UNLEASHING THE POWER OF CO-INNOVATION

There are many moving parts in the process of successful innovation. To transform an idea from concept to completion requires the combination of multiple elements and managing challenges along the way. Additionally, it is essential to have a supportive partner with which to co-innovate.

Ricoh has extensive experience in co-innovation. It also has a longstanding history of inkjet printhead innovation. This is the core component for all its new, game-changing systems and solutions.

Ricoh has extensive experience in co-innovation

Building on Ricoh’s values and principles, from 1 April, 2025 Ricoh Printing Solutions Europe will operate from the company’s long established manufacturing campus in Telford, UK. This new company leads on from Ricoh’s combined experience in technology development, as well as its approach to co-creation. Ricoh offers a supportive environment that facilitates the exploration of ideas. It also enables parties to come together to test, validate and launch exciting new products. 

Ricoh Printing Solutions Europe will deliver original equipment manufacturer (OEM) inkjet business, module production and engineering integration services, ink production and textile support. This encompasses the Textile Competence Centre in Germany. In addition, it will provide a nurturing environment for future business applications, such as additive manufacturing.

Ricoh Printing Solutions Europe will also bring together a broad range of experts, who will provide advice, guidance and support for a range of industrial solutions innovation.

The aim is to create a unique home for product evolution. One where every step can be rigorously and robustly tested. Furthermore, new ideas can be openly and frankly explored to ensure optimum outcomes.

Ricoh Printing Solutions Europe will provide a nurturing environment for future business applications

Ricoh Printing Solutions Europe also offers OEMs greater reassurance regarding the handling of sensitive project developments. This is essential for highly detailed conversations on what can be achieved and how, as well as new directions for businesses. These confidential, frank exchanges regarding companies’ innovations, future directions and plans for growth, are undertaken in a safe and progressive environment. Sure of the integrity Ricoh has and will always offer, clients can share critical goals and ambitions.

Fast decision-making will be a hallmark of relationships with new and existing clients and partners. The new company will be dedicated and focused, while its autonomy means it will be able to co-create systems and solutions fast, strategically and dynamically.

While the operation may be independent, it continues to draw on Ricoh’s decades of inkjet innovation, built on insightful and educational conversations with clients. Ricoh Printing Solutions Europe will carry on developing evolutionary technology that drives successful development.

Maintaining the collaborative approach developed with clients, it will operate with a methodology that has enabled the highly informed concept-to-completion process for innovations defining today’s production.

The aim is to create a unique home for product evolution

In-house developed laboratory tools – for internal projects – will be made available to all OEM partners. These tools will enable faster, more efficient, sustainable and cost-effective developments. Among the successful technologies aided by this approach is the Ricoh Media-Free Testing System. The System confirms jetting stability – a challenging process that usually requires constant observation. Cross contamination between roll layers can be problematic. Inks may continue to spread after printing and rewinding paper with wet ink onto a roll smears print. Manual inspection is time consuming and limited to relatively short print runs. 

Drop-watch methods are restricted by camera field of view and depth of field capability. The Media-Free Testing System eliminates subjective judgements by creating an infinite printing surface. This can be captured and inspected digitally, without any waste.

The Media-Free Testing System eliminates subjective judgements

Understanding of strategies to manage nozzle open time, have often been based on guess work. The new Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV), measures mechanical vibration without surface contact. Ricoh adopted LDV technology – and engineered unique test equipment – for the purpose of studying nozzle open time in detail. This method gives its OEM partners significant insight into the changes that take place in fluid at the nozzle meniscus. LDV effectively measures change in meniscus viscosity over time. 

Such an understanding is a vital tool for controlling jetting conditions with advanced waveform design and a fluid recirculation system. A well-structured strategy is essential for optimising the balance between open time and jetting reliability, while also ensuring fast ink drying. This is crucial for the overall performance of a printing system and delivers huge time and cost savings.

The new Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV), measures mechanical vibration without surface contact

Ricoh also continues to develop tools for specific internal projects that can be valuable in a client development environment. Others are in the pipeline as Ricoh Printing Solutions Europe co-innovates with a broad range of clients. These include high value, high volume growth areas such as corrugated packaging, labels, coding and marking, and textiles.

The creation of this new entity will benefit clients, partners and manufacturers in developing innovation and technology for future markets.