Ricoh and ETRIA Launch Circular Printer Manufacturing
The firms are pivoting to a model that uses recovered parts to lower raw material reliance and supply chain costs.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Manufacturing
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Ricoh and ETRIA have introduced a circular manufacturing concept designed to turn used products into assets for new production. The program utilizes localized facilities in Japan and France to reduce raw material dependency for A3 printers starting in 2027.
Why it matters
By transitioning to a model that relies on recovered components rather than virgin materials, the firms aim to insulate their supply chains from geopolitical volatility and rising logistics costs. This shift mandates a redesign of product lifecycles to prioritize modularity and reuse.
The new process aims to drop newly sourced material use to 21% from an original 76%, alongside a 25% reduction in product carbon footprints. Ricoh, which reported 16.4 billion USD in worldwide sales for fiscal 2026, expects to hit a 30% engine market share for ETRIA by 2030.
The players
Ricoh
A global technology company specializing in office imaging equipment, production printing, and digital services.
ETRIA
A manufacturing entity focused on engine development and circular production components for office technology.
The details
The Circular New concept integrates advanced digital sorting and quality assurance to verify the condition of used assets. Design teams are now implementing shared frames and components across product generations to ensure parts can be easily recovered and reused. Production is decentralized into regional hubs, effectively shortening transport distances and reducing reliance on global raw material flows.
Timeline
October 15, 2026: Ricoh and ETRIA announce the Circular New manufacturing concept.
First half of 2027: Planned production and launch of A3 printers in Japan and Europe.
Fiscal 2030: Target deadline for achieving a 30% ETRIA engine market share.
Market Landscape
This initiative represents a strategic evolution of Ricoh's Comet Circle model established in 1994. By embedding circularity directly into manufacturing, the company moves beyond traditional recycling toward a closed-loop production system.
Operators should evaluate how modular design principles and component reuse could lower their own procurement and transportation overhead. Keep a close watch on regionalized production shifts as a potential hedge against volatile international logistics and material costs.
The takeaway
The move demonstrates that embedding circularity into hardware design can directly combat rising material costs and supply chain instability. Manufacturers should audit their current product lifecycles to identify components that could be standardized for future recovery and reuse.
What happens next
Production and launch of A3 multifunction printers utilizing the Circular New model are scheduled for the first half of 2027.
Further reading
Explore deeper trends in operational efficiency on our Manufacturing page.
More information
View corporate updates and policy details on the Ricoh corporate information portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Macau Business.
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