Triple win for Mimaki at EDP Awards
Mimaki won in three categories at the recent EDP Awards hosted at FESPA, including for its hybrid, DTO, and textile roll-to-roll technologies
In an exclusive interview with Print Monthly at FESPA, Roland DG’s CEO discussed some of the company’s recent strategic shifts, including its new industrial portfolio and brand identity
Roland’s presence at the recent FESPA Global Print Expo in Barcelona showcased the breadth of its latest offerings, with new solutions on show including its next generation eco-solvent print and cut solution, the TrueVis VG4 series.
Also taking centre stage was the EU2-1000MF, a wide-format UV flatbed printer developed to streamline rigid media production, enabling direct to board printing in high output environments.
In addition, Roland DG signalled a deeper strategic expansion into the global industrial decoration market with the preview of a new portfolio of industrial printing technologies.
The previewed range included the VersaObject IO-300, an industrial UV flatbed inkjet printer; the VersaObject RC-300 series of cylindrical UV printers; and a newly developed Hard UV ink engineered for enhanced durability in industrial applications.
All of this expansion is underpinned by a focus on offering modern digital solutions across its entire portfolio that can streamline workflows for customers, with Roland seeking out new markets that are still transitioning from analogue to digital.
At this year’s FESPA, Print Monthly got the chance to speak Kohei Tanabe, chief executive officer of Roland DG, about this shift and the company’s goals moving forward.
Speaking about Roland’s recent focus shift, Tanabe said: “We have had a strong position in the signage industry for over 20 years, and we are quite happy with where we are. At the same time, we have to look for the growth areas where we can expand our business further.
“We’re not just looking at the product itself, but we look at the markets that can be further digitalised. The industrial area is where many people are still using analogue methods, so we still have the potential to convert them to start using our digital solutions, and we can bring the knowledge and know-how that we have acquired into this area.”
In order to emphasise this change of focus, Roland recently announced a new brand identity alongside a new global brand message: ‘Make Your Mark’.
The brand refresh, showcased at FESPA and now in the process of being rolled out through its business units worldwide, marks a strategic shift by Roland toward delivering complete solutions across multiple industries including hardware, supplies, software, and service.
Discussing the new brand identity and what it represents, Tanabe continues: “When we think about the future growth of our company and what kind of value we can deliver to the customer, we don’t only look at the hardware – it includes our inks, it includes our software solutions, and how to minimise the workflow for our customers.
“This is the new kind of value that we are providing, and we wanted to give that new consistent brand and image that we have as a company to the market. I hope that we can keep showing who we are and what we are good at.”
The previously mentioned industrial decoration solutions that Roland previewed give a strong sense of where the company is aiming at, with all the upcoming kit releases focusing on digitisation and automation.
The VersaObject IO-300 is a B2-size class industrial UV flatbed inkjet printer planned to support high-mix, low-volume industrial production.
Positioned as a bridge between analogue and digital methods, the IO-300 will enable rapid design changes and consistent output across a wide range of substrates including plastics, metals, glass, and composites.
The VersaObject RC-300 and RC-300c LED UV inkjet printers are designed for direct decoration of cylindrical and lightly tapered objects. The series is intended to support short runs, premium customisation, and fast set-up for applications such as bottles, containers, promotional items, and limited-edition packaging.
The RC-300c variant is specifically suited to printing on clear and translucent bottles without filling, supporting beverage brands, packaging specialists, and manufacturers seeking digital alternatives to traditional decoration methods.
Alongside the hardware preview, Roland has also announced the development of a new Hard UV ink, designed to meet industrial durability requirements traditionally addressed through analogue printing.
The ink is planned to be compatible with VersaObject systems and future industrial platforms, enabling durable output for industrial parts, electronic components, nameplates, and functional markings.
In his interview with Print Monthly, Tanabe also highlighted Roland’s international network as one of the most important pillars to its success. He explained: “Throughout our history, we have developed lots of our technology from Japan and then we send the product out – and this is not wrong. But one of the strengths that we have is our global network.
“That is where we can get a lot of feedback from the customer and we can utilise that knowledge and feedback to develop our solutions in Japan, based on the feedback of our global partners. It is a joint collaborative effort that brings more value to the customer and excites those customers, and this is part of our new approach to the market.”
Our interview with Roland DG at FESPA will be available to watch soon in video format on the Print Monthly YouTube channel. On the channel now is the latest episode of The Print Monthly Podcast, filmed on the show floor at FESPA, rounding up some highlights from this year’s exhibition.
