Hamamatsu, Japan
Throughout 2006, Roland will celebrate its 25th anniversary, a milestone that marks the company’s rich history of innovation and commitment to the industries it serves. Roland leadership has driven a multitude of achievements that have advanced digital technology for the signmaking, screenprinting, fine art and photographic reproduction, exhibit, label, engraving, reverse engineering and rapid prototyping industries.

From the company’s original CAD plotters and digital vinyl cutters to today’s high-performance print/cut solutions, Roland vision, precision and commitment to quality have revolutionized the way creative professionals work. Roland finds its technology roots in the music industry. A subsidiary of Roland Corporation, the company’s advanced plotting technology was originally used to record the sound waves for Roland music synthesizers. This precision plotting technology quickly garnered widespread acceptance during the CAD/CAM revolution of the 1980s and provided the basis for new generations of digital input and output technologies to follow.

“It is amazing to look back on where we started and see how far we’ve come,” said Masahiro Tomioka, the company’s president. “Today’s Roland is stronger than ever with record sales in every area of the globe. And with continued technological innovations on the horizon, we are well positioned for future growth and success.”

#1 in Wide-Format Inkjet Printer Sales Worldwide
Roland success is perhaps best illustrated by the company’s growing dominance in the durable graphics market. During 2004 and 2005, the company emerged as the industry’s leading seller of wide-format inkjet printers worldwide. It also posted record revenues and profits, achievements that company officials attribute to both its strong technology base and its market- and customer-driven focus. In addition, the company boasts ISO 9001:2000 and 14001 certifications, reflecting its high standards for product quality.

New Digital Factory Opens
In December 2005, the company opened a new, expanded digital factory near its international headquarters in Hamamatsu, Japan. The new 9,800m² facility is 40 percent larger than the company’s current factory. An official opening ceremony was held February 8, 2006.

Roland’s digital factory features an innovative production system called “Digital Yatai” that enables a single employee to individually assemble complex products. Since adopting this system for all Roland products in July 2002, manufacturing time has been reduced and product design improved. This production model also contributes to the environment by eliminating paper instructions. The Digital Yatai system has been recognized for excellence among domestic manufacturers and the news media alike.

"Yatai is just one result of Roland’s Digital Value Engineering (DVE)," Tomioka added, "which combines development, production and marketing into a single integrated process for faster concept-to-market time.”