Latest news with #NeilColquhoun
Gulf Business
07-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Epson's vision for the region: Smarter tech, local focus, global values
Images: Supplied In this interview, Yasunori Ogawa, president and CEO of Seiko Epson Corporation, and Neil Colquhoun, president of Epson META-CWA, discuss the strategic importance of the company's Innovation Centre, regional market priorities, and the role of Japanese values in driving innovation and consistency across Epson's global operations. The Innovation Centre, which opened in Dubai in February, marks a significant step in the company's regional growth strategy. Spanning 1,100 square metres, the centre serves as a regional hub for collaboration, training, and customer engagement. It builds on over $13m in investments made by Epson across the Middle East, Türkiye, Africa, and Central & West Asia (META-CWA) between 2022 and 2024. Epson launched the Innovation Centre in Dubai in February. Tell us more about this initiative and how it fits into your broader regional strategy. Colquhoun : The Innovation Centre is part of a broader strategic roadmap that began a few years ago when Ogawa-san and I started working on how to expand our presence in what we see as a high-potential region — the Middle East and Africa. The first major step was establishing our regional head office in Dubai, which we officially launched in October 2024. When I first arrived in the region in 2014, we had about seven or eight employees based in Jebel Ali. Today, that number has grown to 136, which reflects the tremendous growth we've experienced. We've seen consistent double-digit growth year-on-year for the last five to seven years, barring the Covid period. The Innovation Centre is the next phase of this journey. It's designed to bring us closer to our customers and, in turn, bring those customers closer to our R&D teams in Japan. We invest around $300m annually in research and development — a significant sum for a company of our size. What role does this Innovation Centre play in enhancing customer experience and strengthening Epson's innovation reputation? Ogawa : The centre is all about proximity — to customers and to innovation. By expanding our team here, including product management and business functions, we've created a full-fledged independent operation. When we receive customer insights, we can now relay them directly to Japan without delay. It also supports the creation of products tailored to local market needs. Generic products might work in some regions, but others — like here — require different specifications. Additionally, the centre helps reinforce our competitive edge. Many of the products showcased face competition from China and Korea, but through our principles of sho-sho-sei — which translates as efficient, compact and precision — and monozukuri — the art and science of manufacturing — we demonstrate our distinct value. The association with Japanese quality is strong in this region, and we want to reinforce that further. So, this is a strategic step in a larger regional growth plan? Colquhoun : This is a tactical component of a long-term strategic vision. The Middle East and Africa are key growth markets for us, and as local economies and businesses continue to develop, we see even more potential. Which sectors have seen performers recently, and which are you targeting for future growth? Colquhoun: Education remains a cornerstone of our regional strategy. We've established substantial partnerships with governments in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, supplying projection equipment to schools. Our high-brightness projectors, such as the Epson EB-L30000UNL, deliver up to 30,000 lumens, ensuring vivid and clear visuals even in well-lit classrooms In addition to projection, our heat-free printing technology has been instrumental in educational settings. This technology reduces power consumption and minimises maintenance by eliminating the need for heat during the printing process, aligning with sustainability goals like Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The healthcare sector has also benefited from our innovations. Facilities such as MediClinic have adopted our printers for their energy efficiency and rapid first-page-out times, which are crucial in medical environments where time and reliability are paramount. In the logistics industry, our high-volume printers and advanced scanning solutions support the sector's digitisation efforts. Our scanners offer high-quality A3 and A4 scanning capabilities, integrating seamlessly with document management systems to streamline operations. Manufacturing is another area where we've seen growth, particularly with our SCARA robots. Models like the Epson SCARA G6 650mm Series are designed for precision and efficiency in compact spaces, offering cycle times as low as 0.35 seconds. These robots are increasingly utilised in regions embracing on-shoring, such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. Our textile printing solutions, including dye-sublimation technology, enable high-quality printing on various materials, from garments to promotional items. This technology supports businesses in producing vibrant, durable prints, catering to the growing demand for customised textile products. Lastly, our commitment to digital innovation is exemplified by our high-brightness projection technology. For instance, the Our ongoing investment in research and development ensures that we continue to deliver cutting-edge, sustainable solutions across these sectors, meeting the evolving needs of our clients and contributing to regional growth. You previously mentioned robotics. Is this another growth area for Epson in the region? Colquhoun ; Robotics — particularly in manufacturing — is another focus. Our SCARA robots are increasingly being adopted in assembly lines and automation applications. We expect strong growth in this sector as more industries modernise their operations. Which business segments have performed particularly well for Epson in the META or GCC region? Ogawa : We've seen standout performance in several key segments across the region, with the most significant growth coming from our consumer print business, particularly EcoTank. EcoTank has been a global success story — we recently crossed the 100 million milestone in global sales — and this region has played a crucial role in that growth. Our market share continues to climb, with provisional data for the last quarter showing yet another increase. This success is down to a combination of strategic in-store execution with our retail partners and robust brand-building efforts. Beyond consumer printing, we've also seen strong momentum in the education sector, securing major tenders in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait. Another bright spot is our high-brightness projector segment. Finally, office printing has been a strong area as well, especially as more government and corporate clients choose Epson solutions to meet their sustainability goals — a clear competitive advantage for us. Sustainability has become a key part of every business conversation. How is Epson responding to it? Ogawa : Sustainability isn't a trend for us — it's embedded in our DNA and is a clear differentiator in this region. Our print technologies are designed to be energy-efficient, reliable, and clean, with fewer moving parts, which not only reduces energy use but also enhances longevity and reliability. We're also investing in future-focused innovations like dry fiber technology, which allows for paper recycling without water — a significant environmental leap. This technology isn't limited to paper; we're developing it for plastics and even fabric recycling, which opens up entirely new sustainability pathways. Another exciting area is CO₂ separation technology, part of our broader goal to become underground resource-free by 2050. While still in early stages, we've begun building capacity, and over time we expect this to scale and support our global decarbonisation objectives. From a commercial standpoint, this sustainability commitment is already yielding results. We've won major office printing deals across the Middle East — including in Saudi Arabia and Qatar — specifically because our products help organisations meet their environmental targets. And yes, in some cases, our products can even be powered by solar energy, making us a compelling partner for government and enterprise clients alike. Epson's values are key to its business success. How do you ensure those values are upheld consistently across all your regions? Colquhoun : That's a great question — and one that every global organisation wrestles with. You can have a powerful vision at headquarters, but without consistent execution across all regions, it remains just that: a vision. At One of the ways we ensure this consistency is through frequent global alignment. We hold regular president's meetings — monthly or quarterly — where heads from around the world come together to align on strategy and execution. Importantly, our business is locally incorporated, which means our teams have a direct line to our colleagues in Japan. Our product marketing teams talk to the head office every day. We have a dedicated global division that agrees on shared tactics, product positioning, and messaging, particularly around key pillars like sustainability. But the relationship isn't one-directional. It's bi-directional. We feed back real-time insights from the markets: what's resonating, what customers are responding to, and where adjustments are needed. That feedback loop allows us to localise messaging without losing the essence of our global identity. Ultimately, it all comes down to the excellence of execution — and that's my job. If our teams aren't delivering consistently and up to standard, the head office will be quick to point it out. It's a healthy accountability that keeps us sharp and ensures that our values are meaningfully and consistently expressed across every region where Epson operates.
Daily Maverick
04-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Epson doubles down on South Africa as print market transforms
It's easy to think that the home printer heavyweights would fade into the obsolescence ether as the world goes paperless. As it turns out, business is booming. Epson, the global imaging and printing giant from Japan, is significantly strengthening its commitment to South Africa, recently unveiling new offices in Cape Town following the launch of an Innovation Centre in Johannesburg. This expansion underscores the country's strategic importance within the expansive Middle East, Turkey, Africa and Central and West Asia (META-CWA) region. 'The decision to build a strong presence in South Africa is partly thanks to the organisation in southern Africa and the talent of the South African people that we brought into the organisation,' explained Neil Colquhoun, president of Epson META-CWA, referring to the company's move to insource back-office functions rather than outsourcing. Epson's local team, already touching 80, is expected to grow to about 100 within 18 months, handling not only commercial operations for SADC and English-speaking Africa but also critical back-office functions such as finance, IT and supply chains for the entire META-CWA region. This will also double the size of Colquhoun's regional team that operates primarily from the Dubai base. The company's demographic profile reflects a young, diverse workforce with a median age of 39 and an average of about 30. Women constitute 47% of Epson's regional employees, with half of the senior management team being female. 'We're really, really proud of our demographic profile,' Colquhoun noted. 'It distinguishes us in the tech industry, which traditionally skews male.' An EcoTank in every home Epson's regional growth strategy centres on its EcoTank printer technology, which now accounts for about half of the company's global business. The ink tank principle has proven particularly successful in emerging markets. 'We've sold over 100 million EcoTanks worldwide – more than the rest of the market combined,' Colquhoun said. The source of this market advantage is a proprietary Micro Piezo technology, a heat-free printing method. 'This is completely unique to Epson – we own the core technology and don't sell or licence it to others,' he said. 'It results in very low power consumption, which is critical in countries like South Africa because of load shedding. Theoretically, you could power an Epson printer with a bicycle dynamo.' The additional benefits include reduced maintenance, faster printing and longer device lifespans. 'It's cold technology, which means you're not stressing the parts. This results in lower intervention requirements compared to laser printers, which struggle with heat and dust issues.' A departure from tradition An important thing to understand about the printer game is that the rules are to not sell but lease, with expensive maintenance contracts that place a premium on call-out fees. Colquhoun has other ideas. He describes EcoTank as a 'complete game changer' due to its dramatic impact on printing costs. Unlike traditional cartridge printers, EcoTank models come with a large volume of ink – equivalent to about 79 cartridges – providing about three years of printing straight out of the box based on average use. He tells Daily Maverick that the cost per page for consumers is 'a no-brainer'. While a cartridge might print a few hundred pages for about $20, a bottle of EcoTank ink can print 8,000 pages and costs significantly less. This 'unparalleled' value proposition means customers, especially those with high printing needs like families with school children, are no longer 'scared to print because they know it's expensive'. Over three years customers can save about $1,000 (R18,461) depending on use, and in some markets this translates to saving more than 90% on printing costs. Another stealthy attack on jobs Colquhoun says the benefits extend to channel partners as well. The low maintenance and intervention required for EcoTank printers compared with laser printers (which often need cleaning due to dust) allows partners to reduce fixed costs associated with fuel and maintenance teams (read: cut down on manpower). He estimates that roughly one in three, or even two out of three, visits can be reduced, freeing up personnel for other tasks. This creates a win-win scenario across the value chain, benefiting customers, partners and even the national grid and environment through reduced energy use and emissions. While Epson bets big on converting users to its ink tank system, the broader print industry continues to evolve. Yesh Surjoodeen, southern Africa regional director at HP (Epson's biggest rival), acknowledged the industry's reinvention but pointed to growth linked to 'automation, diversification, supply chain resiliency and sustainability'. Surjoodeen highlights the need for the industry to diversify offerings, embrace digital technologies in a hybrid approach and meet consumer demands for personalisation and sustainability. While not dismissing print, HP's focus seems geared towards adaptation through services, AI integration and subscription models, particularly in the PC space. What this means for you Compare ink tank systems (like Epson's EcoTank) with traditional cartridge models (common with HP) when thinking about making a business purchase. Ink tanks generally mean a higher upfront printer cost but lower long-term ink expenses, while cartridges are often the reverse. Evaluate your printing volume to see which model fits best. Maintenance needs: Epson claims its heat-free technology requires less intervention than laser printers, but the call-out fee might be higher. Energy use: Newer technologies may offer lower power consumption, affecting running costs – heat-free also means more flexibility in energy sources (you could run it off DC power). Vendor strategy: Suppliers have different focuses – some push low running costs, others drive the service integration or AI feature agenda. Align your choice with your business or personal priorities. The pirate problem The issue of counterfeit ink and toner also presents a challenge, with Epson and HP taking slightly different public stances on combating it. Epson focuses on educating consumers to use genuine consumables, employing marketing and IP protection tools like QR codes for authenticity verification, and pursuing legal action against counterfeiters using its logo. HP, heavily reliant on cartridge sales, strongly promotes its anti-counterfeiting programmes, warning that counterfeit and clone cartridges 'mislead consumers, undermine trust and can damage printing devices' while infringing on their IP. HP says it champions 'rigorous IP protection' to ensure value and reliability. As Epson expands its physical presence and pushes its ink tank technology revolution, the broader industry navigates a future where print coexists with digital and sustainability becomes the main focus. Either way, print will still be with us for the foreseeable future. DM
