Ricoh named Leader in IDC laser printer assessment

Ricoh has been named a Leader in IDC MarketScape's assessment of worldwide laser production printer vendors, placing it among 11 suppliers reviewed by the research firm.

The assessment covers the global laser production printer market and evaluates vendors on strategy and market position. IDC MarketScape identified Ricoh's polymerised toner technology as a notable strength, citing improvements in print quality and energy efficiency.

It also highlighted the breadth of Ricoh's development work in the sector. According to the assessment, Ricoh's position in laser production printers is built not only on hardware, but also on nearly 90 years of work in semiconductor laser technology, electrophotography, toner materials science and high-volume print engineering.

The latest ranking adds to Ricoh's profile in commercial print market research. The company was also placed in the Leaders Category in IDC MarketScape's previously published assessment of worldwide high-speed inkjet vendors.

Production printing remains an important growth segment for manufacturers looking beyond office equipment, as print providers weigh reliability, image quality, operating costs and support networks when replacing fleets or adding capacity. Analyst rankings such as IDC MarketScape are often one factor buyers use when comparing suppliers in a market with relatively few global vendors.

Ricoh operates in about 200 countries and regions and maintains commercial and industrial printing businesses alongside its broader workplace technology operations. The group reported worldwide sales of 2,608 billion yen in its latest financial year, equivalent to about USD $16.4 billion.

Market criteria

IDC MarketScape describes its vendor assessment model as a comparative framework that measures suppliers using qualitative and quantitative criteria. The report is intended to show how each company is positioned against competitors and give technology buyers a view of suppliers' strengths and weaknesses.

For production printers, those criteria typically extend beyond machine specifications to include service reach, product roadmap, workflow integration and consistency in demanding print environments. That broader context helps explain why long-established engineering expertise and support infrastructure continue to feature prominently in market assessments.

Ricoh has sought to strengthen its position in that environment through sustained research and development in print technologies. It linked the latest recognition to its work on imaging systems and to efforts it says support sustainability goals through improved efficiency.

Koji Miyao, President, Ricoh Graphic Communications, and Senior Corporate Officer, Ricoh Company, said the result reflected that work. "We are delighted to again be named a Leader by IDC MarketScape," Miyao said.

"We are especially pleased that our commitment to research and development and the many innovations that result from it have been considered. We believe it confirms the value of our focus on co-innovating with clients and partners to identify and develop solutions that support high-quality production, agility and growth," he added.

Analyst view

IDC also pointed to Ricoh's reputation among production print customers. Tim Greene, Research Director at IDC, outlined the factors behind that view in comments accompanying the assessment.

"Ricoh is considered a trusted brand in production printing because it combines engineering heritage, global support, stable technology platforms and reliable performance, all of which are essential for professional print providers that depend on their equipment for daily business operations," Greene said.