Thermal Media Business established in India

Ricoh Company Ltd. has established its Ricoh Thermal Media Asia Pacific Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary responsible for thermal media and related business, in Mumbai, India.

Ricoh is believed to develop, produce and market durable, high-value-added thermal paper and thermal transfer ribbons mainly used for barcodes which have earned a high share of the thermal media markets worldwide. RTM-AP is supposed to start production and sale of thermal transfer ribbons as well as the marketing of thermal paper through its own distribution network in India. RTM-AP is said to cover not only the Indian market, but the high growth Asia Pacific region in the future.

Yasu Takashima, MD, RTM-AP said, "Demand for high quality thermal transfer ribbons and thermal paper is expected to increase significantly in the future in fields such as foods, logistics, and production management. This leads to opportunities for Ricoh to provide products tailored to specific applications.  Ricoh aims to grow its net sales of thermal media business in the Indian market by ten times in three years."  RTM-AP plans to launch the slitting operation of thermal transfer ribbons, followed by establishing production and sales systems in close collaboration with customers in India in the initial stage.

Tetsuya Takano, MD & CEO of Ricoh India, said, "Investment in RTM-AP is yet another example of Ricoh's contribution towards India’s growth story. Although RTM-AP is in a completely different business category, Ricoh India and RTM-AP will explore opportunities to work together in areas which are mutually beneficial."