EPSON BRINGS EDUCATION TO LIFE WITH THE WORLD’S FIRST 3LCD TOUCH-ENABLED INTERACTIVE PROJECTOR

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 28 May 2014 – Epson, the world’s top projector maker for 13 years in a row according to FutureSource Consulting, announced the launch of the EB-595Wi Interactive WXGA 3LCD Projector at the Digital Education Show Asia 2014. The ultra-short-throw EB-595Wi is the world's first 3LCD interactive projector that allows for operation simply by touching the screen with a finger. This includes opening and closing of files, page scrolling, moving and expanding objects and annotation, giving users a previously unheard of ease of control over their presentations and even allowing them to make PC-free annotations literally at the touch of a finger.

“The Epson EB-595Wi is a versatile and revolutionary addition to today’s smart classroom, adding an element of engagement for students that previously did not exist. Epson has integrated several of our innovations into the EB-595Wi that together will allow for greater collaboration, brainstorming and interactivity in the classroom. This takes kinesthetic learning to new heights,” said Danny Lee, General Manager, Sales & Marketing, Epson Malaysia.

Epson EB-595Wi, the world's first 3LCD touch-enabled interactive projector, can be operated simply by touching the screen with a finger.

With many interactive projectors, issues of shadow interference and obstruction are always present. However, Epson’s ultra-short throw projection eliminates many of these common problems by reducing the throw ratio to only 0.27. This means that the EB-595Wi needs only 47cm to project an 80-inch screen. Furthermore, Epson’s 3LCD projectors offer 3X brighter colors compared to leading 1-chip DLP business and education projectors, and the EB-595Wi delivers 3300 lumens of colour brightness and 3300 lumens of white brightness to project truly dynamic images and ensure bright, vivid lessons.

Epson showcased a full range of visual imaging and printing solutions for today’s smart classroom. Working in concert, these solutions help teachers engage their class and make lessons interactive, while also addressing the operational needs of the school to create affordable colour handouts, to make data handling easy and to reduce energy usage.

Epson EB-1410Wi 3LCD interactive projector features flexible projection modes so that images can be projected on surfaces like tabletops, whiteboards and walls.

The Epson EB-1410Wi 3LCD interactive projector features flexible projection modes so that teachers can project lessons on surfaces like whiteboards, walls and tabletops. This gives them the means to create vibrant classrooms that encourage creativity and participation using Epson’s interactive pens without worrying about space constraints. Projects created using the EB-1410Wi can be wirelessly sent for printing to the Epson WorkForce Pro WP-4521, the world’s fastest auto two side printer.

Using Epson’s award winning L-Series Original Ink Tank Printers, teachers can quickly and affordably print colouring activities, posters and annotated lesson handouts. The Epson L1300, L355 and M200 feature refillable ink tanks that deliver ultra-high page yields at the lowest cost per page of any genuine supplies printer. “We are so confident about the low cost of Epson’s ink tank printing solutions that we are offering free printing services to exhibitors at the Digital Education Show Asia 2014,” added Lee.

Epson L1300, the world’s first 4-colour, A3+ original ink tank system printer, brings ultra affordability to high quality A3 document printing.

Epson inkjet and ink tank printers come equipped with highly efficient and durable Epson Micro Piezo™ print head technology that makes it possible to precisely control the amount of ink that is fired from the print head during printing. This allows Epson printers to deliver both high image quality and high printing speeds, and is one reason why Epson printers are consistently rated among the best in the world.

Rounding off their smart classroom solutions, Epson showcased the Epson LabelWorks LW-1000P wireless label printer that works with PCs and Android and iOS devices, and the Epson WorkForce DS-860 colour document scanner that features Optical Mark Recognition and can be used to accurately and efficiently mark exam papers. The DS-860 comes with Epson’s Document Capture Pro software that allows users to scan, manipulate and send documents with ease, to automate scan jobs, and to seamlessly and locally manage documents, then integrate them into cloud services.

Epson Labelworks LW-1000P features seamless Wi-Fi and Ethernet capabilities that enable wireless label printing from any smart device.

“Epson’s broad range of projectors, printers and scanners are designed to serve and exceed the requirements of the education environment. Being affordable and built with robust construction our products will enhance the learning experience of students at all levels,” said Lee.

25th ANNIVERSARY OF EPSON’S 3LCD TECHNOLOGY SEES PROJECTORS ACHIEVE WORLD NUMBER ONE STATUS ONCE AGAIN

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 4 March 2014 – On the 25th Anniversary of the development of its revolutionary 3LCD technology, Epson, the world leader in projectors, has once again been named the world’s number one projector brand. This is the 13th year in a row that Epson has received this accolade.

This is according to the latest results for 2013 released by projector market research firm, Futuresource Consulting. Over the past 13 years, Epson has shown steady growth in market share, year-on-year, increasing to 28.2% market share in 2013, over 26.4% in 2012. This means that almost one-in-three projectors purchased in 2013 was an Epson projector.

Globally, the sales of Epson projectors was, in fact, so strong that the combined sales volumes of the second, third and fourth ranked projector brands did not match that of Epson’s projector sales volume, which was in excess of 2 million units. In the major countries in the South East Asia region, projector sales for Epson reached over a hundred thousand units, an increase of 3% over the previous year.

To add to this accolade, Epson has also been named the number one dedicated home cinema projector brand for the 9th year running. According to figures provided by Futuresource Consulting, Epson held 39.4% market share in 2013.

“Even though this is the 13th year that we have achieved this prestigious accolade, it does not diminish our drive to continually improve,” says Koichi Endo, Managing Director of Epson Southeast Asia.

“Our customers have shown a discerning eye in choosing the very best projectors and we feel we have a responsibility to live up to, and exceed their expectations. It is this dedication to innovation that has led to Epson being named the world’s number one projector brand in both the business and home cinema markets, and it continues to be a great honour.”

The strength of Epson’s projectors – which has led to the past 13 years of being named World’s Number One Projector Brand – lies in the revolutionary 3LCD technology. First introduced in 1989, Epson’s 3LCD technology creates astoundingly beautiful images in bright, natural colour without dither noise or colour breakup. 3LCD projectors are also gentler on the eyes and offer smoother video playback, as they utilize three separate liquid crystal panels to form a continuous image containing all colours. 2014 marks the 25th Anniversary of the development of Epson’s revolutionary 3LCD technology.

EPSON INTRODUCES NEW AND INTELLIGENT IMAGING SOLUTIONS FOR PROJECTION AND HIGH DEMAND PRINT INDUSTRIES

Kuala Lumpur, 28 November 2013 – Epson, a world leader in digital imaging and printing solutions has held the Epson ‘Intelligent Imaging’ Showcase today to introduce a range of its latest print and projector products with unique creative solutions catered to various industries, thereby taking projection and printing to a whole new level. Building on their core technologies like 3LCD and Micro Piezo, Epson continues to introduce products that propel their business reach into high-potential new market segments and to remain indispensable in the society.

Epson’s High Brightness Installation-Based Projectors
Epson’s newly launched EB-G6000 series are designed for use in large or bright venues and among the world’s first projectors to feature the long awaited HDBaseT interface. Updated from its previous series, EB-G6000 series have brighter ratings of 5200 to 7000 lumens. The first projectors in this range to feature Epson’s renowned home theatre projection technologies, all models feature edge-blending technology. In addition, two top-of-the-line models (EB-G6800 & EB-G6900WU) have additional curved and corner wall projection capabilities to project distortion-free images on surfaces that are concave, convex, 90 degree adjacent or even spherical.

(L-R) Danny Lee & Yasuhiro Kasai with EB-G6000 series projector & TM-C3510 colour label printer.

3D FULL HD Home Entertainment Projectors
High quality 3D home theatres are more affordable than ever with the EH-TW5200. It is currently Epson’s most affordable 3D model and boasts powerful features such as – full  HD (1080P) resolution, and the same 480 hertz 3D drive that makes Epson’s active 3D projectors the brightest and clearest in their respective classes. The EH-TW8200, a replacement model for its predecessor EH-TW8000 now has extremely high contrast ratio of 600,000:1. It is also able to apply 3D video enhancement technologies like Frame Interpolation Super Resolution not only in 2D, but in 3D mode as well.

Epson Colour Labelling Solutions
Epson TM-C3510 is an on-demand colour label printer which caters to niche and demanding industries such as chemical, warehousing, medical and other labelling applications seeking to improve efficiencies and reduce labelling costs.
Epson GP-C830 & GP-M830 are the world’s first tractor fed business inkjet printers catered for high volume print requirements for demanding industries such as chemical, logistics and medical institution. These new printers are using Epson’s proprietary Micro Piezo print head technology which delivers extremely reliable printing with minimal downtime. DURABrite Ultra pigment inks produce durable, sharper and clearer quality prints. These colour labelling solutions are designed to produce high mix, low volume applications that require multiple label variations.

 (L-R; starting second from left):
Pearly Lee, Product Manager, Epson Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Danny Lee, General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Epson Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Yasuhiro Kasai, Country Manager, Epson Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Jennifer Low, Product Manager, Epson Malaysia Sdn Bhd

Country Manager of Epson Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Yasuhiro Kasai said “The launch of these distinctive technology products, gives Epson the leading advantage to meet diverse market needs and to increase the company market share in print and projector industry. Businesses will benefit from these new products by producing at lower operating cost, high product quality and more importantly delivering a creative edge to impress their customers.”

“Epson is geared up to any printing, imaging and projection possibilities. As the industry leader in projection technology, we believe that the time is now for projection usage to go beyond the classrooms. We hope that our advanced technologies will help to enable creative industries to showcase visual concepts and products through projections. With almost no constraints in terms of venue, space and resources, our technology can be applied in diverse areas from arts to fashion and even F&B. Together we look forward to creating magical visual experiences for consumers.” said Danny Lee, General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Epson Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

Epson’s High Brightness Installation-Based G6000 Series Projectors Now with Cinema Technology and among World’s First HDBaseT Projector.

Epson EB-G6000 series Projectors

Epson’s EB-“G5000” series of high brightness projectors with new “G6000” series models are even brighter than the previous generation, sport cinema technology from Epson’s market leading home theatres; and with some models in the range being among the world’s first projectors to feature the long awaited HDBaseT interface.

Designed for use in large or bright venues, the Epson EB-G6000 series projectors have brightness ratings of 5200 to 7000 lumens, and are able to produce clear, bright projections with equally high colour brightness thanks to their 3LCD technology. They are also the first projectors in this range to feature Epson’s renowned home theatre projection technologies that greatly improve contrast, resolution, and video motion, and enable them to produce the best movie quality in their class.

The new Epson G6000 series projectors are composed of six models with different combinations of brightness ratings, resolutions and features to suit a wide range of customers who need such high brightness projectors:

Models	Brightness and Colour Light Output (CLO) rating	Resolution	Price (RM)
Epson EB-G6050W	5500lm	WXGA (1280 x 800)	17,500
Epson EB-G6150	6500lm	XGA (1024×768)	18,500
Epson EB-G6250W	6500lm	WXGA (1280 x 800)	20,000
Epson EB-G6550WU	5200lm	WUXGA (1920 x 1200)	16,500
Epson EB-G6800 (PRO Series)	7000lm	XGA (1024×768)	23,000
Epson EB-G6900WU (PRO Series)	6000lm	WUXGA (1920 x 1200)	25,000

Key features:
HDBaseT connectivity – Developed and supported by an alliance of leading consumer electronics companies, HDBaseT is the next generation interface for the long-distance transmission of uncompressed high-definition video, audio, and data. HDBaseT uses familiar Cat5e/Cat6 Ethernet cables and sockets which are widely available and in the future, is expected to replace existing multimedia cables like HDMI or DVI connectors which are more costly. Two models in the G6000 series range; the Epson EB-G6800 and EB-G6900WU, are among the world’s first projectors to feature HDBaseT connectivity (For more information, visit: www.hdbaset.org).

Faroudja DCDi Cinema chip – The projectors feature the DCDi (directional correlation de-interlacing) cinema chip from renowned video processing experts Faroudja Labs. The specialized processor enhances colour management while reducing 3D noise, resulting in sharp, crisp, detailed images; in addition, the Response Time Correction (RTC) technology is included to produce seamless motion in videos.

High Contrast with Auto Iris and C2FINE – The projector’s ultra-high-precision Auto Iris control system delivers a high 5,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio by monitoring the intrinsic brightness level of each scene and automatically adjusting contrast to optimal levels instantly. Image contrast and quality is further enhanced by the projectors’ use of Epson’s C2FINE inorganic LCD panels that use vertical alignment technology.

Frame Interpolation - Frame interpolation technology inserts new frames between original frames. As a result, blurring effects are suppressed and motion pictures look much smoother and sharper.

DICOM mode for clear medical images - DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) is a global standard for the handling, storing, printing, and displaying of information in medical imaging. The projectors feature a DICOM compliant mode that produces images with clear shadows, and which is ideal for projecting X-rays and other medical images.

Edge blending - All the new G6000 series models feature an “Edge Blending” capability that can intelligently blend the colours of overlapped images (both top or bottom) from multi-screen projections to achieve a seamless panoramic display.

Curved & corner wall projection (EB-G6800 & EB-G6900WU) – The two top-of-the-line models in the G6000 series have additional curved and corner wall projection capabilities that enable them to project distortion free images on surfaces that are concave, convex, 90 degree adjacent or even spherical. This allows them to be applied in creative and exciting ways for unique visual experiences.

Epson Makes Setting Up High Quality 3D, Full HD Cinemas More Affordable Than Ever

Epson has made setting up high quality 3D home theatres more affordable than ever with the new Epson EH-TW5200 projector. The projector is currently Epson’s most affordable 3D model and boasts of similar features to Epson’s top of the line home theatre models. These include a full HD (1080P) resolution, and the same 480 hertz 3D drive that makes Epson’s active 3D projectors the brightest and clearest in their respective classes.

Epson EH-TW5200

Other noteworthy features on the EH-TW5200 include a horizontal keystone adjustment slider that lets users correct keystone distortions conveniently and quickly; as well as its HDMI’s MHL (Mobile High Definition Link) support that can mirror the displays of attached MHL compliant devices. The Epson EH-TW5200 will be available from December 2013 for a recommended price of RM5530.

Features in detail:
Superior Image Reproduction with 3LCD Technology – Epson’s proprietary 3LCD technology offers full-time colour projection with three separate LCD panels (Red, Green and Blue) thus ensuring the delivery of bright and accurate colours, and smooth projections of movies without colour breakup.

480 hertz 3D Drive – The Epson EH-TW5200 is able to deliver the brightest 3D images of any projector in its price range thanks to both its 3LCD technology and its 480 hertz 3D drive that is also found in Epson’s high end 3D models.

Active 3D projectors like the EH-TW5200 work by alternately displaying images with a slightly different perspective to each eye by synchronising with a pair of active 3D glasses to rapidly black out one eye while showing the other its respective image. The 480 hertz refers to the frame refresh rate of Epson’s active 3D projectors that is twice as fast as competing models. This high refresh rate minimises the “blackout time” between the projections of alternating 3D image frames that is the primary cause of dim-looking 3D images.

Horizontal Keystone adjuster – A unique feature to Epson projectors, the Horizontal Keystone Adjuster is a physical slider that lets users conveniently and quickly correct keystone distortions caused when the projector is placed at an angle to the projection surface.

MHL (Mobile High Definition Link) Support – The Epson EH-TW5200 supports MHL, which is an industry standard interface standard that allows consumers to connect devices like mobile phones and tablets via a HDMI cable to the projector for their screens to be projected.

Optional Wi-Fi connectivity – The EH-TW5200 can accommodate an optional Epson Wi-Fi adapter (ELPAP07) that allows owners to use Epson’s iProjection app to wirelessly transmit content from Apple iOS or Google Android devices for projection.

Space Saving Footprint – The Epson EH-TW5200 occupies less than half the space of Epson’s higher range 3D projectors and is also 65% smaller in volume. These compact dimensions also make the EH-TW5200 Epson’s smallest 3D projector model, and also one of the smallest in the industry as well.

Epson’s New Top 3D Projector Now Has Extreme Contrast and 3D Enhancement Technology

Epson has improved its award-winning, top-of-the-line 3D home theatre projector with the launch of EH-TW8200. In addition to the predecessor’s 480 hertz 3D panel drive technology that produces ultra-bright 3D images, the new EH-TW8200 has an extremely high contrast ratio of 600,000:1 to enable even richer blacks in movies and which is almost double that of its predecessor. In addition, the new model is now able to apply video enhancement technologies like Frame Interpolation and Super Resolution in 3D mode and not just 2D. The EH-TW8200 is priced at RM10,800 and will be available in December 2013.

Epson EH-TW8200

Features in detail:
Frame Interpolation in 2D and 3D – Frame interpolation technology inserts new frames between original frames. As a result, blurring effects are suppressed and motion pictures look much smoother and sharper. In the EH-TW8200, Frame Interpolation is able to be applied to 3D images for the first time ever.

Super Resolution in 2D and 3D – Super resolution technology automatically detects blurred sections of an image and uses a mixed colour separation process to achieve sharper and refined image quality in Full High Definition projection. As with Frame Interpolation, the          EH-TW8200 is able to apply this technology to 3D images for the first time ever.

Cinema Filter – The new projectors’ bright lamps are paired with Epson’s proprietary 3LCD technology which offers full-time colour projection with three separate LCD panels (Red, Green and Blue). Epson’s 3LCD engine ensures that users get high white light, as well as colour light output for bright and colour-accurate images, and smooth projections of movies without colour breakup.

480Hz 3D panel drive technology – This technology continues to make the EH-TW8200 the brightest 3D projector in its class and dramatically reduces viewer fatigue. The EH-TW8200 comes equipped with a high zoom range of 2.1x that allows for high placement flexibility & with the native resolution of 1920 x 1080 (1080p Full HD). The projector also features a 96 percent vertical lens shift and 47 percent horizontal lens shift, a category first, presenting users with an extensive range of projector placement possibilities without distortion of digital correction. Flexibility in projector placement is further enhanced by front exhausts, so that the projector can be placed in cabinet/shelf without the need of extra opening at the back of side for ventilation.

Ultimate picture quality is what sets the EH-TW8200 apart. The projector is equipped with advanced home theatre projection technologies such as, Frame Interpolation, Super Resolution and Cinema Filter to delivers the best in cinematic viewing experience.

Industry Standard active 3D glasses - All Epson’s active 3D projector models use radio frequency based 3D glasses that comply with the new “Full HD 3D Glasses” industry standard. (www.fullhd3Dglasses.com). This allows the glasses to be interchangeably used with active 3D display devices that comply with the standard.

Epson Introduces New On Demand Colour Labelling Technology

New System Reduces Total Labelling Costs up to 50%, Delivers Higher Quality Images, Faster Production and GHS Label Compliance.

The inkjet colour label printer TM-C3510 is designed by Epson to meet the needs of manufacturers producing labels for high mix, low volume applications that require multiple label variations. By leveraging the new printer’s on-demand colour labelling technology, 4-colour ink capability, and increased print speed and image quality, manufacturers can reduce total labelling costs by up to 50-percent. These savings also come from the ability to eliminate inventory of pre-printed colour labels and waste.

TM-C3510

"To meet customer needs, improve supply chain management and increase brand recognition, manufacturers are differentiating their products with a higher mix of distinct, full colour labels," says Lee. "The TM-C3510 lets manufacturers streamline these diverse workflows, printing the exact label they need, when they need it."

The new 4-colour system delivers vibrant colours and clear images and produces labels at up to four inches per second with stunning image resolution. The addition of black ink increases the range of colour manufacturers can reproduce. The TM-C3510 is compact and supports all major label software applications. Easy installation and maintenance allows manufacturers to monitor ink supply levels on an LCD display and oversee multiple network printers in a system, reducing set-up time and minimizing operational delays.

"Whether manufacturers are printing colour labels to meet new regulatory requirements, enhance product image, or improve product identification, the TM-C3510 printer simplifies the labelling process. Epson's on-demand colour labelling technology lets you focus on meeting customer needs without worrying about labelling and shipping errors, inventory management and downtime," explains Lee. The TM-C3510 is priced at RM5900 and is available in all leading Epson’s licensed distributors.

Epson Introduces World’s First Tractor Fed Business Inkjet Printers

Epson introduced the world’s first tractor fed business inkjet printer series that meets rigorous, high volume print requirements for demanding industries, such as chemical, logistics and medical institutions. The series comprises of a four-colour ink model (GP-C830) and a black ink model (GP-M830). These printers assure extremely reliable printing with minimal downtime as they are rated for an unprecedented 600,000 sheets in their lifetime, and feature affordable high capacity pigment ink cartridges which produce durable prints that are able to withstand demanding conditions.

Epson GP-C830 (colour)

These extremely robust, tractor-fed business inkjet printers are also ideal upgrades for users who are using dot matrix printers with traditional tractor-fed paper. In addition to providing equally reliable operation that such dot matrix printers are renowned for, the Epson GP-C830 and GP-M830 produce less noise pollution; and are capable of high quality colour or monochrome prints using Epson’s well-known, full pigment ink set – DURABrite Ultra, which delivers outstanding, durable prints that are smudge, fade and water resistant.

Additionally, the Epson GP-C830 and GP-M830 are able to achieve clearer and sharp printouts, making them ideal for label printing where durability and visibility are critical for chemical, logistic and medical institutions. The GP-C830 (colour) is priced at RM6500, whereas the GP-M830 is priced at RM6200.

Extreme durability and reliable operating lifespan – The Epson GP-C830 and GP-M830 use Epson’s proprietary Micro Piezo print head technology that is renowned for its long lifespan. Coupled with a new, revolutionary head protection system that prevents the print head from being clogged or damaged by paper dust, the printers are able to provide assured performance that is rated up to 600,000 prints in their lifetime – which is one of the highest durability ratings of any business inkjet printer.

Durable, sharper and clearer quality prints with Epson DURABrite Ultra pigment inks – The Epson GP-C830 and GP-M830 printers use Epson’s renowned DURABrite Ultra pigment inks which produce high quality prints that are smudge, fade and water resistant. The print results are also sharper and clearer compared to that of traditional dot matrix printers and can print on a wider variety of media.

Cost savings with high capacity individual ink cartridges – The Epson GP-C830 and GP-M830 printers offer users high cost savings with their use of high capacity, individual ink cartridges that enable users to print high volumes with minimal downtime spent to change depleted cartridges.

EPSON SHIPS ITS 90 MILLIONTH HTPS PANEL FOR 3LCD PROJECTORS

Kuala Lumpur, 24 October 2013 – Seiko Epson Corporation (TSE: 6724, “Epson”) today announced that it has shipped a total of 90 million high-temperature polysilicon (“HTPS”) TFT liquid crystal panels for 3LCD projectors, enough for more than 30 million projector units.

For more than two decades Epson has maintained its position as the world's No. 1 supplier (*) of HTPS panels, the core devices at the heart of 3LCD projectors. It has led the industry by developing and providing technologies that boost power and performance.

In recent times, applications for 3LCD projectors have expanded as advantages such as high brightness and contrast have been augmented with functions such as 3D and interactive capability. In the office, for example, projectors have become essential equipment for business presentations. In the home theater segment, they offer a compelling movie-viewing experience, while in the education segment projectors facilitate effective learning at school. Projectors also offer effective support for events in the commercial segment by delivering lectures, art and entertainment in large spaces. These applications just scratch the surface of the potential of projection technology. With projectors firmly established as an important communications tool, Epson is confident that demand for its HTPS will continue to grow.

“Epson has consistently strived to develop leading-edge products of the HTPS panels,” said Nobuyuki Shimotome, deputy chief operating officer of Epson’s Visual Products Operations Division, “Epson will expand and enhance its HTPS lineup with panels that contribute to the outstanding color brightness, detailed images, energy efficiency and reliability of 3LCD projectors.

*According to Epson research (as of the end of September 2013)

Related information
To learn more about the advantages of HTPS panels, visit http://global.epson.com/products/htps/ .

To learn more about 3LCD technology, visit http://www.3lcd.com.

SECRETS BEHIND THE DEVELOPMENT OF EPSON’S MICRO PIEZO TECHNOLOGY (PART 2)

The Birth of the Micro Piezo Print Head

Kuala Lumpur, 27 August 2013 – The previous efforts of Epson's engineers had resulted in a piezo element that could only move 0.1 μm when 100 volts was applied. However, the ground-breaking new piezo element moved as much as 1 μm with only 30 volts. This was a major breakthrough. Achieving such a big movement with a lower voltage meant generating sufficient power to fire ink straight and accurately. A low voltage also meant it was possible to make the driving circuits smaller, which would allow designers to create a smaller printer.

After a long series of experiments and prototypes using the new piezo element as an actuator, Epson's engineering team decided on the structure for their new print head. Their next priority was to make the print head viable for volume production and commercialize an inkjet printer using the new head. To achieve this as quickly as possible, Epson's executives formed an emergency project team that gathered staff from various parts of the company. Minoru Usui, now Epson's global president, was given the important task of heading up the project.

Micro Piezo print heads contain a piezo element. When this piezo changes shape, it creates mechanical pressure that forces the ink out.

Despite having to overcome a series of challenges, the team was able to launch the first printer containing the new print head in 1993. This was the Epson Stylus 800, a monochrome inkjet that was the first Micro Piezo inkjet printer to be launched. The following year, the team went a stage further with the Epson Stylus Color, the world's first 720-dpi printer. Despite a price of more than $1,000 in the currency of the time, the product was a huge hit thanks to the high-resolution and stunning quality of the printouts. These products firmly established Epson as a major player in the market for personal printers.

Expanding Applications and On-going Evolution
Since the first Micro Piezo printers were launched, Epson continued to develop its technology to meet the growing market demands for printers with better print quality, speed and compact design.

The first sample of the actuator using the new Piezo element.

In 2007, Epson successfully commercialized the Micro Piezo TFP (Thin Film Piezo) print head. Manufactured using semiconductor processes, the piezo element used as the actuator was formed as a thin film on a silicon wafer. This allowed denser arrangement of the nozzles on the new print head, ensuring even greater print quality and print speeds. Epson employed the new print head on its range of large-format printers.

Looking back at the development process, Usui commented, "Other types of inkjets were on the market before our piezo-type inkjets. I knew we had to create a standout product, and therefore set about developing a print head that would help us achieve this. One of the main characteristics of piezo-based inkjets compared to our competitors' thermal systems is a greater ink choice. In addition to regular inks, we went on to develop pigment inks, solvent inks and specialist inks for a wide range of industrial applications. Piezo-based print heads are also extremely durable so we were able to develop applications for the office, an environment in which durability is key."

Epson Stylus Color.

From the very start of the development process, Usui realized that the basic structure of the Micro Piezo print head made it suitable for commercial and industrial applications. Two decades later Micro Piezo technology is used in a wide range of applications, from printing photos and office documents to specialized digital on-demand printing.

Epson Global President, Minoru Usui.

Next-generation Print Head
Twenty years after the development of the first Micro Piezo inkjet printer, Epson has announced the development of the next-generation print head that will provide the platform for future Epson inkjet printers. The new print head was created by combining Epson's twenty years of expertise in inkjet printing and the latest MEMS manufacturing technologies. The company plans to deploy the new print head first in business inkjet printers for the office and in industrial printing systems.

But the evolution of Epson's core Micro Piezo technology will not stop here. Epson will continue to drive technological advances as it seeks to create new value for its customers.

SECRETS BEHIND THE DEVELOPMENT OF EPSON’S MICRO PIEZO TECHNOLOGY (PART 1)

Kuala Lumpur, 20 August 2013 – In March 1993, Epson launched its ground-breaking Epson Stylus 800 inkjet printer. This was the first product to include Micro Piezo technology, which has since become established as one of Epson company's core technologies, and the Micro Piezo print head, which is the core component of Epson inkjet printers. Twenty years on, we take a two-part look at the story behind the development of this incredible technology, and its on-going evolution.

Sense of crisis
In the 1980s, the majority of Epson printers were SIDM* (serial impact dot matrix) printers. But the market for such products gradually began to decline due to expanding use of personal computers and the increasing use in the office of laser and other printers based on electrophotographic technologies. Epson executives realized that the potential decline in the market for one of their main products posed a significant risk to the company, and they set about researching inkjet and other printing technologies.

Epson's management was aware that competitors had already successfully launched to market inkjet printers with both reasonable performance and price. Epson had launched its first inkjet printer, the SQ-2000, as early as 1984, and followed this with the HG series of inkjets. However, these products struggled to make an impact on the market, and Epson's management was divided about the company's direction.

Breaking through the wall
With inkjet printer development not proceeding as expected and company executives concerned, Epson began researching a completely different type of print head. The young engineer put in charge of this essential project was Minoru Usui, now global president of Epson.

The big issue facing Usui's team surrounded the piezo element that was included on the glass print heads used in those original Epson inkjets. The theory was that electrical power applied to the element caused the element to change shape. This in turn generated mechanical pressure that forced the ink out. However, despite applying 100 volts the team was unable to generate sufficient power to fire an ink droplet. The team knew that they had to do something to improve the piezo, but were unable to make the necessary breakthrough. Usui and his team felt they had hit a wall.

It was then Usui and his team had their lucky break. Usui noticed that a new type of actuator – a key component that converts electrical power to mechanical motion – they had been considering for driving dot matrix printers could also be used in inkjet printers. Looking back, Usui commented, "I still remember the elation I felt as I listened to that explanation. Although the structure was different to what we had been working on, we could achieve what we wanted by making some minor changes. I knew instantly that it would be possible to accurately fire the ink droplets with only a small voltage."

This was in 1989. At last understanding how to solve the issues they had been facing, Usui and his team went all out to develop the new print head they believed could hold the secret for Epson's future growth.

* SIDM printers are still sold to this day, with Epson holding world-leading market share as of June 2013.

EPSON ANNOUNCES INVESTMENT IN NEW PRODUCTION LINES FOR NEXT-GENERATION PRINT HEADS

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 23 July 2013 – Seiko Epson Corporation (TSE: 6724, "Epson") has invested approximately 16 billion yen*1 (approximately RM 511, 024, 000) in two new production lines in Japan. The lines have been constructed to manufacture next-generation print heads – the core component in ink jet printers – for use in business and industrial printing systems to come to market in the latter part of the 2013 fiscal year.

This capital investment, made over three years from fiscal 2011, has been made to build new production lines that contain a host of original Epson manufacturing technologies. These new lines will be located in Epson's Suwa-Minami Plant in Nagano Prefecture and the Sakata Plant in Yamagata Prefecture. Production demands a high level of technical skill, and Epson was required to bring to bear its many years of accumulated expertise in monozukuri - the art and science of manufacturing - to make the production lines a reality.

Epson will conduct front-end manufacturing processes at Suwa-Minami and back-end processes at Sakata. Front end processes involve manufacturing the ultra-fine MEMS*2 component that forms the core of the print head, while the back end processes involve using Epson's industrial robot technology to complete the assembly process. By fully automating the assembly line process, Epson will achieve dramatic improvements in productivity and quality.

Epson's new print head is based on an advanced new and original design including development of new materials to be used in the print head's actuator*3 component. The print head combines the inkjet technology and expertise that Epson has accumulated over 20 years with state-of-the-art MEMS production technology. Using the high precision, durability and ink versatility of Epson's renowned Micro Piezo print head technology as a base, the new head pursues more compact design, even greater precision and improved cost performance.

Epson believes that the enhanced precision and density of the new print head will act as a platform for significantly improving the fundamental performance of Epson inkjet printers, and for making further improvements going forward.

"Epson's corporate vision calls for the expansion of the inkjet printer business, and the new production lines represent an essential element in these plans," said Motonori Okumura, executive officer and general administrative manager, Imaging Products Key Component Research & Engineering Division. "Going forward, Epson will enhance competitiveness by expanding use of the new print head into its line-up and by further promoting the use of common platforms throughout the inkjet printer line-up."

Yasuhiro Kasai, country manager of Epson Malaysia said, “The new production lines in Japan will lead to the manufacturing of the new print head, which will soon expand Epson’s line of inkjet systems. More importantly, when these new line-up of inkjets are launched in Malaysia, they will bear better performance and produce significant quality to Malaysian customers. We are confident that these new and improved lines-ups will increase the competitiveness, thereby setting new industrial benchmarks in the market.”

*1 Total includes planned investment for fiscal 2013.
*2 Microelectromechanical systems (devices with a mechanical driving system that are manufactured using semiconductor and other processing technologies)
*3 An actuator is a device that converts electrical power into mechanical movement.

EPSON RELEASES NEW FLAGSHIP SERIES OF SCARA ROBOTS

Lumpur, Malaysia, 8 March 2013 – Seiko Epson Corporation ("Epson," TSE: 6724) the global share leader*1 in SCARA robots for industrial applications, today announced the launch of its new H8 robots, the first models in its new flagship H series of horizontally articulated SCARA robots. H8 robots are designed to automate tasks such as assembly and transport. They are capable of handling payloads up to 8 kg, and are available in models with arm lengths of 450 mm, 550 mm, and 650 mm.

Epson's industrial robots are widely used to transport and assemble parts on production lines particularly in the electronics and automotive industries. Epson's SCARA robots have long been valued for their exceptional speed, accuracy, and operating stability, but the robots in the H series take these performance parameters to the next level to meet manufacturers' demands for even higher throughput.

In addition to Epson's powerful Smart Motion Control technology*2, the robots in the H series have integrated QMEMS sensors*3. These technologies enable the robots to handle heavier payloads despite a compact, lightweight design. They also make it possible to provide the robots with a high-speed mode and a low-vibration mode.

H8 robots offer a significant step up in performance from Epson's G6 SCARA robots, which handle payloads up to 6 kg. In high-speed mode H8 robots operate up to 40% faster than G6 models, and in low-vibration mode they produce 50% less vibration. Users can switch the mode according to the application, to build the best production line for their needs. H8 models, which stand 580 mm tall and weigh 20-21 kg depending on arm length, are among the smallest and lightest*4 SCARA robots in the 450-650-mm arm length class. Their small size and light weight save space and provide production line design flexibility.

Epson sees the industrial sector as a market where it can use its strengths to provide unique products and services. Going forward, Epson will continue to help customers enhance their production operations with an expanded H-series lineup.

*1: Epson recorded the industry's highest revenue from shipments of industrial SCARA robots in 2011. 
Source: Fuji Keizai Co.,Ltd. "Reality and Future Outlook of Worldwide Robot Market 2012"

*2: Unique Epson technology that enables robots to operate accurately at high speeds without producing significant vibration

*3: QMEMS devices are extremely small, high-performance quartz devices microfabricated in a crystalline material on a wafer. Epson coined the "QMEMS" acronym by combining the "Q" from "quartz," a crystalline material that has excellent stability and precision, with "MEMS," micro electro-mechanical systems engineered using microfabrication technology. QMEMS is a registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.

*4: Among the smallest and lightest according to Epson research, as of the end of February 2013

EPSON ACHIEVES RECORD 12TH YEAR IN A ROW AS WORLD’S No. 1 PROJECTOR MAKER WITH HIGHEST-EVER MARKET SHARE

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 4 March 2013 – According to the latest results for 2012 released by projector market research firm Futuresource Consulting, Epson achieved a record 12th year in a row as the world’s number 1 projector brand. The company grew from a 22.9% market share in 2011 to hit its highest-ever market share of 26.2% for 2012; meaning that over one in four projectors sold in the past year was an Epson. Sales of Epson projectors in 2012 were so strong that they were greater than the combined sales volumes of the second, third and fourth ranked projector brands.

 “Although we are very honoured to achieve the position as the no. 1 projector brand for the 12th time, we feel as excited as the first time,” says Koichi Endo, the Managing Director of Epson Southeast Asia regarding the results. “More importantly, we build on our success by using what we have learned to find even more ways to satisfy our customers’ needs. As a result, Epson has the widest range of projector models to satisfy every customer requirement or budget.”

EPSON’S MOST POPULAR DOT MATRIX PRINTERS NOW FASTER

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 28 February 2013 – Building on its reputation as the world’s top dot matrix printer maker*, Epson has introduced its next-generation narrow carriage dot matrix model: the Epson LQ-310. This new printer is an upgraded version of its best-selling LQ-300 models, and features greatly improved speed and reliability.

It features a 128KB input data buffer memory that is double that of its predecessors. This enables the 24-pin LQ-310 to achieve high printing speeds of 347 characters per second at 12 CPI – or almost 40% faster than the previous models.

The Epson LQ-310 also has improved reliability ratings that are an astonishing 67% higher than its predecessors that were already renowned for their dependability. This new model is rated for a mean time before failure (MTBF) of 10,000 POH (power on hours) compared to the older models’ 6,000 POH.

“Millions of our customers and their own customers around the world have grown to depend on the high performance and reliability of Epson’s renowned dot matrix printers without question,” says Yasuhiro Kasai, Country Manager of Epson Malaysia. “That is why we are confident that these new vastly improved models of our best-selling narrow carriage range will first surprise them, and then go on to set new industry benchmarks for speed and reliability.”

EPSON CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF MICRO PIEZO TECHNOLOGY WITH NEW INK TANK SYSTEM PRINTERS

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 20 February 2012 – 20 years ago, Epson embarked on a course that would differentiate it from other printer makers, and give the company unique competing advantages today. In March 1993, Epson introduced the very first printer to bear its proprietary “Micro Piezo” inkjet technology that had been developed over the first three years of the 90s.

Micro Piezo is a high performance inkjet printing technology that uses piezoelectric materials which bend precisely when charged with varying electric currents to propel precise amounts of ink out of the print head. Today, Epson is the only major printer company in the world that uses piezoelectric print heads in its entire inkjet printer range – from the smallest personal photo printer, to the largest industrial press system.

Koichi Endo, Managing Director of Epson Southeast Asia with the first Micro Piezo Technology printer (left) and the latest Micro Piezo L355 printer (right).

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the technology, Epson has launched a range of its latest ink tank system printers with unique benefits that have been made possible by the technology and demonstrate how far it has developed and scaled.

Koichi Endo, the managing director of Epson Southeast Asia, and one of the engineers who developed the technology remarks: “Epson has waited 20 years for our Micro Piezo technology to mature. Today, its superior reliability, energy efficiency, and high ink compatibility is giving Epson unique advantages and growth opportunities in the fields of business document printing, industrial printing and our ability to create special products like our ink tank system printers for emerging markets.”

Group Photo (L-R) Danny Lee, Yasuhiro Kasai, Koichi Endo, Dickson Lee, Ho Kean Chew.

The Birth of Micro Piezo Technology
 
The 1984 Epson SQ-2000: Epson’s first piezoelectric inkjet printer The 1993 Epson Stylus 800: The first printer to use the Epson Micro Piezo inkjet print head

In the 70s and early 80s, Epson was already the leader in the impact dot-matrix printer market. However the company had already begun to work on a quiet, high-resolution printer that did not use impact technology in 1978. One by-product of this research on several different systems was the Epson SQ-2000, the first inkjet printer to use a piezoelectric print head. However, research into other methods of printing continued. In 1988, the company made a decision to direct resources into improving the piezo system and to develop a new print head. The opportunity for this development to take a great leap forward came through the use of a multi-layered piezo element. This element enabled Epson engineers to reduce driving voltage and make the print head smaller, which was the first Micro Piezo print head developed independently by the company. Finally, in 1993, the first inkjet printer equipped with this print head, the Epson Stylus 800, was released into the market.

Compared to thermal inkjet printers, Epson Micro Piezo printers have three key advantages:
• Improved printing quality and precision due to their ability to eject ink droplets in varying sizes.
• Lower operating temperature that makes them more power efficient and allows them to use a wider range of inks, and on a wider range of media.
• Higher Reliability that allows Epson to build its print heads into its printers, instead of cartridges. This makes the cartridges cheaper to produce, more affordable to buy, and easier to recycle.

New Ink Tank System Printers – made possible by Epson Micro Piezo
The high reliability of Micro Piezo technology enabled Epson to create the world’s first branded ink tank system printer in 2010. Since then, Epson has remained the only ink tank system printer maker in the world. Building on the high success of the models launched over the last two years, Epson has introduced four additional models with even higher performance and features to fulfil the needs of more customers:

Epson L355 - The Epson L355 is the first model in Epson’s ink tank system printer range to feature Wi-Fi connectivity, making it ideal for sharing among users. With this Wi-Fi capability, it is also the first ink tank system printer model that can connect wirelessly with Epson’s iPrint app that allows users to wirelessly print from, or scan images to Apple iOS or Google Android mobile devices.

Epson L550 - The Epson L550 is Epson’s most fully-featured ink tank system printer – It is the first to have an integrated fax, Ethernet connectivity and an ADF which allows users to conveniently scan, copy or fax multi-page documents unattended. It is also compatible with Epson’s iPrint app when connected to the internet via a network.

Shared Features of the Epson L355 and L550

High speed, high reliability printing - Like Epson’s other next-generation L-series color ink tank system printers, the Epson L355 and L550 offer a productivity-boosting black print speed of 9ipm (images per minute – ISO standard), as well as draft speed of up to 33 pages per minute (draft, black printing). They also assures users of reliable performance with their high 30,000 page rated durability that is made possible by their Micro Piezo print head.

Extremely high print volume - The Epson L355 and L550 use high capacity ink bottles (priced at RM20 each) that allow it to print incredibly high volumes at an ultra-low cost per page so as to free users from worrying about printing costs. Their starting set of one black 70ml ink bottle can print 4000 black pages, and three 70ml colour ink bottles can print 6500 colour pages*. In addition, the printers come with two additional black ink bottles in the initial package.

Lowest Cost Per Page in the world - With these inks, the Epson L550 offers the world’s lowest cost per page of any genuine printer branded ink at only RM1/2 cent per black page and RM0.01 per colour page.

Epson M100 and M200 Monochrome Ink Tank System Printers
 
Building on the success of Epson’s L-series colour ink tank system printers, the new Epson M100 and M200 Monochrome ink tank system printer models now provide customers a superior alternative to monochrome laser printers of similar price.

Better-than-laser speed - The two Epson M-series printers achieve a laser quality speed of 15ppm that matches entry-level laser printers and makes them the fastest Epson ink tank system printers for black text printing. Additionally, they also offer a very high speed draft printing mode of 34ppm that such laser printers typically do not possess.

High print volume and long lifespan reduces disruptions - Featuring Epson’s unique ink tank system technology, the Epson M-series printers are able to print a very high volume of 8000 pages with the initial bundle of inks, and 6000 pages for each bottle of refill ink.* This helps to minimize work disruption for refilling of the printers. The printers also provide assured reliability with their long life span rated at 50,000 pages which is the highest among Epson’s ink tank system printers.

Incredibly low cost per page, high quality prints - The Epson M-series helps users reduce running costs with their incredible cost per page of a mere RM0.01 cents that is up to 90% lower compared to genuine laser toner, and up to 50% lower than third-party refilled laser toner cartridges**. Yet, there is no compromise on print quality or durability as the printers use a genuine Epson pigment ink that ensures sharp, crisp printouts which are fade and water resistant.

Small and easy to share - The Epson M-series printers are also highly compact and feature Ethernet connectivity; allowing them to be save valuable office space while being shared among small workgroups.

Epson WorkForce WF-3521 High Performance Business Inkjet All-in-One

Also launched today is the Epson WorkForce WF-3521, which is Epson’s top-of-the-line all-in-one model for small businesses. Among Epson’s AiOs, it is the most fully featured model and offers customers among the highest performance and lowest running costs for a cartridge-based inkjet in its class.

High speed single or double side printing - The WF-3521 has a maximum draft speed of up to 38ppm, and laser quality speed of 15ppm (mono) and 9.2 ppm (colour). With the printer, saving paper by double sided printing is easy with its duplexer unit that is also one of the fastest in its class at 7.9ipm for double sided monochrome documents and 5.7ipm for colour ones.

High quality, durable prints - The WF-3521 uses Epson’s DURABrite Ultra pigment inks that produce sharp, high quality prints that are smudge, fade and water resistant.

Low cost per page - The new Epson WorkForce WF-3521 replaces the highly successful Epson ME Office 960FWD, but uses the same low cost Epson 141 and 143 cartridges as its predecessor. In particular, the higher capacity Epson 143 cartridges give the printer a low cpp of RM0.056 cents per monochrome page.

Flexible connectivity – The printer has both Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity that allows it to be shared among a workgroup, and an additional Epson Connect suite functions that include: iPrint, email print, remote print, scan to cloud, AirPrint and Google cloud print.

Powerful additional features – The Epson WorkForce WF-3521 has a high performance fax, a 2.5-inch LCD for easy monitoring and control, and a 30 page duplex ADF that allows for the convenient double sided copying or faxing of multi-page jobs. It can also print JPG files from SD cards or USB drives, or directly scan documents to them in JPG or PDF format.

Epson WorkForce WF-2538 Ultra-Compact All-in-One

Designed to save businesses desktop space and lower their printing costs, the ultra-compact Epson WorkForce WF-2538 is the smallest all-in-one printer to feature a convenient automatic document feeder (ADF) in its class. It also uses Epson’s low cost 190 cartridges and even an optional “190XL” black cartridge for even lower cost per page. The Epson WorkForce WF-2538 facilitates workgroup sharing with its Wi-Fi connectivity and offers customers the powerful features of Epson’s iPrint app and the Epson Connect suite.

High print speed – With a high draft print speed of 34 pages per minute (ppm) and laser quality speed of 9ipm, the printer helps users save time and maximize productivity

2-Line LCD – The two-line LCD found on the WF-2538 allows for easy control and switching between functions.

Fax feature – A high performance fax is featured in the printer. It has 60 speed dials, and an 180 page memory. With the printer’s ADFs, sending of multi-page faxes is also easy.

Durable, high quality prints with Epson DURABrite Ultra pigment inks – Like the Epson WorkForce WF-3521, the Epson WorkForce WF-2538 also uses Epson’s DURABrite Ultra pigment inks that produce high quality prints that are smudge, fade and water resistant.

New Epson SureColor T Series Technical / Computer Aided Design (CAD) Printers

The Epson SureColor T series is the company’s first printer series that is specially designed for technical / Computer Aided Design (CAD) printing. The printers in the series have identical features that have been optimized for technical printing needs, but come in a 24-inch, 36-inch or 44-inch wide format, allowing users to choose the ideal size for their requirements and budget.

The power of Epson Micro Piezo technology for technical / CAD printing - The Epson SureColor T series printers introduce Epson's multi award winning Micro Piezo Advanced TFP print head technology to the technical / CAD printing industry for the first time. The piezoelectric based inkjet print head gives the T series a maximum resolution of 2880 x 1440dpi and features Epson’s Variable-size Droplet Technology (VSDT) that can eject ink droplets in multiple sizes to enhance clarity and recreate fine detail while delivering optimum efficiency for larger areas of colour. The printers’ highly power-efficient Micro Piezo print head generates less operation heat, thereby qualifying them for an Energy Star certification.

New Epson UltraChrome XD ink - The Epson SureColor T series comes with a new Epson UltraChrome XD Ink which was specifically developed for technical and CAD printing. Working together with the Micro Piezo print head, the UltraChrome XD inks produce high-quality, durable prints with deep blacks, a wide colour gamut and crisp, dense lines with a minimum width of 0.02mm. The inks are also environmentally friendly as they are water based.

High speed printing - Using a 4-colour ink set, the printers are fast, reliable and economical. Each printer is able to generate an A1 printout in a mere 28 seconds (in draft mode on plain paper). This makes them ideal for printing architectural designs and plans, GIS maps, presentations, as well as posters and indoor signage. Further improving efficiency, the printers are quick to set up, with automatic photo and matte black ink switching, and are so easy to use that operators do not need special training.

User friendly operation - Designed to fit into an office environment, these printers feature sleek styling, small footprint, top-loading media path, low operation noise and can be fully operated from the front, allowing them to be positioned against a wall.

EPSON CELEBRATES 70 YEARS OF INNOVATION WITH THE EPSON “V. I .P EXPERIENCE” DAY

Malaysia, 5 September 2012 – Celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, Epson has held the Epson “V.I.P Experience Day” today to introduce its most important products in the company’s recent history.

Through its 70 years, Epson has grown to become the company with the world’s broadest, deepest and most innovative range of products in the Visual Imaging and Printing (V.I.P) industry. These range from electronic component printers, to document and photo printers for consumers and businesses, to the world’s leading receipt, dot matrix, and large format printers. In 2012, Epson also achieved an unprecedented 11th year running as the world’s top projector maker.

The new products introduced today compose of models from all of the company’s imaging divisions: printing, projection, commercial & industrial printing and business systems; and feature several truly revolutionary, “world’s first” achievements. These products are:

The Epson L-Series Ink Tank System printers The world’s first and only branded ink tank system printers, the Epson L-series provides a “Volume, Ink and Price” experience. Such ink tank system printers are made possible by Epson’s extremely reliable Micro Piezo print head technology that can last the life span of the printers.

Today, Epson is introducing four next generation models of the Epson L-Series Ink Tank System printers to offer customers even more choice in terms of speed and reliability, while continuing to reduce their operating costs with the lowest cost per page in the world of any genuine printer branded supplies.

The Epson EB-1700 Ultraportable series and EB-Z8000/10000 Ultra bright projector series Showcasing Epson’s “Vision, Intelligence and Projection” experience, the new Epson projectors feature the most significant technology of the projector industry in many years – the world’s first real-time automatic keystone correction. New projectors with this technology are able to automatically and instantly correct screen distortions and focus the projected image in real time no matter where they are placed, or if they are repositioned during the presentation. The EB-Z8000/10000 series features Epson’s brightest-ever luminance ratings of up to 10,000 lm (lumens).

Epson’s latest commercial and industrial printers: SureColor SC-30670 and SureLab D3000 Enabling a “Valuable Industrial Printing” experience, the latest Epson SureColor SC-30670 is designed with a new generation four-colour eco-solvent ink set for affordable sign printing without compromise on quality while the SureLab D3000 is Epson’s first digital photo dry lab that brings the company’s renowned expertise in professional, large format photo printing into an ideal solution for retail photo printing service providers.

Epson’s revolutionary Business System products: TM-T88-i and TM-C3400 A truly “Versatile & Intelligent Point of sales” system, the Epson TM-T88V-i “intelligent” receipt printer is set to change the way small businesses handle payment transactions. With its XML processor, it can work with smartphones or tablets running HTML5 compatible browsers as an integrated, mobile point-of-sales (POS) transaction system. Lastly, the Epson TM-C3400 is a compact, cost effective colour printer that is ideal for “on demand” colour printing of labels for industries like healthcare, retail or events.

“Epson has always placed the consumer needs first when designing our products and solutions. By incorporating innovative technologies, we have been able to consistently provide the best in value and quality thus giving our users a unique V.I.P experience with each product.” said Endo Koichi, Managing Director of Epson Southeast Asia. “Epson is the leader in the visual imaging and printing industry and we are proud to be able to showcase all our innovations and solutions through the Epson V.I.P Experience Day.”

New Epson L-Series Ink Tank system Printers

(Volume, Ink and Price Experience):

 

Epson L110 and L210: Next generation ink tank system printers - Designed for home and SOHO (small office / home office) users, the L110 single function and L210 all-in-one ink tank system printers have a 6ipm (images per minute – ISO standard) print speed that is twice as fast as the L100 and L200 models they replace. The L110 and L210 also have a high rated durability of 15,000 pages.

Epson L300 and L350 “advanced” next generation ink tank system printer - For SMB (small to medium business) users, Epson has also introduced the more advanced L300 single function and L350 all-in-one ink tank system printers. These models offer a productivity-boosting print speed of 9ipm and assure users of reliable performance with their high 30,000 page rated durability. The L300 and L350 also come with two additional black ink bottles in the initial package.

Common key features:

Extremely high print volume and low cost per page - All models in the Epson L-series continue to offer customers high capacity ink bottles (worth RM20 each) that allow the consumers to print at incredibly high volume and low cost per page so as to free them from worrying about printing costs. The printers come with a starting set of one black 70ml ink bottle that can print 4000 black pages and three 70ml colour ink bottles that can print 6500 colour pages*. The L-300and L350 come with two additional black ink bottles in the initial bundle. With these inks, the Epson L-series ink tank system printers offer the world’s lowest cost per page of any genuine printer branded ink at only ½ cent (RM) per black page and 1 cent (RM) per colour page.

Ultra high performing and reliable Epson Micro Piezo print head - The Epson L-series is made possible by Epson’s advanced “Micro Piezo” print head that has higher reliability and lower operating temperature than competing thermal print head technology used by other inkjet makers. The high reliability of Epson’s Micro Piezo print heads allows them to be built into the printer and users to print high volumes with them. The Epson Micro Piezo print head found in the Epson L-series models achieves a maximum print resolution of 5760 x 1440 dpi and its variable size droplet technology (VSDT) allows the print head to eject ink droplets in multiple sizes. These capabilities ensure the greatest detail and extremely smooth gradations in documents or photographs. 

 

New Epson EB-1776W and EB-Z8000/Z10000 Business Projectors Series

(Vision, Intelligence and Projection Experience):

Featuring the world’s first real-time automatic keystone correction, this groundbreaking feature eliminates setup time, ensures that the projected image is always a perfect rectangle, and enables mobile workers like travelling salespeople and teachers who have personal projectors to concentrate fully on their presentations.

 Epson EB-1776W ultraportable projector with real-time automatic keystone correction

The new generation of the Epson EB-1776W ultraportable projector series continues to be the world’s slimmest 3LCD projector models. Weighing only 1.7kg, these projectors are ideal for mobile workers as they are quick and easy to set up with the new real-time auto keystone correction feature. 

They now support playback from a USB flash drive of more file formats than their predecessors, and enable users to view PDF files and motion JPEG movies without needing to connect to a PC. Additionally, they enable wireless projection of documents from Apple devices using the free iProjection app.

Epson EB-Z8000/10000 ultra bright projector series 

The models of the new Epson EB-Z8000/10000 series are Epson’s brightest-ever projectors with luminance ratings of up to 10,000 lm (lumens). Thanks to their 3LCD technology, these projectors produce coloured light output that is as bright as their white light output, making them ideal for use in large or bright venues. 

Additionally, the projectors are equipped with a new edge-blending feature which enables multiple projectors to combine and display a panoramic image. 

The range has other advanced video playback enhancement features such as a Faroudja DCDi video processor, frame interpolation and super resolution technology which were previously only available in home theater projectors. Epson EB-Z8000/10000 series models are engineered to provide extremely good value for its advanced features and high image quality compared to competing models of similar brightness ratings.

 

Epson Commercial and Industrial Printers

(Valuable Industrial Printing experience):

New Epson SureColor SC-S30670 Signage Printer

The Epson SureColor SC-S30670 builds on the success of Epson’s highly-regarded Stylus Pro GS6000 as the commercial printing industry’s premier sign printing solution. Engineered to offer the lowest cost of ownership to print for pay and in-house print service providers, the SureColor SC-S30670 features a new, affordable, yet high performance four-colour eco-solvent-based ink set and is ideal for the production of posters, signs, banners, backlit panels, vehicle wraps, exhibition displays and more. 

The Epson SureColor SC-S30670 is also the first ever eco-solvent-based printer to use Epson’s most advanced Micro Piezo Thin Film Piezo (TFP) print head that delivers double the nozzle density with 720 nozzles per colour - offering superb quality print output at a much faster speed.

When it was first shown at the DRUPA 2012 printing tradeshow in May 2012, the printer won the prestigious European Digital Press (EDP) Award for the “Best Wide Format Roll to Roll Printer” for its excellent price to performance ratio.

Epson UltraChrome GS2 – The Epson UltraChrome GS2 ink set used by the Epson SureColor SC-S30670 is a new generation environmentally-friendly eco-solvent inks. Odourless, nickel-free and needing no special ventilation for curing, it is ideal for printing in enclosed offices. Prints using this new ink sets are extremely durable, and have been tested to be lightfast for up to three years outdoors without lamination (based on Epson tests using ISO 18930 standard). The ink is also compatible with virtually all standard coated or uncoated solvent media, including adhesive based vinyl, sign banner media and canvas media to produce fine art prints. This gives a lot of flexibility to users to lower their printing cost by choosing cheaper media to print on.

Epson Micro Piezo Thin Film Piezo (TFP) print head - Engineered to deliver double the nozzle density with 720 nozzles per colour, this new print head delivers an high 1440 x 1440dpi resolution and superb quality print output at a much faster speed compared to its predecessor.

 

Individual heating system - The printer features three separate built in heaters to ensure the best print quality and rapid drying time. 

Adobe Illustrator plug-in software - For start up businesses, the software enables users to print from Adobe Illustrator CS5 files directly without needing to install the Rastor Image Processing (RIP) application, which results in significant cost savings. The free software (downloadable on Epson website) enables basic editing functions such as media setting and colour management. 

New, Accurate Media Loading System - The new printer design comes with an Auto Tension Control system which ensures highly accurate paper feeding automatically. It also comes with a new lift lever which allows for easy loading and unloading of heavy roll media and simplifies the process to a one-man operation. 

Status notification system - A new and unique feature available in the Epson SureColor S series is the status notification system which sends an email alert to the user to prompt print job completion, print errors and/ or ink depletion. The email alert can be configured for smart phones or tablet devices so that users need not constantly monitor the print status. 

Energy Star certification - The Epson SureColor SC-S30670 series is Energy Star certified for low power consumption during operation and standby mode, thereby reducing running cost and environmental impact. 

 

Epson SureLab SL-D3000 digital photo dry lab

Leveraging Epson's world renowned prowess in large format photo and graphic arts printing as well as the company’s strong experience as an OEM digital photo dry lab maker, Epson has introduced its first own-brand photo dry lab system: the SureLab SL-D3000. Featuring a high colour gamut, six-colour ink set working with the printer’s advanced Micro Piezo print head, the SureLab SL-D3000 offers a 1440 x 1440 dpi resolution, as well as print quality and colour consistency comparable to that of Epson's professional graphics printers. 

Epson UltraChrome D6 Ink – The SureLab SL-D3000 features the new high performance Epson UltraChrome D6 6-colour photo dye ink set that achieves a wide colour gamut that exceeds that of traditional silver halide prints, yielding printouts that are vivid and lifelike, with excellent black density.

Extreme media flexibility – The SureLab SL-D3000 gives users the flexibility to produce a variety of materials between 4 and 12 inches wide – from photos, to cards, to flyers and promotional leaflets on dedicated glossy, lustre or matte paper. The dual-roll model allows two different media types or roll widths to be loaded simultaneously for improved versatility and productivity.

Environmentally friendly efficiency - The power-efficient SureLab SL-D3000 uses significantly less energy than a wet lab of comparable performance, This reduces its users’ impact on the environment and the total cost of ownership. Further lowering the cost per print, the SureLab DL3000’s Micro Piezo print head and advanced LUT (Look Up Table) are carefully configured to use ink economically while maintaining the best print quality.