Epson Sales Co., Ltd., the Japanese sales subsidiary for Epson products, held an opening event on January 14 for Epson XaILab, a new facility launched within its headquarters in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Epson XaILab is a reservation-based solution center for corporate customers designed to support companies in addressing social challenges, digital transformation (DX), environmental initiatives, and business continuity planning (BCP) through experiential learning and dialogue. The name derives from the initials of eXperience and Innovation, representing a co-creative laboratory that integrates both concepts.
Visitors can gain concrete images of operational improvements through exhibitions, but also see, touch, and experience solutions in a way that builds understanding and confidence. Additionally, visitors can work with the solution center staff and various departments within Epson Sales to explore and develop optimal solutions tailored to their needs. The facility features an immersive visual experience using a curved screen and multiple projectors, enabling visitors to intuitively understand solutions to challenges faced by industries such as tourism, entertainment, and real estate, while realistically envisioning post-implementation outcomes. Exhibitions are also organized around key themes such as environmental initiatives, productivity improvement, and regional revitalization, allowing visitors to experience solutions aligned with their specific challenges and more clearly visualize implementation.
For example, in the Create Base area, the dry-process office papermaking system PaperLab—which recycles used documents into new paper—is installed alongside energy-efficient inkjet printers. Visitors can experience an environmentally conscious office that reduces environmental impact and promotes paper resource circulation.
A photo session at the Epson XaILab opening event featured President Kuribayashi (left) and Director Toyota.
At the opening event, President Haruo Kuribayashi of Epson Sales delivered the following remarks:
“XaILab is not a traditional showroom. We aim to make this a place where, with full consideration of our customers’ business processes, workflows, and management challenges, all of us at Epson Sales can work together—based on Epson’s core technologies of ‘Sho, Sho, Sei’ (省・小・精: efficient, compact, and precise)—to translate social and environmental challenges into concrete, industry-specific and customer-specific solutions.
“We want this to be a space where customers can actually see, touch, and discuss solutions. As an outcome, we hope to co-create new value together with our customers and partners, and share that innovation from here. That is what Epson XaILab represents.
“In an environment where labor shortages, increasing complexity of operations, digitalization, and decarbonization are progressing at an astonishing speed, Epson Sales aims to evolve into a company that truly places customers at the center—deeply understanding their aspirations and challenges, and creating new value together with our partners.”
Next, Makoto Toyota, director and head of the marketing division, gave a live, on-site tour of the municipal government solutions within Epson XaILab and later took the stage and said: “If customers cannot find a way to solve their challenges, we will first take action with the wide range of solutions we already have. At the same time, we recognize that many issues cannot be solved by Epson alone. Together with end users and partners, we want to work closely with our customers to create solutions where, if Epson’s contribution is ‘1,’ then 1 plus 1 becomes not 2, but 5. We want to pursue the best possible solutions together.”
Seven Areas Comprising Epson XaILab
① Idea Fall
Designed as a place for inspiration, this area introduces Epson’s technologies and real examples of co-creation projects, offering new insights and business ideas. It showcases regional revitalization initiatives, such as support for traditional crafts in Aizu (Fukushima Prefecture) and Ima Photo, a new service that allows event visitors to print smartphone photos on-site with limited-edition event photo frames.
② Immersive Theater
A circular theater surrounded by curved, near-4K projection visuals and sound, offering an immersive experience. Visitors can experience tourism promotion videos featuring Okinawa’s ocean or visualize how real estate viewings could utilize immersive projection.
Immersive Theater
③ Demo Showcase
An exhibition area featuring Epson printers, where visitors can test print quality and usability while considering how the products can be applied in their own operations. The area also introduces environmental management support programs aimed at decarbonization.
Demo Showcase
④ Create Base
A working space where printers and office equipment operate in real time, enabling efficient creative workflows. Epson Sales employees also use this space to deepen their understanding of products and enhance their proposal capabilities. Visitors can experience demonstrations showing how inkjet printers, known for their low power consumption, can operate stably even on battery power. A fully functional Paper Lab unit is also in operation and used by employees for tasks such as business-card production. The space promotes environmentally friendly office practices while providing practical-use cases directly applicable to daily work.
Create Base
⑤ Inspire Lounge
Recognizing that effective decision-making and communication are common challenges for many companies, this area allows visitors to experience meetings using large display screens for shared information. It can also serve as a BCP command center in the event of a disaster.
Inspire Lounge
⑥ Café / Work Area
A space that replicates the actual working environment of Epson Sales employees, who also use the area themselves. The café serves as a hospitality space for guests while showcasing promotional items created using Epson’s own technologies.
Café / Work Area
⑦ Innovation Stage
A multipurpose stage for events, seminars, and talk shows, supporting hybrid formats that combine in-person and online participation. The physical venue can accommodate approximately 50 to 70 attendees. Future use by partner companies is also envisioned.
