- Strategic shift from consumer to business inkjet printers continues
- Investment will strengthen European sales capabilities and increase workforce by 10%
- Company chasing €38 billion European market for business inkjet printers

Epson, a global innovation leader in printing, visual communications, manufacturing and quality of life solutions for the office, home, commerce and industry, today announced that it will invest €50 million in Europe over the next two years to drive its growth in the region.

Reinforcing Epson’s commitment to Europe and the region’s importance in the company’s ongoing strategic shift from consumer to business markets, Senior Vice President of Epson Europe Rob Clark said that the new investment will focus on infrastructure, information technology and marketing, and that the company will increase its regional workforce by 10%.

“Global investments in key regions such as Europe, the Middle East and Africa will continue to be necessary to enable the company to sustain growth in business markets over the medium to long-term,” explained Clark. “Particular emphasis in this round of investment will be placed on enhancing our competitive participation in Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom, including the opening of new offices in Berlin, Munich, Lisbon and Madrid.”

At the heart of Epson’s drive for growth in European business markets is its range of WorkForce Pro and WorkForce Pro RIPS (Replaceable Ink Pack System) business inkjet printers, introduced in European in 2014. Incorporating the company’s proprietary PrecisionCore print head technology, which is proven in industrial inkjet printing, Epson believes that its WorkForce Pro printers are well positioned to take advantage of the ongoing shift from laser to business inkjet printing technology in medium to large sized corporations.

Industry research firm IDC has reported that business inkjet printing represents a €38 billion* market opportunity in Europe, and that 1 in 4 printers (2.2 million units) sold into office environments in 2014 were based on business inkjet technology.

According to Clark, the selection and deployment of new generations of high speed, energy-efficient business inkjet printers looks set to increase in Europe over the next five to ten years, particularly in large corporations and across sectors such as retail, healthcare, education and public administration.

“Business inkjet printing is the big growth opportunity for Epson in Europe,” said Clark. “Building on the multi-million euro business we have already built, this new investment will help us to get even closer to our customers and strengthen our relationships with channel partners."