FUJIFILM BUSINESSES TO COMBINE OPERATIONS FROM 1 APRIL

Fujifilm is set to combine its two print solutions supply business operations in Australia, bringing them both into one new division, Fujifilm Graphic Communications.

The new entity will be formed on 1 April, when Fujifilm Australia and Fujifilm Business Innovation will join forces to create the new Graphics and Communications function.

The Fujifilm Graphic Communications division will continue to be led by Yoshitaka Nakamura, senior general manager and head of Oceania, with Steve Fisher stepping into the role of head of Graphic Communications, leading the sales team.

Fujifilm Graphic Communications will be one of the biggest technology and consumables suppliers to the Australian print market. It will supply and service cutsheet and continuous feed digital colour print systems, both toner and inkjet, and roll-fed and flatbed wide-format print systems. It will also supply Fujifilm’s offset printing plates and CTP systems, the XMF workflow, as well as inks and chemicals.

Steve Fisher, head of Graphic Communications, said, “Fujifilm Business Innovation Australia and Fujifilm Australia are thrilled to engage the market as a single, unified Graphics and Communications function - enhancing our ability to sell, service, and deliver the best possible outcomes for our customers.

“This merger of business functions means our customers will continue working with the dedicated teams they know and trust, while benefiting from the combined strength of our Graphics and Communications expertise.

“Bringing together our high-quality analogue and digital offerings under one roof seeks to achieve a seamless, more efficient experience for our customers. It also enables us to accelerate the growth of our solutions and services to support digital transformation across the industry.”

Fujifilm Business Innovation's focus was on the Revoria cutsheet digital printer series, and it also supplied the high-speed continuous feed Jet Press CF1160. Fujifilm Australia was handling all the Acuity and Onset sign and display print systems, the B2 Jet Press 760, the offset printing plates and CTP systems, the XMF workflow, as well as inks and chemicals. All Fujifilm technology and consumables are now part of the new Fujifilm Graphic Communications operation.

Fujifilm had one of the biggest stands at the drupa, and used it to show a swag of new print solutions in commercial and packaging hardware, software and consumables. It launched the world’s first B2 sheetfed toner press, its first digital flexibles press, as well as new flexo plate, new inkjet heads and a new XMF workflow.

The new toner-powered B2-sized toner-powered Revoria GC 12500 joined the B2 inkjet Jet Press that the company launched a decade ago, and which now has 300 systems running around the world.

Fujifilm also launched upgrades to its Revoria 1120, which prints in six colours, adding new specialty colours to enable it to print CMYK plus RGB. The company says it also comes with the world’s first pressure sensitive adhesive, which it says will work in applications such as direct mail.

The company also had its new Jetpress 1160 continuous feed printer, available outside of Japan for the first time. It prints on both coated and uncoated papers, and comes with a paper stabiliser to overcome paper feed issues. Reacon Australia became the first printer in ANZ to order one.

The new digital inkjet packaging press for flexibles, the Fujifilm FP790, which runs at 50 metres a minute at 1200 x 1200dpi on flexible film, was also released.

In wide format print Fujifilm had the Prime flatbed, Prime hybrid and Ultra roll-to-roll systems on its stand, and launched Aquafuze ink, which is an aqueous ink with UV curing.

Fujifilm now manufactures all its wide-format print systems itself, under the Blueprint strategy which it launched at Fespa three years ago, and had a full suite of solutions on its stand.

Fisher said, “We’re committed to keeping pace with the rapid changes in the Graphic Communications landscape - whether it’s analogue, digital, workflow, or consumables, we are here to support our customers at every stage.

“We look forward to sharing more about what’s ahead for 2025, including showcasing our latest innovations at the PacPrint exhibition in May.”