Joan Casas, Manager Graphic Communication and Deputy General Manager de Fujifilm Spain, S.L.

Fujifilm, as a global company in digital and analogue solutions for the graphics industry, is once again taking part in Graphispag and presenting new products. Joan Casas, head of Graphic Communication at Fujifilm Spain, shares his thoughts on the sector and the role of the Spanish subsidiary within the group.

What is your opinion on the current situation of the graphics sector in Spain?

The situation in the graphics sector is very different depending on the type of product or service. In general, there is a commitment to combining analogue and digital production. This is the basis of the situation of change that exists and which differs according to the speciality. We are in a mature market where commercial printing and the press sector have suffered a lot, but there are segments that are more stable and in constant development and transformation.

There are more than 300 companies within the Fujifilm Group holding, what role does Spain play within a group with such a strong international presence?

Focusing only on the area of graphic printing, Fujifilm Spain initially focused on the sale of digital technologies and services, and has grown in the last few years.
technologies and services, growing annually in installed base and strengthening its position in the market. This has served as a model to be followed by other countries where its recurrent growth in the conventional offset plate sector was affected by market developments.

This means that at European level we are seen as an organisation based on digital technologies and as a result, it gives us a more advanced position in future markets and roles in relation to other countries.

And as a global company, do you perceive differences between the countries in which you operate?

Obviously yes, because the states of the graphic markets in the world are different and the life cycle of graphic products and services are different.
The differences are based on the type of offer and at a time of technological transition there are markets where the average investment and conversion is much lower and others higher.

You are present in the areas of packaging, commercial printing, large format and office. Do you identify more with any of the areas?

The heart of our business is print and our strategic vision is based on how to develop and integrate technologies for print. Therefore, we design technologies that can cover different markets. We are driven by print and we adapt it technologically to meet the needs of any area.

What are your plans for expansion?

We continue to pursue several areas of strategic growth. In packaging, we launched water-based inkjet technology for the flexible packaging market. In the point-of-sale printing market, we are launching high quality, high speed hybrid equipment with low ink and power consumption, as well as high performance equipment.

In the label sector, we are developing inks that meet all industry standards, especially in terms of regulations, including those for food products. In commercial printing, we are introducing toner and water-based technology. And as a novelty for us, we are entering the Corporate market, where there is a development in very powerful toner equipment.

What new products will you be presenting at Graphispag?

We will be presenting the new Acuity Hybrid with 2-metre wide-mouth UV LED technology in the large-format area. On the other hand, two new machines from the Revoria range will be on show: the EC2100s and the SC285s, in which the possibility of the 5th colour gives them a great competitive advantage.

We also want to show the three basic toner solutions for the office and corporate sector, which we are introducing this year. The rest of the new products will be presented with printed samples and videos.

Cristina Benavides, Graphispag collaborator