Toshiba Tec (booth overview, above) showcased its latest automatic identification and RFID solutions at the 27th Auto-ID & Communication Expo, held September 10 to 12 at Tokyo Big Sight. The company presented innovations accelerating digital transformation (DX) in manufacturing and logistics, combining market trends with real-world implementation cases. Toshiba Tec exhibited jointly with Ricoh Japan, a Ricoh sales subsidiary that collaborates in multifunction printer (MFP) production, and Etria, a Ricoh–Toshiba Tec joint venture, to offer integrated solutions for a wider range of operational challenges.
Other exhibitors also drew attention: Ricoh introduced its label-free thermal printer, and General highlighted its screw-type RFID tag for managing tools and molds where adhesive labels are impractical.
Toshiba Tec continues to develop solutions that streamline manufacturing and warehouse operations by combining technologies such as MFP controller platforms, RFID (contactless data communication using near-field radio waves), and label printing systems.
e-STUDIO4525AC RFID MFP
Toshiba Tec’s RFID-Enabled A3 Color MFP: e-STUDIO4525AC RFID
A key product is the e-STUDIO4525AC RFID, the world’s first A3 color MFP with an integrated RFID writer, launched two years ago. It can print full-color instructions on standard paper embedded with RFID tags while simultaneously writing product data to the RFID chip. Supported paper sizes range from A3 to A5, making labels much larger and more visible than conventional label printer outputs. Color printing improves readability for human operators, while RFID enables automated inbound/outbound tracking and process management for efficiency gains. Here’s how it can be deployed:
- Warehouse use case: Workers can use an RFID reader to locate stock and visually confirm large, printed labels without specialized staff, improving search efficiency by more than 20%.
- Cold storage use case: Replacing barcodes with RFID enables batch scanning from up to 9 meters away, cutting inventory staff requirements to one-third and work time to one-eighth under harsh low-temperature conditions.
- Factory use case: Automatic time stamping via RFID antennas at process checkpoints eliminates manual barcode scanning errors, improving productivity by more than 10%.
BX410T + APLEX4 automatic labeling system
Toshiba Tec’s Label Printing and Application System: BX410T + APLEX4
Toshiba also previewed a new auto-labeling platform that integrates its MFP technology: the BX410T thermal/thermal transfer printer and the APLEX4 label applicator. Built on the A-BRID (Auto ID × e-BRIDGE) platform, it prints directly from PDF files without a printer driver and can be implemented without redesigning existing production lines.
Ricoh’s Smart Factory Solution: RECO-View
Ricoh Japan demonstrated its RECO-View visual workflow service using rewritable hybrid media with integrated RFID tags. The thermo-sensitive media allows black text to be repeatedly rewritten via a RECO-View printer, while its embedded RFID stores process data. This enables end-to-end smart factory visualization—from receiving to assembly, inspection, packing, and shipping—through both automatic data capture and visual confirmation.
Ricoh RECO-View rewritable hybrid media.
Etria’s Rewritable Laser System
Etria, the Ricoh–Toshiba Tec joint venture (with OKI joining October 1, 2025), presented its Rewritable Laser System, capable of rewriting laser media up to 1,000 times. Labels securely adhered to pallets can be rewritten without removal, eliminating label waste and reducing CO₂ emissions.
Etria Rewritable Laser System
Ricoh’s Label-less Thermal Printing
At its own booth, Ricoh introduced label-less thermal technology, an eco-friendly alternative to mandatory food labeling. This method prints directly on specialized film-coated packaging by applying heat via laser or thermal printer, eliminating the need for adhesive labels. It allows direct post-packaging printing of weight and pricing data, reducing environmental impact and consumable costs.
