Ricoh UK Products Limited

RPL Apprentices strike GOLD and SILVER at World Skills UK!

Ricoh UK Products Limited — 27/11/2023

Ricoh UK Products Ltd (RPL) is delighted to announce that, once again, its Engineering apprentices have been awarded medals following their highly successful participation in the WorldSkills UK ‘Manufacturing Team Challenge’ National Finals.

WorldSkills UK is an independent charity and a partnership between employers, educators and governments. The charity uses international best practice and competitions to raise standards in apprenticeships and technical education so more young people and employers succeed.

The prestigious annual competition, which culminated in Manchester between 15-17 November, saw RPL’s apprentices take home GOLD and SILVER medals.

Congratulations to GOLD medallists, Eve Redden, Kian Beasley and Harrison Felton, and to SILER medallists, Kieran Rowley and Josh Wynne, who initially entered the competition in March 2023, working in small teams to design, manufacture and program a tricycle – following a strict design brief set by World Skills.

A successful qualifier back in June 2023 saw both of RPL’s teams earn themselves a spot at the National Finals, where they competed against other UK-based teams including GE Aviation, Pullman Rail and Coleg Y Cymoedd.

In the lead up to the National Finals and in RICOH’s spirit of Kaizen, RPL’s apprentices continued to work on their projects, identifying improvements to help perfect the design and functionality of their machines, which also involved utilising advanced manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing.

As part of the project brief, the teams’ tricycles needed to have variable speed electric motor drive and manual pedal functionality, front and rear independent suspension, front and rear flashing lights, an LCD screen showing battery level, speed and status messages, as well as space for transporting a cubic meter of cargo.

Other requirements included the ability to fold away the tricycle into a ‘neat package’ to be carried by a single person (occupying the smallest volume possible once folded), as well as being as lightweight as possible, assembled with the lowest toolbox weight, in the fastest possible production time, with the lowest material costings.

In addition to these challenging requirements, teams had to present an extensive portfolio of documentation, showing a gantt chart of the production plan schedule, 2D and 3D CAD drawings, electrical schematics, bill of materials with costings, user manual and maintenance manual, together with a video of animated CAD showing every individual part of the machine being assembled.

During the National Finals, teams had two full days to fully remanufacture their tricycles under the watchful eye of the judging panel, as well as competing in a series of associated challenges.

RPL’s teams accumulatively scored maximum points for: Lowest Costing Product; Lowest Weight Product; Lowest Toolbox Weight; Highest Storage Capacity; Lowest Packaged Volume; and Fastest Build.

According to RPL’s Learning & Development Officer, Claire Shepherd: “Not only did our teams score maximum points in a number of categories, but both teams produced a very strong portfolio, which gained fantastic feedback from the judges.”

After all challenges were complete and scores locked in by the judging panel, an awards ceremony took place at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester on the evening of Friday 17 November 2023, where the BRONZE, SILVER and GOLD medal winners were announced.

Claire Shepherd commented: “We are delighted that RPL’s teams were awarded gold and silver medals for their efforts and would like to congratulate our apprentices – and Mark Smith (Senior Engineer) – who has mentored our apprentices throughout their World Skills journey, on their fantastic achievement!”

She added: “This exciting project has helped our apprentices to develop key engineering skills in a variety of different disciplines which will be valuable as they work towards completing their apprenticeships and also in pursuing their future engineering careers.

“Throughout their WorldSkills journey, our apprentices have displayed a number of RICOH’s core values including teamwork, winning spirit, passion and innovation – we are incredibly proud of our apprentices and all they have achieved through their participation in this competition. Well done!”

Further information about the World Skills UK ‘Manufacturing Team Challenge’ can be accessed here:

https://www.worldskillsuk.org/competitions/manufacturing-team-challenge/

For more information about apprenticeships at Ricoh UK Products Ltd, visit:

https://ukproducts.ricoh.com/careers/apprentice-programme

Ricoh included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for four consecutive years

Ricoh UK Products Limited — 12/12/2023

Ricoh announced today that it has been selected for inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World Index), one of the world's most renowned indices for ESG (environmental, social, and governance), for the fourth consecutive year.

DJSI, compiled by Dow Jones & Company and sustainability investment research firm S&P Global, was the first global sustainability index to assess a company's corporate sustainability from the economic, environmental, and social development perspectives.

DJSI reviewed approximately 3,500 major companies worldwide, selecting 321 companies to the DJSI World Index this year. Among the 35 companies in the Computers & Peripherals and Office Electronics industry, Ricoh received high evaluations in areas of "Governance & Economic," "Environment," and "Social," achieving the top score in its sector in overall evaluation, as of Dec. 9, 2023.

Ricoh has also been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices Asia Pacific Index (DJSI Asia Pacific) for six consecutive years.

Ricoh's approach to sustainability is to pursue a sustainable society through a Three Ps Balance—Prosperity (economic), People (society), and Planet (environment). To realize this desired society, Ricoh has identified seven material issues in two areas, “Resolving social issues through business,” and “Robust management infrastructure,” and set 16 ESG targets in linkage with the material to work toward solving these issues. Ricoh will continue to contribute to solving social issues and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through its business activities.

RPL Joins Forces with Made in Group to Boost Regional Manufacturing

Ricoh UK Products Limited — 12/05/2023

As an organisation which prides itself on collaboration and co-creation, Ricoh UK Products Ltd has joined the Made in Group, in order to support the membership group’s vision and mission of championing British industry, forging a strong digital and sector-wide presence, as well as sharing and learning best practice.

Ricoh UK Products Ltd (RPL) has previously worked with the Made in Group – specifically, Made in the Midlands, as the Additive Manufacturing department had a dedicated microsite (launched back in 2016) to showcase this integral and ever-developing part of the business. Recently, RICOH caught up with Made in the Midlands Director Charles Addison, who reignited conversations about the platform and how RPL could fit in as a company-wide showcase.

RPL is where Ricoh brings together customers and partners to optimise today’s world of print and influence the digital print applications and services of the future. With operations in Telford and Stirling, Ricoh UK Products Ltd provides a world class customer experience that demonstrates digital manufacturing and showcases the latest technologies that Ricoh has to offer.

The manufacturing industry is supported by RPL, through regularly welcoming new and existing customers and partners to the facility in order to share knowledge and to work together to drive innovation in the world of print. The work the company does has been driven by a commitment to sustainable development, engagement in continuous improvement and lean manufacturing approaches, and today, the sites employ the latest digital manufacturing applications as part of Industry 4.0 – and evolving to Industry 5.0.

RPL are also proud providers of an award-winning apprenticeship programme, which started in 1990, and is essential in ensuring highly talented people work within the organisation and the wider UK manufacturing sector.

Made in Group, including Made in the Midlands and Made in Yorkshire, is a membership community championing British manufacturing. Ricoh UK Products Ltd has a wide range of leading business services which help optimise manufacturing today and influence the print industry of tomorrow, and are keen to share this with fellow members and prospective customers in the Midlands and further afield.

Make sure that you check out Made in Group’s upcoming events, to see which of these RICOH are set to attend, so that you can connect with the company soon! You can also find out more about the company by visiting the brand new microsite here.

RPL set to feature in Sky (Digital) series highlighting sustainability work 

Ricoh UK Products Limited — 03/07/2023

In a first for the business, Shropshire-based Ricoh UK Products Ltd (RPL) will feature in a Sky (Digital) programme in July and August, as part of a series exploring the sustainability work undertaken at top UK manufacturing companies.

The series entitled 'Responsible Business – A Green (Sustainable) Approach' will centre around the work in overlapping sectors including energy, innovation, transport, infrastructure, engineering, and manufacturing.

With sites in Telford and Stirling, RPL will be featuring in the first of six episodes: Exploring an Eco Approach in Business, providing thoughts and insights on net-zero targets, sustainable development goals (SDGs), challenges within the sector and external influences, circular economy, innovation, skills gaps, apprenticeship opportunities and more.

Sustainability is at the heart of everything that we do at Ricoh, and these initiatives and other environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments will be explored during short interview snippets within the show.

In the words of Ricoh Chairperson, Jake Yamashita: “Any company that doesn’t contribute to the achievement of the SDGs will be ignored by the market and will go out of business. 

“Companies in the future will be evaluated not just by their financial performance, but also their contribution to addressing these social challenges.” 

You will be able to hear from employees at Ricoh UK Products Ltd, who will share the fantastic work we do here, in our local community, on a global scale, and our commitment to building a sustainable future – and hopes for stakeholders and the wider industry.

The programme will air on ExecutiveTV (Sky Digital channel 181) on Sunday, July 9 at 10.30am and the following month on Sunday, August 13 at 10.30am.

The programme will be made available on www.executivetv.org after the first broadcast – and RPL will share the programme via Internal Comms.

An extended blog post going further in depth to analyse the sustainability work at RPL will also be published on the ExecutiveTV website shortly after the initial airing of the programme.

Ricoh selected as one of the 2023 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World

Ricoh UK Products Limited — 09/02/2023

The Global 100 is an annual ranking of the world’s most sustainable corporations published by Canada-based Corporate Knights.

The assessment is executed across key indicators, including environmental, social, and governance performance, % sustainable revenue, % sustainable investment, climate-related lobbying activities, and sustainability-linked pay. The assessment results are announced each year during the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. The 19th annual ranking, the 2023 Global 100, assessed 6,720 publicly-traded companies with over US$1 billion in revenue.

Jake Yamashita, Ricoh Chairman says: “In 2020, we positioned ESG initiatives as future financial targets, one of the dual companywide management targets along with regular financial goals. This ranking is a testament to Ricoh’s continuous and accelerated commitment to sustainability, such as incorporating ESG indicators into our executive compensation and actively lobbying for climate change action by joining the conversation on renewable energy with the Japanese government.”

Ricoh's approach to sustainability is to pursue a sustainable society through a Three Ps Balance—Prosperity (economic), People (society), and Planet (environment). To realize this desired society, Ricoh has identified seven material issues in two areas, “Resolving social issues through business” and “Robust management infrastructure,” and set 17 ESG targets in linkage with the material to work toward solving these issues.

Ricoh will continue to contribute to solving social issues and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through its business activities.

Ricoh Chairperson takes the stage at Reuters NEXT 2023 "Empowering Colleagues to be ESG Advocates"

Ricoh UK Products Limited — 20/11/2023

November 9, Ricoh Chairperson Jake Yamashita delivered a keynote address titled “Empowering Colleagues to be ESG Advocates,” at Reuters NEXT 2023. He shared Ricoh’s efforts to empower colleagues by creating a corporate culture that motivates them to have a sense of purpose and inspires to be creative, in alignment with its Mission and Vision “Fulfilment through Work,” and Ricoh’s innovation as the fruit of colleagues seeing the connection between their roles and ESG agenda. Find out how Ricoh’s founding principles “Love your neighbor, Love your country, Love your work” shapes the Company’s sustainability to this day.

Opening/Welcome

Thank you all for the great honor of being here today. It is humbling to be among such esteemed global leaders driving truly dedicated work in the ESG arena.

While we are here from different backgrounds and experiences, we have one shared goal: to tackle the big societal and environmental issues already upon us. Today, I will share some insights from my own experience and the lessons Ricoh has learned along the way.

Ricoh’s Transformation with ESG at the Core

Ricoh is very committed to its own ESG journey. Some of you may know Ricoh as a market-leading manufacturer of printers with 80,000 plus colleagues in 200 countries and regions, but today, we have grown into a global digital services company. During this tremendous, transformational journey of our own, ESG has always been a core tenant of our approach.

I want to talk about the opportunity we all have to empower our colleagues to be ESG advocates.

Colleagues can make the greatest difference

Today’s workforce is increasingly motivated by a company’s social and environmental commitments. By 2025, millennials will make up an incredible 75% of the global workforce, and a company’s ESG practices heavily influence their career choices. Recent data from Deloitte’s 2023 Gen Z and Millennial Survey underscores this: over half of both Gen Z and millennials analyse a company’s environmental policies before taking a job, and more than 40% have, or are willing to, switch jobs due to climate concerns.

This shift is not just about employment; it’s also affecting how business is done. In North America, nearly 60% of our clients consider ESG factors when choosing partners. We’ve seen a 200% surge in ESG-related requests in RFPs in North America compared to the prior year. More than just checking a box, our customers want sustainability partners with expertise to help them reach their internal goals using our products and services.

As emerging decision-makers, millennials prioritise innovation, skill development, and positive societal impact in their work environments. A solid commitment to ESG is essential to remain competitive in attracting talent and meeting customer expectations.

Ricoh’s starting point—Spirit of Three Loves

The principle of putting people at the heart of business was ahead of its time when Ricoh started 87 years ago. Our visionary founder, Kiyoshi Ichimura, formed our company guided by principles that still resonate today, treating employees with respect and equity. The founding principles formulated in 1946 are: "Love your neighbor, Love your country, Love your work."

"Love your country"

For a long time now, the second principle, “Love your country,” has been interpreted by Ricoh as “love your planet.” These principles have always been at the heart of our success. As a manufacturer, we pioneered our own circular economy model that we call the “Comet Circle™” back in 1994, evaluating every aspect of a product’s lifecycle to reduce its environmental impact. Leading sustainability in printing, our goal is to eventually have zero waste going to landfills.

Businesses must continue to take robust action. Ricoh, for example, is taking aggressive steps to meet ambitious environmental targets. In 2020, we revised our greenhouse gas reduction targets Scope 1 and 2 from 30% by 2030 to 63% vs fiscal 2015 because we were well on track to surpass our initial goals.

Implementing digital manufacturing using IoT technology, has reduced power consumption by 70% in our manufacturing plant in China established in 2020 compared with the former two plants. And I’m proud that Ricoh was not only the first Japanese company to join the RE100 but that we encouraged numerous other CEOs to join, too. As co-chair of the Japan Climate Leaders Partnership, I am strongly encouraging the Japanese government to deepen its commitment to maximise the use of renewable energy.

"Love your neighbor" "Love your work"

Our other two core principles, "Love your neighbor" and "Love your work", embody Ricoh’s commitment to its people and to creating an environment where people can work with enthusiasm. With the rapid advancement of AI technologies, we live in a world where most of the jobs currently being done by humans will be replaced by machines. Valuing our people and maintaining a people-centered management structure empowers individual team members to make the difference between simply achieving corporate goals and the vision of a livable future for every person on the planet.

We linked our ESG targets and employee engagement scores to executives’ compensation along with other KPIs.

Jake’s Vision as CEO, and then as Chairman

Before becoming CEO seven years ago, it was my passion to effect positive change. The essential link between employee happiness and business success is central to this vision.

Many organisations see the value in "happy colleagues equals happy customers, which equals a strong business," but I want to take it further. For Ricoh, our mission and vision, ‘Fulfilment through Work,’ drives everything we do. I am convinced that when people are motivated and inspired by their work, they will pursue excellence. Creating that motivation requires a sustained effort, and the ESG agenda is a fundamental element of this. In the book "Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life," author Hector Garcia agrees, pointing out that "If a company has a message that communicates a sense of purpose and it is shared effectively with the staff, that will motivate employees."

Creating the environment for ESG advocates

Culture of Excellence

While this effort starts from the top, it is sustained by our people, who bring these priorities to life within the communities in which we live and serve globally.

Our North American CEO, Carsten Bruhn, fosters a Culture of Excellence program centered on the belief that innovation comes from inspiring diversity in all its dimensions. Passion drives still more passion, and colleagues have recorded videos telling in their own words what it means to them to work at Ricoh. These efforts have increased employee retention, engagement and job offer acceptance.

SCALA Program for reskilling colleagues

Creating an enthusiastic environment is a start, but retaining quality team members is key. One upgrading and reskilling program initiated in Europe is a nine-month digital talent development program that has provided over 4,000 field engineers with the technical skills and digital expertise to equip them for new digital-focused roles in the company.

Closing Digital Divide

Even beyond just Ricoh, as part of our prior B4IG (Business for Inclusive Growth) coalition activities, we created a skill training program to support local women artists narrow the digital divide in rural India. Helping these artists acquire design and IT skills and sales channel knowledge enables them to generate income not possible before. Since then, we launched our own initiative to support young people in Japan and Vietnam.

The link between colleagues’ roles and ESGs

As people began to see the connection between their roles and our ESG agenda, innovation emerged in new ways across the organisation.

PLAiR

More than 15 years ago, we began replacing virgin plastics in our core business with components made from PLA, a more sustainable, plant-based alternative that helps the environment. As our teams became more familiar with PLA, they used other technology expertise to create a breakthrough material: foamed PLA sheets. It is 99% bio-based, compostable, and heat-resistant. What started as a single team’s innovative concept is now ready to grow into a full-fledged circular economy business. A food container pilot program launches in Japan this year, with plans to expand to Europe and North America after that.

3D for Healthcare

With ESGs in mind, we want to take on the challenge of making healthcare accessible to more people. In North America, our team saw an opportunity to develop a solution that leverages our Managed Services infrastructure. We use the patient's image data to 3D print replicas of the individual's internal anatomy and are currently conducting trials with several medical centers. The 3D printed models can be used for aiding in diagnosis, surgery prep, and educating patients and medical students. The aim is to improve patient experience.

PEKOE

On another front, colleagues saw an opportunity to improve communication with non-hearing team members, so they developed a voice-recognition software package allowing everyone to participate in meetings equally. It worked so well that it is now offered as a service to customers.

SDGs awareness survey

In each of these cases, our teams recognised opportunities to address challenges by leveraging their expertise beyond their everyday responsibilities. This curiosity emerged organically as team members discovered a passion and purpose in aligning their roles with ESG goals rather than by management mandate.

And all this means that our vision of "Fulfilment through Work" is coming to life. What we’re experiencing at Ricoh is a transformation not limited to us alone; it’s a journey everyone can embrace. We asked team members to verbalise the relationship between the SDGs and their own work, and of the nearly 38,000 responses, 92% felt their work contributed to resolving social issues, and almost the same number said it led to their job satisfaction.

More and more, it’s often the small actions that resonate most deeply with our people. This harmonious synergy creates a win-win scenario, benefiting not only our businesses and customers but also our colleagues and, our planet.

Closing

In conclusion, I want to leave you with this important message: as leaders within your organisations, you can inspire and mobilise every team member to become passionate ESG advocates. Together, we can drive the transformative change, moving beyond mere ‘business actions.’ It’s clear that a top-down approach alone cannot address all challenges. Empowering your colleagues unlocks the potential for a collective and sustainable impact.

I firmly believe that motivated team members who see how ESG fits into their roles are an untapped force that can drive the creation of a sustainable society. And if we get it right, the reward for our entire planet will be more than worth it. No organisation can do this alone; we have to work together across borders and cultures.

There is an old saying that means a lot to me: “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” At Reuters IMPACT last year, I was blessed with the birth of my first grandchild just hours before I went on the stage. That’s who I think about the most.

So, let’s work together to save our planet today and not just leave it up to future generations to solve.

Thank you very much.

RPL Apprentices Reach Finals of WorldSkills UK

Ricoh UK Products Limited — 28/07/2023

Two teams of apprentices at RPL have progressed to the national finals of WorldSkills UK after impressing judges in a recent qualifier.

The two teams of three from RPL consisted of Team Innovation; featuring Eve Redden, Kian Beasley and Harrison Felton and Team Passion; featuring Kieran Rowley, Josh Wynne and Cameron Buick.

Additionally, the teams were supported by senior RPL engineers Keith Hickman and Mark Smith, along with other members of the RPL engineering team.

WorldSkills UK is a national competition to test vocational excellence among young people across a number of categories, with this year’s finals taking place in November at colleges, independent training providers and universities across Greater Manchester.

To earn a place in the National Final of the Manufacturing Team Challenge, there were two trials which the apprentices had to complete.

The first of these involved making a custom tricycle and demonstrating how to disassemble and assemble it, which went without issue.

The second challenge was to prove the tricycle worked in a practical environment, which was easy in theory, but proved difficult in practice. When put through their paces, the tricycles experienced a few unforeseen technical hiccups.

Despite this, the WorldSkills UK judge was impressed and said the design portfolios for the tricycles were some of the best he had seen.

The qualifier took place on June 27, so the apprentices faced a nervous wait to find out if they had qualified for the National Final.

For the teams it was good news, and preparations are now in place ahead of the finals in November.

Keith was full of praise for the apprentices and their success.

He said: “Well done Eve, Kieran, Josh, Kian, Cameron, Harrison and Mark, great stuff!

“Now the really hard work begins.

“Our apprentices are more than capable of bringing home gold; it’s going to be far from easy, but I know that they’re all more than up to the challenge.

“Not only did they qualify well, but they made the qualifiers enjoyable and showed great composure and also a good bit of humour when things didn’t quite go to plan, which is a great attribute to have.

“Hopefully a lot has been learnt from the qualifiers and they will all have plenty to offer on approaching the next stage.”

Meanwhile Claire Shepherd, Learning and Development Officer at RPL, added: “This is a fantastic achievement for our apprentices.

“This exciting project has helped to develop our apprentices’ engineering skills and knowledge in a variety of different disciplines, such as CAD design, manufacturing techniques, electronics and software programming, which will be valuable as they work towards completing their apprenticeships.

“In RPL’s spirit of KAIZEN (continuous improvement), between now and the National Finals in November 2023, our apprentices will continue to work on their projects, identifying improvement opportunities and using advanced manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing (with the support of our in-house Additive Manufacturing facility) to help give them the best chance of success.

“We wish our apprentices the best of luck with their WorldSkills journey, we are very proud of their achievements so far!”

Apprentices from RPL are no strangers to success in WorldSkills UK, having won two golds, two silvers and a bronze medal since 2018, and will be looking to build on that success with another medal.

Ricoh positioned as a Leader in 2023 IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Print Transformation

Ricoh UK Products Limited — 13/09/2023

Ricoh has announced it has been positioned in the Leaders Category of the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Print Transformation 2023 Vendor Assessment (doc #US51146523, August 2023). According to the report, “While many competitors focused on transformation after the pandemic hit, Ricoh entered this opportunity early. Over the past 10+ years, Ricoh has evolved from a document-centric organisation focused on office equipment, document management, and related services, to a data-centric company.”

The report states that Ricoh’s digital services business “continues to gain ground as a percentage of the company’s overall revenue,” and cites a number of its solutions in this space, including IT/cloud/workplace services, digital content management/workflow/intelligent capture, and transformation and information governance offerings. At the same time, the report notes Ricoh’s commitment to its print and hardware business, stating: “While Ricoh emphasises its transition to digital services, it is continuing to invest in the core business. The acquisition of PFU’s scanning business and manufacturing joint venture with Toshiba Tec are examples of Ricoh’s commitment to the copy/print marketplace.”

“With a legacy of innovation and a commitment to anticipating market changes, Ricoh showcased strength in several areas of our research, validating its evolution and underscoring its ability to adapt and thrive in the digital era,” said Keith Kmetz, Program Vice President, Imaging, Printing & Document Solutions Research, IDC. “As Ricoh continues to redefine the boundaries of print and embrace the digital landscape, the company remains a beacon of innovation and excellence, demonstrating how a strategic mindset, technological prowess, and customer-centricity can lead to transformative success.”

In an era characterised by transformative shifts, Ricoh has redefined its identity and market approach with a comprehensive portfolio of digital services poised to shape the future workplace. According to the report, “Over the past year, Ricoh has gained notable customer perception increases in the company identity as a leader in digital services, vital partner to the customer's business, and Ricoh products and services align with the customer's need. In addition, customer satisfaction ratings with Ricoh team members are consistently above targeted goals.”

The report notes that the company’s responsiveness to client feedback, stating: “Ricoh customers we spoke with highlighted benefits with space utilisation in the office (RICOH Spaces) and business process management/services. With RICOH Spaces, we heard of the provision of a safe/secure working environment and analytics tools to understand usage and guide future requirements (e.g., reduced space, lower costs) as major benefits. In business process cases, significant cost savings (up to 30%) and gains in efficiency and productivity were common. It also helped establish best practices in several processes.”

Ricoh has been cited as a Leader in a number of recent IDC MarketScapes, including high-speed inkjet solutions¹, cloud MPS², print in the distributed workforce³, and security solutions and services⁴.

"Rooted in a history of connecting people to information, we have always been dedicated to sensing opportunities, driving innovation, and adapting to the evolving business environment,” said Takahiro Irisa, Senior Corporate Officer and President of Ricoh Digital Services Business Unit, Ricoh Company, Ltd. “We believe our position as a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Print Transformation 2023 Vendor Assessment is a result of inspired actions we have taken since several years ago in response to industry changes that gave us the tools to proactively position ourselves as a dynamic digital services provider and integrator today. We believe in not only embracing change but leading it and will continue to offer a combination of cutting-edge technologies and services and deliver optimised value that unleash the full potential of our customers.”

For more information, please visit https://www.ricoh-europe.com/insights/reports-whitepapers/idc-marketscape-print-transformation/.

1. “IDC MarketScape: Worldwide High-Speed Inkjet Press 2023 Vendor Assessment,” doc #US50450723, April 2023.

2. “IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Cloud MPS Hardcopy 2022 Vendor Assessment,” doc #US47337721, Jan 2022.

3. “IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Print in the Distributed Workforce 2022 Vendor Assessment,” doc #US48596221, Jan 2022.

4. “IDC MarketScape: Worldwide for Security Solutions and Services Hardcopy 2022-2023 Vendor Assessment,” doc #US48851622, Jan 2023.

About IDC MarketScape

IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilises a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors.

RPLS commended following granting of European patents

Ricoh UK Products Limited — 20/11/2023

A team of engineers from RPLS have received a top company award following the granting of three European patents.

Principal Engineer Derek Smith, Senior Engineers John Hamilton and Andy McVitie, and Junior Engineer Sam Davies of Stirling's Ink Engineering Team have been key in the granting of the three patents, which has seen them receive a Patent Award from Ricoh Company Ltd (RCL).

The Patent Award scheme rewards employees who successfully file for an invention patent and again if subsequently granted a patent in RCL's name.

The three patents which have been granted are:

EP3335897B1 - Method of forming a surface covering, apparatus for forming a surface covering, and a surface covering. (Already gained Korea patent)

EP3849816B1 - Method for printing onto a substrate and printed substrate. (Already gained Japan & Korea patents)

EP4065651B1 - Ink compositions.

Nozomi Sasaki, Intellectual Property Manager at Ricoh Europe, praised the Stirling team for their efforts.

She said: "Congratulations on your awards.

"I would like to sincerely thank you for your contributions to technology development and intellectual property activities.

“In particular, the patent for EP4065651B1 is highly scalable and I believe it will bring significant value to our future business.”

She added: "The Stirling team has shown great enthusiasm for patents and has submitted numerous applications.

"As an IP Manager, I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to work with all of you.

"Thanks to your efforts, I look forward to the continuous emergence of innovative technology and inventions in the future.”

The team started the application processes for the three patents in 2016, 2018 and 2019 respectively, highlighting their continued hard work and dedication to improvement and innovation across the business.

Between them, Derek, John, Andy and Sam have had 30 granted patents over 14 inventions, with a further five invention applications filed or published, with many more still to come...

RPL Supports International Women in Engineering Day

Ricoh UK Products Limited — 23/06/2023

On Friday, June 23 we celebrate International Women in Engineering Day. International Women in Engineering Day, brought to you by Women’s Engineering Society (WES) will celebrate its 10th year in 2023 and this year’s theme is #MakeSafetySeen.

INWED is the biggest celebration of women engineers in the world. As the only platform of its kind, it plays a vital role in encouraging more young women and girls to take up exciting engineering careers.

To mark to occasion, we have spoken to some of the women engineers we have working here at RPL, to ask their thoughts on their chosen profession, the challenges they face and the advice they would give to others.

Rhona Davies – Engineer, Toner & Ink Engineering

Q: How did you get into engineering and/or STEM?

A: My father was an Electrical Engineer and from a very early age he involved me in his projects and encouraged me to follow Science and Engineering interests. I was wiring 13 amp plugs to his exacting standards and soldering components on to circuit boards by the age of 7.

Q: How did/do you beat the stigma of engineering being a male-dominated industry?

A: It was hard in the 90s, I was once told by a Production Manager, “I don’t know why we bother spending the time and money on women engineers, you will just leave to go and have sprogs anyway.”

You were regularly ignored or talked over in meetings, so you just had to keep trying. You develop a very thick skin and try to not let it get to you, or at least don’t let them see when it does. It has definitely got much better with time, you’re no longer seen as a feminist ‘out to bang the drum’, but there are still moments in society where it hasn’t totally gone away. You just want to be treated as an equal, judged on your ability, not your sex.

Q: What do you enjoy about engineering?

A: Working with technology to create things from scratch or blending people with equipment into a ‘machine like’ process which makes something tangible. Logical thought patterns, solving problems and manipulating data to tell a story. Constantly learning new things and developing new skills.

Q: What are your hopes for the future of women in engineering?

A: I wish more girls would have the opportunity to see that Engineering is an option for them from an early age. And maybe if younger females coming into Engineering had experienced female Engineers to work with, there may be more take-up, as it can sometimes be intimidating as a teenage girl to be put with a middle-aged man as their mentor.

Q: What advice would you give to young women interested in engineering and/or STEM?

A: Keep a clear focus on what you want to do and don’t let anyone put you off. Just with gentle pressure, not arrogance, encourage fellow male colleagues to see what you can do. It may take some time, so be patient. Ridicule is a sign of their weakness and feelings of being threatened, so you have to let them know you’re not a threat, but you don’t want to be walked all over either. It’s all a fine balance and I don’t always get it right. Finally, I was once told every failure is a learning opportunity, so don’t be afraid of failing. I’ve done a lot of learning!

Ling He - Chemical Engineer, Inkjet Technical Centre

Q: Have did you get into engineering and/or STEM?

A: I developed an interest in chemistry when I was in secondary school. Then I did BSc in chemistry, MSc in materials, and chemical engineering in PhD. Therefore I naturally followed a path of engineering career.

Q: How did/do you beat the stigma of engineering being a male-dominated industry?

A: Sometimes it could be hard being ignored or underestimated in a male-dominated industry, but I try to make an impact through action. In my job, I help the customers solve their technical issues, support colleagues, and therefore win their respect. Female engineers can see things from a different angle, and this brings diversity to the team, which is what I’m happy to do.

Q: What do you enjoy about engineering?

A: I like research and challenge. I become excited when I face new challenge and find fulfilment when I solved the problems.

Q: What are your hopes for the future of women in engineering?

A: Women have their own advantages in engineering, such as being more sensitive to subtle gradation of colour, which is very useful in printing industry. I hope women in engineering, with their special set of skills, are appreciated, valued and encouraged.

Q: What advice would you give to young women interested in engineering and/or STEM?

A: Do what you want to do, follow your heart. Engineering is a different but very interesting world.

Gift Elesho - Area Specialist Maintenance Engineer, Manufacturing & Facilities Engineering

Q: Have did you get into engineering and/or STEM?

A: Growing up I developed a passion for mathematics and sciences most especially because of the mentorship from my dad who was a mechanical engineer. He made the principles easy to understand and built my self-confidence which made me excel, while everything else fell into place naturally.

Q: How did/do you beat the stigma of engineering being a male-dominated industry?

A: My dad believed in gender equality and never made engineering seemed like a profession meant only for males and I adopted that mindset as well. Although the stigma was evident at university, I was not deterred by any of the associated bias, rather I propelled myself to success and graduated as the best student in the class with over 100 males.
That was a big win for me!

Q: What do you enjoy about engineering?

A: I mostly enjoy providing practical solutions to problems and bringing theoretical principles to life. Executing projects and collaborating with teams has also proved to be satisfying. I am also glad to have an opportunity to break stereotypes, defying social expectation, and challenging traditional gender roles.

Q: What are your hopes for the future of women in engineering?

A: My hope is that the engineering field embraces diversity with a greater representation of women. Continued advocacy and awareness of gender equality in the field would also be imperative in bridging the existing gap. Above all, women should be given equal opportunities in the workplace and their contributions should be duly recognised.

Q: What advice would you give to young women interested in engineering and/or STEM?

A: They should not be afraid to pursue a career in the field. They can be sure of success once they are determined to put in the work required to acquire the skills and knowledge. They can also leverage on building networks or relationships with women-based organisations in the field.

Natasha Witcombe - Engineering Procurement Specialist, Supply Chain Management

Q: Have did you get into engineering and/or STEM?

A: Sort of by accident! Back in 1989/1990 I felt that career advice in my school was not very good if you were slightly different to the norm. At school, I was good at Physics, Maths, Technical Drawing and Craft, Design & Technology. The careers advisor said I should work in a bank; this would not have suited me at all. I went to college and did A levels, didn’t really do very well apart from technical drawing. I was then offered a place at Staffordshire University on a Manufacturing Engineering with Business Degree, and I have never looked back.

Q: How did/do you beat the stigma of engineering being a male-dominated industry?

A: By having a larger-than-life personality and confidence in myself. I have been very lucky in my early career to have worked with some great Engineers who have taken the time to mentor me, and I have certainly learnt a lot and also a lot of Best Practice. I have also learned how not to do things! It's also interesting that women do think different to men and hence can have a different perspective. This is ideal when part of an Engineering Project Team.

Q: What do you enjoy about engineering?

A: Every day is different and brings different challenges! I worked in the Parts Engineering Department for 22 years and then decided to do CIPS. I am now MCIPS and work as an Engineering Procurement Specialist. So I now experience even more variety in my work than previously.

Q: What are your hopes for the future of women in engineering?

A: I feel that Engineering is still largely male dominated, but it is getting better. If a female feels their strengths are of a technical bias, then they should certainly pursue a career in Engineering, but always aim high.

Q: What advice would you give to young women interested in engineering and/or STEM?

A: Difficult one. Maybe just follow your dreams, aim high and believe in your contribution. You will never be bored in Engineering!

Eve Redden - Technical Engineering Apprentice

Q: How did I get into engineering?

A: I really enjoyed Design and Technology in school and I also took engineering design at GCSE. These subjects are what really got me interested in engineering.

Q: How did/do I beat the stigma of a male dominated industry?

A: Today, I feel like there is a lot less stigma around women in an engineering environment as a whole, although the main thing I do is keep on going and keep on trying.

Q: What do I enjoy about engineering?

A: I really enjoy being able to come up with designs both for something completely new, or something that can help solve a problem.

Q: What are my hopes for the future of women in engineering?

A: I really hope more women are encouraged to look for careers that focus or are based around engineering

Q: What advice would I give young women who are interested in engineering/STEM?

A: My advice would be to stick at it! If you enjoy engineering or any STEM activities, definitely keep doing what you enjoy and look for opportunities where you can put your skills to good use.

Q: What inspired me to pursue a career in engineering?

A: I have always enjoyed designing and making things, so it just made sense to seek a career when I could do just that. The Ricoh UK Products Ltd apprenticeship scheme has allowed me to unleash creativity - coming up with designs for new products and services, things that can help solve real-world problems.

Sharon Winning - Continuous Improvement Engineer, Transformation & Engagement

Q: How did you get into engineering and/or STEM?

A: I didn’t get into Engineering through the conventional way. During my role as a production Team Leader I was heavily involved with process and layout changes and working closely with the Industrial Engineering team. I enjoyed the challenge of optimising the processes and station layouts to achieve targets by sharing mine and my teams’ suggestions and making improvement. I was successful in securing a position in the IE department and gained the qualification of Industrial Engineering (AMS).

Q: How did/do you beat the stigma of engineering being a male-dominated industry?

A: Through my previous role I have built great working relationships within RPL’s Engineering department, so in my experience I’ve never felt there to be a stigma between male and female engineers. I was certainly well received within RPL2’s Engineering department!

Q: What do you enjoy about engineering?

A: Engineering is a constant learning process. It's about pushing boundaries and finding innovative solutions to problems. I relish the challenge and the opportunity to make a positive impact through my work of improving back-office processes with automation and digital solutions and assisting others in gaining fulfilment through work.

Q: What are your hopes for the future of women in engineering?

A: I hope to see more young women pursue a career in Engineering.

Q: What advice would you give to young women interested in engineering and/or STEM?

A: To pursue their interest as Engineering is such a fulfilling career with plenty of opportunities for personal and professional growth. Engineering covers a wide variety of challenges and can be extremely rewarding.

Wendy Newton - Senior Engineer, Inkjet Technical Centre

Q: Have did you get into engineering and/or STEM?

A: I had always preferred helping Dad in the garage when I was a child. With our cars, there was always maintenance required and Sundays were spent in the garage or on the driveway. At school, when speaking with a careers adviser about what career I wanted to pursue I was told “Girls are not Engineers”. My feedback was – watch this space.

Q: How did/do you beat the stigma of engineering being a male-dominated industry?

A: By working hard. I have met with some pretty challenging situations, and unpleasant conversations, but for the greater part either I have been lucky to have some incredibly supportive role models, both male and female, or the stigma hasn’t been present.

Q: What do you enjoy about engineering?

A: The process, getting to meet people from other disciplines, customers etc. Engineering is such a wide all-encompassing term, there will always be an element that sparks curiosity – there is just so much to learn!

Q: What are your hopes for the future of women in Engineering?

A: I hope that we no longer have to answer about the ‘Stigma of engineering being a male-dominated industry’ and just accept that there is a place for everyone, and it is not unusual or novel for a female to choose a career in Engineering

Q: What advice would you give to young women interested in engineering and/or STEM?

A: Go for it! The scope is huge and there are thousands of opportunities and ways to engage in Engineering and/or STEM.

Chloe Millington - Junior Engineer, Manufacturing & Facilities Engineering

"I started at RPL as a craft engineer in 2017, being the only female in maintenance. At times it was daunting as there were certain jobs I couldn't do alone due to height and strength, and I didn't want to admit I couldn't do the jobs asked of me. But my mentors were always supportive and reassured me it was ok to ask for help, especially when it may have put myself or others at danger. College was a great help too, as I got to meet other women my age who are in the same boat, and we could talk to each other about how it feels being in a male dominated environment and the challenges we face."

Claire James - General Manager, Human Resources

"Ricoh is committed to equality of opportunity and embracing a diverse and inclusive culture in all areas of our business. We very much pride ourselves on our 'Ricoh Family' culture, where we promote a positive work environment and provide growth opportunities both through formalised talent programmes such as our apprenticeships, and through an environment where knowledge is shared and personal development is encouraged."

RPL achieves ideasUK PLATINUM accreditation rating for 15th year

Ricoh UK Products Limited — 22/11/2023

Ricoh UK Products Limited (RPL) is delighted to have achieved a PLATINUM accreditation rating - the highest level of achievement - from ideasUK for the 15th consecutive year, being the only member-company ever to have achieved this.

ideasUK is a not-for-profit network organisation, building the capability of businesses in the field of ideas management and innovation.

With a diverse membership, the ideasUK team is passionate about sharing knowledge and experience across different industries, sectors and countries.

Founded in 2006, the dedicated accreditation programme by ideasUK provides a way for organisations to give both internal and external prominence to their employee innovation programme.

The annual accreditation process subjects RPL’s Reward & Recognition schemes and project management to an external assessment, the most recent of which took place in October, and is followed by a report providing guidance on areas of strength and where to focus improvements.

According to ideasUK: “The end-to-end review consists of 50 questions developed as a result of our long history working with innovation programmes and, as of 2020, is now aligned to BS ISO 56002 to provide an added level of validity.”

For an organisation to achieve PLATINUM, they must achieve points in a number of elements, giving a total achievement percentage of 90-100%.

These elements include the following: Organisational Context, Leadership Commitment, Planning, Support – Resources, Support – People, Support - Communication & Publicity, Operational Process, Management Information, Performance Evaluation, and Continuous Improvement.

This year, RPL achieved a PLATINUM rating in every element, with a notable 100% performance rating in both Organisational Context and Leadership Commitment, boasting a total score of 96% over the full assessment.

Zena Cox, Operations Director at ideasUK, who was responsible for the review, commented: “ideasUK is delighted to award RPL with a PLATINUM rating for the 15th year and it is the culture at RICOH that really stands them apart from other organisations.”

Jayne Garner, Continuous Improvement Engagement Coordinator at RPL had the honour of receiving the company’s official certification at the ideasUK awards conference that took place in early November.

Josh Denning, a Senior Production Print Engineer at RPL, also had the great pleasure of being invited to be a keynote speaker at this year’s event. Josh has been in the manufacturing and engineering industry for around 12 years, recently transitioning into the digital transformation space with a PhD in Industry 4.0 in Manufacturing.

He shared his insights on the concepts of Industry 4.0, also known as the fourth industrial revolution, and how the integration of digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and the Internet of Things, can create new opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and customer satisfaction, in the world of manufacturing.

These concepts closely align with RICOH’s ongoing transformation into leading integrated digital services and print and imaging solutions, and optimising workspaces, as well as supporting RICOH’s global Mission-Vision of Fulfilment through Work.

Tim Ottley, General Manager of Operations at RPL said: “To achieve this result is a great endorsement of all of your work. Thank you to everyone who raises such brilliant Good Spots and Bright Ideas, the people who accept them and the people who evaluate them. And thank you to all of you involved in developing new products and services and those of you who manage projects within our innovation portfolio.”

He added: “Without your engagement we would not be able to share our good practice and receive this recognition for the record-breaking 15th year in a row!”

RPLS Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Ricoh UK Products Limited — 17/05/2023

On 17 May, 2023 Ricoh UK Products Ltd (RPL) celebrated the 50^th Anniversary of its operational plant at Stirling, otherwise known as RPLS.

The historic ‘milestone’ occasion was marked with a dedicated ceremony at the RPLS facility, with colleagues from RPL’s Telford site (RPLT) in attendance too, including former Managing Director, Colin Weaver, newly starting Managing Director, Mikio Ishibashi, General Manager (Business Strategy Office), Tomoyasu Makino, and Executive Director & Company Secretary, Rod Baggott, as well as a number of former RPL employees.

In addition to a networking lunch, Colin Weaver was pleased to speak to the RPLS team about the history and growth of RPLS, as well as taking part in a celebratory tree-planting service with fellow management attendees.

Though the plant was not an integrated Business Unit at RPL until 2014, the Stirling site was first opened by The Duke of Edinburgh on 17 May 1973, which also involved the planting of a Rowan tree, which can be seen today when entering the site.

Today, RPLS manufactures supplies for the Ricoh range of Digital Duplicator Printers. Both digital masters (stencils) and digital inks are produced and sold globally within the Ricoh Family Group (RFG).

Together with RPL Telford, Stirling designs, develops and produces industrial inkjet inks. The latest line-up of inks, made with RPL’s own dispersions, are designed for the flooring and decorative wall-covering markets and now include Ricoh’s latest plant-based inks.

Industrial inkjet ink provides ‘Fulfilment through Work’ for digital wallpaper customers by releasing the imagination of designers to produce ‘beyond the constraints’ of analogue printing and providing a platform to react in real time to customers’ requirements.

Furthermore, RPLS is positively contributing to Ricoh’s commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as Digital Duplicator Printers typically use 60% less energy compared to other typical office equipment, providing printing with a low environmental footprint. Unlike digital wallpaper which is print-on demand, analogue wallpaper is produced in large volumes in advance, leading to high waste of unused material.

RPLS also ensures that all raw materials used meet the Ricoh Green Procurement Standard.

Looking ahead to the future of RPLS, Colin Weaver commented: “Change will not stop, and everyone will appreciate that the future – this is very difficult to predict, but what we do know is that we have invested in the latest digital ink manufacturing plant. Together, we are identifying new opportunities that have numerous industrial applications which we now need to exploit to ensure the dawn of the next 50 years starts with a host of new products.

“In the short to medium term, we will continue to produce high-quality, low-cost consumables for the digital duplicating business and continue to work hard to persuade and win other parts of this business within Ricoh, to secure our future.”

He added: “Longer term, we must attract new business to the site as we have done successfully throughout our 50-year history.

“I congratulate and thank you all for getting us to this 50^th anniversary. We must now pick up the baton and drive forward into the next 50 years. A huge thank you to all who have supported this journey.”

PROTIQ Marketplace welcomes Ricoh 3D

Ricoh UK Products Limited — 27/04/2023

“With PROTIQ, Ricoh 3D has taken another step in fortifying its position as an industry-leader in 3D printing.”

Joining PROTIQ Marketplace

With over 80 years of manufacturing experience and growing partnerships, Ricoh 3D is proud to announce its collaboration with PROTIQ Marketplace – a versatile online marketplace for industrial 3D printing.

The dedicated web portal allows users to upload and configure 3D models and resultingly provides the right solutions to businesses and customers, through accurate quoting and listings of materials, technologies and providers who can assist with your additive manufacturing (AM) needs.

The portal itself includes features that actively support your business processes, including convenient approval and ordering processes and an optimised configurator, with which you can upload entire assemblies.

PROTIQ works with members/providers who produce the desired products and parts and then ship them to customers.

Ricoh 3D is delighted to have joined the marketplace in April 2023 to expand its provision of industry-leading polypropylene. Known for its superior purity and versatility, this new offering will cater to a multitude of applications and is available on the PROTIQ Marketplace with immediate effect. What’s more, Ricoh 3D will be just one of two providers of polypropylene.

Find out more about Ricoh’s polypropylene material by clicking here.

Visit Ricoh 3D’s PROTIQ profile by clicking here.

An Integrated Approach

The web portal coincides with Ricoh 3D’s own integrated approach, which allows customers and partners to work closely with the team, attain instant quotations, and understand how AM could help grow businesses.

Regardless of whether you’re a small or large business, Ricoh 3D has always aimed to make processes more profitable, productive, sustainable, and secure – and needless to say, this new marketplace offering will expand Ricoh’s offering to customers within Europe.

Said Senior Engineer, Richard Minifie: “We are delighted and proud to announce our partnership with PROTIQ allowing us to offer our 3D printing service through their online Marketplace.

“Our class-leading polypropylene is now available through the Marketplace and we are looking forward to a fruitful partnership between Ricoh and PROTIQ going forward.”

A key factor in the decision to join the Marketplace was PROTIQ’s commitment to shaping the future of additive manufacturing. The values of research and collaboration with universities align with Ricoh 3D’s own commitment of actively working with colleges, universities, and educational institutions, many of whom will engage the 3D printing experts of the future.

Supporting You

Are you looking to fulfil your manufacturing requirements? Simply upload your CAD files today and let Ricoh 3D handle the rest.

Need some further support? PROTIQ has been providing expertise in additive manufacturing for the Phoenix Contact Group since 2010 – and are available to contact any time thanks to their worldwide presence. You can also contact Ricoh 3D directly on the dedicated Marketplace profile.

…And don’t worry, Ricoh 3D is not limited to polypropylene… For other materials and technologies, explore the Ricoh 3D website or contact us directly.

RICOH and Siemens collaborate to realise industrial aluminium binder jetting process for mass production

Ricoh UK Products Limited — 20/11/2023

Ricoh Company, Ltd. has announced that RICOH and Siemens Digital Industries Software, a world-leading provider of product lifecycle management and manufacturing operations management software, have started collaboration to realise the industrial aluminium binder jetting (BJT) solution for mass production.

RICOH is leveraging Siemens’ Additive Manufacturing Network (Siemens’ AMN) capabilities to maximise the efficiency of the process and to achieve the scale required to take advantage of BJT in an industrial setting. Additionally, RICOH is implementing the Additive Manufacturing Network solution at Ricoh UK Products Ltd– The Home of Ricoh 3D, to optimise the aluminium BJT workflow for production preparation, planning, scheduling, and production management with less effort.

RICOH has also implemented Siemens’ Brownfield Connectivity and has begun collecting and storing information on each process necessary for quality stabilisation and production control. Siemens will continue to provide RICOH with solutions optimised for the aluminum BJT workflow, and both companies aim for early commercialisation of these technologies.

RICOH’s proprietary binder jetting technology applies the company’s leading inkjet printing technology and expertise to enable the production of metal parts with more complex shapes that would not be possible with conventional metal processing methods such as machining and casting. RICOH’s implementation of BJT technology will allow the manufacture of parts using a layer-by-layer approach, where RICOH’s aluminium-alloy powder is deposited, solidified where needed using a specially formulated binder using RICOH’s inkjet printing technology to build the components required. Once complete, the ‘green’ form is then sintered in a furnace to create a cohesive, end-use component that can be used as is or enter a downstream post-processing chain.

RICOH has positioned the “realisation of a zero-carbon society” as one of its material issues. The organisation aims to achieve zero GHG emissions throughout its entire value chain, enabling customers to develop highly energy-efficient products by using Ricoh's 3Dprinters, thereby contributing to the realisation of a zero-carbon society.

“The production of aluminium parts is a ‘holy grail’ for the additive industry and we’re delighted that RICOH has chosen the Siemens’ Additive Manufacturing Network capabilities from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software to help them commercialise a much sought after process,” said Zvi Feuer, Senior Vice President, Digital Manufacturing Software, Siemens Digital Industries Software.

“Our collaboration with RICOH will apply its expertise in additive manufacturing with our knowledge and experience in delivering additive-specific operations management technology across a wide spectrum of industries – from order capture, through production planning, manufacturing, to part delivery transaction closure.

“Together, Siemens and RICOH are working to deliver repeatability and consistency at the scale needed to truly take advantage of using robust and repeatable aluminium additively manufactured parts in the commercial world.”

Tokutaro Fukushima, General Manager of Additive Manufacturing Business Center, Ricoh Futures Business Unit (BU), Ricoh Company, Ltd., said: “RICOH will enable our customers to manufacture innovative aluminium components that have never been produced before with aluminum BJT, and will work with them to realise new customer value in the area of electrification of electric vehivles (EVs), other forms of mobility, and more.

“By combining Siemens' powerful solutions and knowledge with RICOH's aluminum BJT, we will be able to provide our customers with highly reliable and convenient systems for mass production applications.”

He added: “We hope to promote electrification together with our customers and contribute to solving social issues such as the realisation of a zero-carbon society.”

RPL supports study on micro-hydroelectric power generation in utilising 3D printers

Ricoh UK Products Limited — 25/07/2023

‘Success in improving the weight of micro-hydroelectric power generation equipment, and significantly shortening the time required to create the equipment’

Earlier this year, Ricoh Company Limited (RCL) President and CEO, Akira Oyama announced that Ricoh had conducted an innovative and insightful study on micro-hydroelectric power generation in sewage facilities.

Furthermore, Oyama shared that 3D printers had been utilised within the framework of applied research on sewerage, led by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).

WEeeT-CAM, an in-house start-up launched under Ricoh's new business creation initiative ‘TRIBUS’, participated in the study to examine the development of 3D-printed hydroelectric power generators.

The study verified its usability at sewage treatment plant through industry-academia collaboration with Seabell Incorporated and Masashi YAMABE – Masahiro SETO Laboratory at Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kanazawa Institute of Technology.

The study generated several kW of electricity using equipment with blades 25% lighter and main bodies 15% lighter than conventional metal hydroelectric power generation devices.

Ricoh UK Products Ltd (RPL) was proud to announce that it supported the project start-up phase in 2020. The Ricoh 3D team was responsible for generating 3D printed parts in PA12 and Polypropylene, which were utilised by RCL’s R&D department as part of prototyping and development activities.

RPL also announced that in November 2022, Ricoh UK Products Ltd Stirling (RPLS) contributed to the project. RCL’s Research & Development (R&D) Project Manager, Research Principal, Mr Akira Saito visited Stirling for ‘demo testing’, utilising the local burn (stream) to test water flow under various specs and restrictions.

Following initial support from RPL, Ricoh Company Limited leveraged 3D printer technology to create a micro-hydroelectric generator incorporating 3D printed blades made of biomass-derived materials. Compared to a water turbine made from commonly used 3D printer materials, the turbine was more than twice as strong as a metal turbine. It was found that the strength was maintained even after being placed underwater for a long period of time and could be used for large-scale hydroelectric power generation.

The study also significantly shortened the production period from roughly one month to three days. The waterwheel part was made of resin for improved underwater durability.

In the future, the electricity generated by these devices is expected to be used as emergency power supply at the disaster prevention centres within sewage treatment plants, and battery systems that provide power for mobility, as well as in crawler-type automatic inspection robots.

In addition to installing micro-hydroelectric power generators at sewage treatment plants in Japan, Ricoh will continue to study the possibility of introducing the technology in Europe, the United States, and emerging economies – with Ricoh 3D continuing to support.

Oyama commented: “Ricoh will continue to solve social issues through its business activities and provide value that is useful to society.”

Background

Garbage, sand, and dirt are allowed to settle out through the sewage treatment process. The sewage is then pumped into a tank to break down impurities using microorganisms. Keeping these microorganisms active requires a constant supply of oxygen into the water, which consumes approximately 75kWh*, a considerable amount of electric power equivalent to roughly 110 billion yen in electricity bills annually. So, there is a pressing need to reduce power consumption to conserve energy and lower costs.

Some sewage treatment plants currently make use of micro-hydroelectric power generators, but conventional equipment poses the following issues: (1) low turbine efficiency and low output, (2) high purchase and installation costs of hydroelectric power generation equipment, (3) significant equipment heavily burdens the on-site personnel, and (4) the current micro-hydroelectric power generation equipment is challenging to use in environments that exacerbate rusting.

In response to these issues, MLIT is currently engaged in technology demonstrations and applied research to realise green innovation in sewerage systems. In March 2022, a study commenced in the field of applied research for sewerage systems based on a proposal led by Ricoh.

* Source: Subcommittee Report on Studies for Contributing to a Decarbonized Society, Sewage Policy Research Committee, released by Japan's MLIT.

Details of the study

The water turbine shape was designed in collaboration with Seabell Incorporated, a manufacturer specialising in low-head micro-hydroelectric power generators, and the Kanazawa Institute of Technology. Demonstration experiments were conducted at a sewage treatment plant in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

The micro-hydroelectric power generator used features two generators mounted on a single unit, allowing efficient power generation. Additionally, as an open-type device, the waterwheel can be placed directly in the existing waterway, eliminating the need to construct a new bypass waterway for hydroelectric power generation and reducing construction cost.

Ricoh's 3D printer technology was used to create a micro-hydroelectric generator incorporating 3D printed blades made of biomass-derived* materials. Compared to a water turbine made from commonly used 3D printer materials, the turbine is more than twice as strong** as a metal turbine. It was found that the strength was maintained even after being placed underwater for a long period of time and could be used for large-scale hydroelectric power generation.

* Renewable organic resources derived from living organisms; does not include fossil resources.

** A maximum bending fracture stress of 133 N/mm² using the R3D New method developed by Ricoh, compared to the 60 N/mm² provided by the resin characteristics of conventional materials.

https://www.ricoh.com/release/2023/0404_1

RPL celebrates strategic partner Coloreel's tie up with retail clothing giant

Ricoh UK Products Limited — 24/10/2023

Ricoh UK Products Ltd (RPL) is pleased to learn that its strategic partner Coloreel has teamed up with retail clothing giant H&M to bring its technology to stores.

The Swedish company Coloreel has rapidly gained recognition for its pioneering innovation in embroidery. Their technology – ‘a world first’ – enables manufacturers to instantly dye a white thread into an unlimited spectrum of colours, all in real-time.

Furthermore, this technology makes production more efficient by using digital processes and automation, while saving up to 97% of water compared to traditional thread dyeing. Find out more by clicking here.

In October it was announced that H&Mbeyond launched an embroidery service in the newly re-opened Alexa H&M store in Berlin.

H&Mbeyond is the Central European Innovation Hub of the well-known fashion company H&M Group. Together with startups and innovators, its team drives forward future-oriented projects, products and services.

Oliver Lange, Head of H&Mbeyond, said he was excited by the partnership.

He said: "Our partnership with Coloreel reflects our commitment to enhance the shopping experience through innovative solutions.

"By embracing this advanced technology, we can offer our customers a unique and engaging store visit."

With the collaboration, H&M and Coloreel want to explore ways to create exciting brick-and-mortar shopping experiences and analyze the influence that a disruptive technology like Coloreel’s has on in-store purchases.

Meanwhile, Mattias Nordin, SVP Product Management at Coloreel, added: "We are proud to team up with H&M to bring forth a new era of personalized fashion.

"Together, we are redefining the boundaries of traditional embroidery, empowering customers to express their individuality”.

The service is offered at the H&M Alexa store in Berlin during Q4 2023. While the service currently extends to products within the store, plans for embroidering customers’ own garments might be added later. This approach would extend the lifespan of garments, creating a positive environmental impact.

RICOH first connected with Coloreel in January 2017, where they explained that their concept was to digitally colour a thread using inkjet technology on stitch-by-stitch basis.

A partnership was formed shortly after with the aim of creating a custom-designed and manufactured print module, which today, is the core printing technology within the Coloreel ITCu (Integrated Thread Colouring Unit), co-developed by RPL and Ricoh Company Ltd. RICOH also supplies ink cartridges and other consumables to support the Coloreel product.

The unit enables the embroidery designer huge scope to create unique embroideries with thousands of different colours across multiple colour spaces. The designer can also incorporate special effects which are unique to Coloreel, such as vivid multipoint gradients, noise and stripes which are not feasible with conventional embroidery.

Producing coloured thread on-demand also enables complete freedom to create virtually any design imaginable onto any textile-based products such as caps, shoes, shirts, jackets, bags and more.

Said RPL’s Engineering Specialist, Simon Frost: “The RPL team is proud to work with Coloreel on this innovative product development journey.

“This close collaboration has resulted in a ‘world first’ in terms of product development. The Coloreel ITCu is a truly innovative product offering clear benefits in terms of creativity, efficiency, performance and sustainability.

“It is truly awe-inspiring to see the amazing designs which are being created by using this cutting-edge technology.”

This news follows on from Coloreel's recent announcement of a million-dollar deal with a major Asian manufacturer.

This new partnership underscores Coloreel's capacity to meet the growing demand for innovative and sustainable solutions among manufacturers and brands worldwide.

While the initial delivery of the on-demand digital thread-dying units is set for October 2023, the majority of the volume will be shipped during 2024.

A spokesperson at Coloreel said: “We are extremely proud to team up with H&Mbeyond to bring forth a new era of personalised fashion. Together, we are redefining the boundaries of in-store embroidery, empowering customers to express their individuality.”

Torbjörn Bäck, CEO of Coloreel, added: “We are thrilled about this partnership and eagerly anticipate collaborating to produce high-quality products utilising our patented technology.

“This agreement serves as evidence that our offering can play a crucial role in making mass production in the fashion industry more sustainable, while also providing tremendous opportunities for design and creativity.”

Together, RPL and Coloreel are both preserving the craftmanship of embroidery and taking embroidery to the next level. And with Coloreel expanding their partnerships in other sectors, this latest announcement undoubtedly strengthens the movement towards more sustainable production in textiles, fashion and beyond.

Congratulations to Coloreel and H&Mbeyond; RICOH looks forward to seeing what’s to come…

RPL enjoys success at RDP Ricoh Way Values Awards

Ricoh UK Products Limited — 06/09/2023

Ricoh UK Products Ltd (RPL) is proud to announce that the business was recognised in the annual RICOH Digital Products (RDP) Ricoh Way Values Awards earlier this week, following an employee’s social and charitable work.

In the online awards ceremony, various Ricoh Group successes were showcased to a global audience.

Alan De La Hay, Tool maker (Manufacturing & Facilities Engineering) was delighted to be the recipient of the Gold ‘Social Contribution’ award, following his extraordinary support following the conflict in Ukraine. By his own admission: “I was so shocked and moved by the invasion of Ukraine, so felt I needed to do something to support those in need.”

With his partner, they decided to rehome an individual displaced by the war through a Facebook group called Help Ukraine Telford (or HUT) as part of the governments ‘Homes for Ukraine’ appeal.  

After an initial struggle with Visa applications, they were finally able to offer a home to Iryna from Kharkiv, who’s apartment was destroyed by a rocket. Iryna stayed with Alan for four months, during which time she was fully and successfully integrated into UK life, and now lives and works in London as a Nanny. Said Alan: “For Iryna, the UK is her permanent home now.”

During this same period, Alan continued to collect funds and donations for HUT and, already being a committee member, became one of the directors.  

According to Scott Pardoe, Tooling Supervisor, who raised the initial nomination at RPL: “Alan took the opportunity to secure an empty shop in Bridgnorth from between October and December 2022 free of charge from Apley estate. In this brief spell, Alan and his partner raised around £5000 to buy essential aid for the approaching Ukrainian winter.”

Dave Rogers, Team Leader, added: “Alan also used holidays from work so that he could ‘man’ the shop every Friday. He even worked Christmas Day!

“Alan and his partner worked with local schools to get ‘shoebox’ donations with presents inside, so children caught up in the conflict could still experience some joy during the festive period.”

Alan’s charitable efforts ensured ten 7.5 tonne lorry loads of supplies were sent to Ukraine, including food, warm clothing, children’s toys, medical supplies, chainsaws, petrol generators – and even a surgical portable wash station.

In the event, RICOH Digital Products President, Katsunori Nakata said: “I would like to thank Alan and his partner for their vital social contribution activities, which highlights the importance of people connection.”

“They put their hands up autonomously and voluntarily gave their time to support others. Alan is undoubtedly an asset to the Ricoh Family Group.”

He added: “Such social contribution activities give hope and pride to our people – and so I want others to look at this contribution and follow suit, for wellbeing of wider society.”

Reflecting on the award, Alan said: “I humbly accept this award on behalf of all the committee members and directors at HUT who so willingly give their time (and in many cases their spare rooms) in supporting victims of the Ukraine conflict, and the wider public who supported with fundraising and donations.”

RPL Supports Big Butterfly Count

Ricoh UK Products Limited — 18/07/2023

Ricoh UK Products Ltd (RPL) is proud to announce that it is supporting the Big Butterfly Count 2023 – a nationwide ‘citizen science survey’ aimed at helping us assess the health of our environment.

It was launched in 2010 and has rapidly become the world's biggest survey of butterflies. Over 64,000 individuals took part in 2022, submitting 96,257 counts of butterflies and day-flying moths from across the UK.

Why Butterflies?

The Butterfly Conservation states: “We count butterflies because not only are they beautiful creatures to be around, but they are also extremely important. They are vital parts of the ecosystem as both pollinators and components of the food chain.

“However, they are under threat. Numbers of butterflies and moths in the UK have decreased significantly since the 1970s. This is a warning that cannot be ignored.

“Butterfly declines are also an early warning for other wildlife losses. Butterflies are key biodiversity indicators for scientists as they react very quickly to changes in their environment. Therefore, if their numbers are falling, then nature is in trouble. So, tracking numbers of butterflies is crucial in the fight to conserve our natural world.

“That's why taking part in this massive citizen science enterprise is of great importance not just for our butterflies but for the wider environment and biodiversity in general.”

Purchasing and Environmental Specialist, Elaine Herwin, has started this initiative at RPL’s Telford site, by recording her own findings around the area – but now we invite all employees to join the count, outside of the workplace and in our local community!

The count officially starts on Friday, 14 July and runs until Sunday, 6 August.

RPL’s internal Biodiversity team are pleased to share that this activity will strengthen our commitment to the achievement of SDGs, and also contribute to the business’ CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) for this financial year, which will be monitored and shared with Ricoh globally.

For further information, please visit: https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/

Ricoh named as one of TIME World's Best Companies of 2023

Ricoh UK Products Limited — 19/09/2023

Ricoh has been recognized as one of the World's Best Companies of 2023 by TIME magazine. The ranking lists 750 top-performing companies across the globe based on three primary dimensions: employee satisfaction, revenue growth, and sustainability (ESG). Ricoh ranked in top 35% in the sustainability dimension.

This new annual ranking was conducted by TIME in partnership with Statista, a leading international provider of market and consumer data and rankings. The comprehensive research study evaluated companies on their revenue, environmental, social, and governance criteria based on data from Statista's database. To measure employee satisfaction, a survey of approximately 150,000 participants in 58 countries was conducted as well.

This year, Ricoh has also been named to Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations 2023 by Corporate Knights and Asia-Pacific Climate Leaders 2023 by the Financial Times and Statista.

Ricoh will continue to align ESG and business growth by resolving social issues through business, such as improving customer productivity by our digital services and developing eco-friendly products and services.