Operating Segments: Consumer and business electronics, printers and copiers, software, enterprise support, workplace productivity, cloud and IT services
HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Partner: Cisco Systems, Siemens
About Ricoh
Ricoh is a Japanese multinational imaging and electronics company. Founded by the Riken zaibatsu on February 6, 1936 as Riken Sensitized Paper. In 1953, Riken became the first company in Japan to use a belt-conveyor system to manufacture cameras, the most notable being the Ricohflex Model III. Two years later, Ricoh launched its first office copier, the Ricopy 101 and its following series, which became widely popular as office products in Japan.
In 1962 Riken expanded its operations, opening a paper factory in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, and the Ohmori Plant and General Research Laboratory. Riken also launched the Ricoh Auto 35 and Auto Half cameras, the latter of which would become one of the most popular small automatic cameras. To reflect the changes in its business, Riken changed its name to Ricoh Company, Ltd, and continued to expand and develop, offering wrist watches for both its Japanese domestic market and internationally. In January of 1970, Ricoh opened its American branch in New Jersey, and one year later introduced the RICOM 8, the world’s first office computer, developed jointly with TDK. Ricoh would also introduce the RIFAX 600S in April 1973, the first high-speed fax machine, and successfully transmitted forms between Tokyo and New York City via satellite communications.
To commemorate fifty years of operations, Ricoh opened a new Research and Development Center in Yokohama, further enhancing its R&D capabilities. In October of 1990, Ricoh launched the ARTAGE 8000, its first digital color copier, and five years later launched the Ricoh DC-1, its first digital camera. On January 25, 2007, Ricoh purchased IBM’s Printing Systems Division for $725 million. In 2011, Hoya Corporation, a Japanese optical glass-maker, sold its Pentax camera business to Ricoh, creating a new subsidiary, Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company Ltd. Recently, Ricoh has announced partnerships with Siemens and Cisco Systems to develop digital lifecycle management software and cloud computing solutions.
CAGE Codes:
| 006W2 | 03DF9 | 0MMJ8 |
|---|---|---|
| 00YV4 | 06KS7 | 0MX93 |
| 01NT5 | 0929V | 15556 |
| 02DF7 | 0E8P1 | 0SRV3 |
Products, Services, and Platforms
Products
- Printers and Copiers: One of Ricoh’s core divisions, this category includes numerous printers, multi-function printers/copiers, and digital duplicators, in a wide range of capabilities such as color vs. black and white, print speed, max paper size, finishing options, and other features. Ricoh’s printers are used in business, commercial, and industrial applications.
- Projectors: This division includes digital projectors designed to aid in presentations in venues like business meetings, classrooms, auditoriums, and more. Ricoh projectors vary in application, usage, projected resolution, brightness, and installation type.
- Video Conferencing: Ricoh’s video conferencing products include technology and equipment that allows for seamless communication via shared video calls. Typical products mount an HD camera, microphone, and speakers that enable visual and audio information to be shared over a conference call.
- Interactive Whiteboards: Interactive whiteboards use large-scale multi-touch displays capable of connecting to laptops and mobile devices to display information identical to a conventional whiteboard.
- Cameras: Ricoh manufactures cameras for both consumers, industry professionals, and industrial applications such as barcode scanners and inventory tracking.
- Electronic Devices: This division includes a broad number of devices, such as power management integrated circuits, semiconductors, and internal clocks used in consumer, commercial, and industrial electronics.
- Supplies and Accessories: Ricoh supplies a full range of supplies for its products, such as ink, toner, and paper for its printers, as well as software and technology resources for its electronic products.
Services
- Digital Workplace Solutions: Ricoh’s services in this division include collaboration, facilities/workplace management optimization, intelligent locker designs, and virtual self-service hologram technologies designed to maximize workplace productivity.
- Cloud and IT Services: Ricoh offers a full portfolio of IT management and support services, managed cloud services, end user communication services, data center services, analytics, strategy and consulting, and project based services.
- Commercial and Industrial Printing Services: Ricoh’s services in this division include production workflow development and consulting, product implementation, maintenance and support services, software support, and more.
Subsidiaries/Partners
Ricoh’s subsidiaries include its various national branches, such as Ricoh Japan, Ricoh Canada, Ricoh Americas, etc, as well as Docuware, Savin, Ricoh Elemex Corporation, Tohoku Ricoh Ltd, Avanti Computer Systems, Capa Cuatro S.A. De C.V., and more.
Ricoh’s partners include Cisco Systems, Siemens, Phoenix Publishing House, Avanti, BCC Software, CGS Publishing, Compart, Condeco, and many more.
Competitors
Ricoh’s competitors include Epson, FujiFilm, Konika Minolta, Xerox, Canon, Sharp, Kodak, Kyocera, and other manufacturers of business electronics.