parts therefore means coming into contact with the history of Ricoh itself.

Computer Parts can therefore be your point of reference both for new Ricoh products and for Ricoh printer rental and Ricoh photocopier rental. Take advantage of it today and become part of the great Ricoh and Computersparts family.

Why Ricoh?

85 years of history and continuous innovation testify quite well to the quality of a brand, which since its foundation has always kept the mantra of its first president at heart.

The priorities of this brand, widely recognized on the market, have always been continuous innovation, the ability to experiment, the desire for new challenges and an optimal relationship with the customer.

In fact, Ricoh has always seen the customer not only as a buyer, but as a partner who is involved in the success of the brand and its products .