At a July Epson Group executive press conference, Seiko Epson President Junichi Yoshida discussed the company’s final-year initiatives under its long-term vision “Epson 25 Renewed,” aiming to enhance corporate value. Looking beyond the current fiscal year, Epson plans to further expand the applications of its core inkjet printing technology. In response to U.S. tariff policies, the company has consolidated manufacturing of products for the U.S. market in the Philippines, where tariff rates were relatively low at the time.
Regarding the Japanese market, Epson Sales President Haruo Kuribayashi stated: “The most significant traction we’ve seen this year is with municipalities.” Epson’s high-speed inkjet multifunction device, branded as Smart Charge in Japan, saw municipal deployments nearly double in fiscal year 2024 compared to the previous year, and growth continues into the current fiscal year.
President Yoshida emphasized that 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the Epson brand and the conclusion of the “Epson 25 Renewed” vision. Reflecting on the company’s history, he noted, “Epson’s journey has been one of sincere effort, creativity, and challenge.”
Office and Home Inkjet Printing Innovation
Epson’s EcoTank printers, introduced in 2010 with large-capacity ink tanks, surpassed 100 million units in global sales by 2024. In the office segment, the Smart Charge inkjet multifunction printers (equipped with a linehead) have driven a technology shift from laser to inkjet, offering lower power consumption and fewer consumable replacements. Larger ink capacities have also contributed to reduced environmental impact.
Commercial and Industrial Printing Innovation
In 2024, Epson welcomed Fiery into the Epson Group, creating new synergies in commercial printing. Epson’s product development is centered on its core strengths: compact, efficient, and precise technologies.
While the next long-term vision is still in development, Yoshida reiterated that Epson is considering further expansion of inkjet application fields as a key direction.
Seiko Epson Epson corporate leaders in Japan: President Junichi Yoshida (left) and President of Sales Haruo Kuribayashi.
Focus Areas in Japan
Mr. Kuribayashi highlighted five key sectors for Epson’s sales in Japan:
- municipal governments
- education
- healthcare
- commercial printing
- manufacturing (especially those using robotics)
Among these, municipalities have shown the strongest response.
In the education sector, Epson launched its Academic Plan in November 2019, offering Smart Charge devices at special pricing. Since then, adoption has accelerated, and today nearly 30% of Japan’s 28,000 public elementary and junior high schools have installed them.
The push toward municipalities began in earnest last year, driven by demand for:
- eco-friendly solutions
- stress-free consumable management
- electricity cost reduction
- BCP-compliant devices that can run on battery power during power outages
Environmental benefits, BCP readiness, stress-free consumables management, and reductions in electricity costs and overall expenses are advantages that resonate with all users, including general offices. However, given its limited sales resources, Epson is focusing its proposal efforts particularly on municipalities, education, and healthcare sectors. Among these, municipalities have shown especially strong performance since last year, with order volume nearly doubling in fiscal year 2024 compared to the previous year.
One pivotal moment came during the January 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, when Epson Sales loaned battery-powered Smart Charge units to local governments in Ishikawa Prefecture. These units supported critical post-disaster administrative tasks such as emergency notifications and issuing disaster certificates. The ability to function on solar-charged batteries made Epson’s color MFPs invaluable, leading to further orders and national attention from other municipalities.
Smart Charge’s benefits for government clients include:
- BCP-readiness in emergencies
- low maintenance
- no consumables management
- support for digital transformation (DX)
- low power usage, making them both cost-effective and eco-friendly
Healthcare Adoption
In Japanese medical facilities, Epson’s EcoTank printers are valued for being dust-free, contributing to their growing popularity in healthcare settings.
