Roland DG Corp., Hamamatsu, Japan, has begun construction on an expansion of its manufacturing facility in Samutsakhon, Thailand.
The expansion is part of the “transition into a lean organization” core initiative of the midterm business plan (FY2021 to FY2023) the company announced in February. Manufacturing at the Miyakoda factory in Hamamatsu, Japan will be transferred to the factory in Thailand to help strengthen Roland DG’s cost competitiveness and will be operated as the center of volume production. The Thai factory also will take the role of producing models developed for emerging countries where further growth is anticipated.
Transferring production of inkjet printers, dental milling machines and other high-volume products currently made at the Miyakoda factory will double the existing 16 models to 32, with wide-format inkjet printer production capacity increased by approximately 40% to 17,000 units per year. Changes to the production area layout will ensure a smooth flow of operations, from receiving parts to storage, picking, production, and shipment to boost operating efficiency. Expansion work is planned to be completed by the end of November 2021, with full-scale operations of the entire factory including the expanded area slated to begin in January 2022.
Beginning in 2022, the Miyakoda factory will assume the role of manufacturing prototypes, assisting with the launch of new products, and developing advanced production technologies. — D.S.
