Ricoh-Toshiba Tec Joint Venture: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ricoh-Toshiba Tec partnership about?

Ricoh and Toshiba Tec have formed a strategic partnership focused on the development and manufacturing of multifunction printers (MFPs). This collaboration aims to leverage both companies’ strengths to enhance product innovation and market competitiveness.

As the print manufacturer landscape gets more competitive, we need to provide our distributors and partners with the best-in-class MFP edge device technology at the best possible price performance. This becomes a top priority to ensure our partners’ success.

Our partners will add their local value capabilities along with this best-of-breed manufacturing to be the print solution provider to their customers.

What is the role of the joint venture, ETRIA Co., Ltd., in this partnership?

ETRIA Co., Ltd (“ETRIA”) is a joint venture to be established by Ricoh and Toshiba Tec, headquartered in Yokohama, Japan.
It is tasked with the development and production of MFPs and related peripheral devices and consumables. ETRIA represents the operational arm of the partnership,
driving forward the collaborative initiatives.

This new entity will comprise most of both Ricoh and Toshiba Tec manufacturing and development companies across the globe.

It will enable the production of high-quality edge devices worldwide. This will enable multiple points of production, contingency plans in case of emergency, multiple raw material vendors, and economies of scale to support the distributor and partner needs.

Rest assured, when you order products, parts, or supplies, we want to be able to provide them on time, regardless of external factors.

When will the partnership start its operations?

The actual operational and development collaboration between Ricoh and Toshiba Tec is expected to commence around July 2024. Once operations begin, ETRIA is fully committed to accelerating development to deliver competitive, best-in-class edge devices to the market.

How does this partnership impact distributors and partners?

Distributors can expect access to a broader range of innovative and competitive products resulting from the combined expertise and resources of Ricoh and Toshiba Tec. The partnership is designed to enhance product quality, efficiency, and reliability, potentially leading to improved margins and market opportunities for distributors and partners.

The future MFP edge device may have similar engine capabilities, but the cosmetics, controller technology, and user interface may vary according to the separate Ricoh and Toshiba Tec brand models across the globe.

We see this joint venture as a big benefit to our distributors and partners. You will have the combined power of two industry leading manufacturers, manufacturing best-in-class edge devices.

These new Ricoh MFP edge devices will be combined with Ricoh’s robust controller technology, user experience, cloud platforms, and range of software solutions. The same will apply to new Toshiba Tec MFPs. There is no current plan to change the sales distribution channels. As a Ricoh partner, you will leverage these best-in-breed technologies with a vast array of Ricoh and third-party-developed solutions that take full advantage of the Ricoh platform and ecosystem.

What are the ownership details of the joint venture?

Ricoh holds an 85% ownership stake in this venture, making it a subsidiary of Ricoh. Through ETRIA, Ricoh and Toshiba Tec will work closely together to ensure the optimal utilisation of technologies and assets from both companies to deliver customer success.

When will the partnership begin to show operational results?

While the partnership is anticipated to solidify Ricoh’s commitment to the print industry, showcasing a long-term strategic vision, ETRIA aims to deliver tangible results in terms of new products and market impact at an early stage.

Will the partnership affect the competitive dynamics between Ricoh and Toshiba Tec?

Despite the partnership, Ricoh and Toshiba Tec will continue to operate as competitors in the market. The collaboration is focused on back-end manufacturing and development, aiming to enhance overall competitiveness without altering the companies’ market positioning.

We think this partnership puts our Ricoh partners in a strong position to win. Best engine technology, best solutions technology, and great distribution through our partners.

What are the long-term expectations from this partnership?

The long-term goal of the partnership is to solidify Ricoh and Toshiba Tec’s respective leadership in the print industry by driving innovation, improving product offerings, and achieving manufacturing efficiencies. It reflects a strategic commitment to the future of the print industry and the role of MFPs within it.