OKI Data Americas’ Innovative Expansion Approach Key to Weathering Economic Storm

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--With the printing category eroding each year, there has been no place to hide for printer manufacturers, with everyone experiencing near the same level of sales declines. One company, OKI Data Americas, which markets its products under the OKI^® Printing Solutions brand, decided to create its own port in the ongoing economic storm in categories virtually untapped by other printing companies. Readying the company for lasting growth, OKI Printing Solutions leveraged its innovative LED color print technology to develop applications for emerging segments in categories new to the desktop printing marketplace.

“OKI Data Americas’ business has been built on innovation in technology and marketing. We will continue to leverage our advancements in technology to solidify our business with current partners and to grow our business with new partners.”

“As the printing industry was facing challenges, we saw the opportunity to invest in categories new to our industry,” said Stewart Krentzman, President and CEO of OKI Data Americas. “Our superior LED technology, combined with an entrepreneurial approach, not only has benefited us and our customers during the current economic downshift, but has also made our offering better for our traditional channel partners. We have maintained our market share and positioned ourselves for growth as the economy rebounds. Many of our competitors are reacting to this storm by focusing on short-term tactics. OKI Data Americas is investing – we’re in it for the long haul.”

By leveraging its most innovative color technology, OKI Printing Solutions now provides printing technology for toner-based photo kiosks for three of the top market leaders in photography. Through imaging innovation, OKI Printing Solutions has also developed a new low-cost, high-speed digital color printing alternative to expensive X-ray technology for the medical imaging community. Imaging solutions manufacturers iSys and Xanté partnered with OKI Printing Solutions to develop custom solutions for their customers, including wide-format, high-speed, continuous digital color printers and digital color presses designed for short-run as well as high-speed color envelope systems.

The success OKI Printing Solutions has seen beyond the traditional COMDEX/BTA channel inspired OKI Data Americas to launch a new graphic arts unit, which includes enhancing its product portfolio with the introduction of the OKI ProColor Series, a line of dedicated graphic arts digital color printers. While also targeted to industries that require image-based, high-quality color output with highly advanced color matching capabilities, the OKI ProColor Series will provide channel partners access to an entirely new set of printing solutions.

In addition, OKI Printing Solutions recently introduced a new label/POS business for the channel, to answer the needs of small to enterprise companies across a wide range of industries. Upon broadening its core printer offerings with the OKI ProColor Series and the recently launched label/POS business, OKI Printing Solutions (www.okiprintingsolutions.com/us) has become the only manufacturer to deliver end-to-end printing solutions, helping the company continue on its path towards profitable growth.

“Innovation is the key to weathering this storm,” continued Krentzman. “OKI Data Americas’ business has been built on innovation in technology and marketing. We will continue to leverage our advancements in technology to solidify our business with current partners and to grow our business with new partners.”

About OKI Data Americas, Inc.

OKI Data Americas, Inc., headquartered in Mount Laurel, N.J., and a subsidiary of OKI Data Corporation of Japan, markets PC peripheral equipment and customized document management solutions under the OKI Printing Solutions brand, including digital color and monochrome printers, color and monochrome multifunction products, serial impact dot matrix printers and thermal label printers, as well as a full line of options, accessories and consumables. OKI Data Americas takes a consultative approach to supporting every customer’s needs and delivering individualized print solutions that optimize business performance. The company’s innovative technology is backed by Tokyo-based parent company Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd., a world leader in information processing systems, telecommunications and electronics, and an approximately $7.1 billion multinational corporation according to its FY 2007 financial reporting. Keeping its customers’ needs top of mind, OKI Data Americas is ISO 9001:2000 certified and most products have earned the ENERGY STAR® certification. As an extension of the company’s dedication to its customers, OKI Data Americas created the Color Me OKI philanthropic program to support the fight to eradicate breast and colorectal cancers. The program celebrates those touched by both causes with vintage vehicles and musical entertainment at fundraising events nationwide. For more information, please visit www.colormeoki.com.

About iSys:

iSys provides leading-edge performance printers for the oil and gas industry, government agencies, engineering consultants, aerospace, military defense, marine, manufacturing, commercial art, graphic design as well as newspaper industries. Imaging Systems Media, Inc., headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is the exclusive distributor of certified consumables for The Imaging Systems Group Inc.

About Xanté:

Xanté provides state-of-the-art PDF workflow and imaging solutions for high-quality graphic and prepress applications. The product line includes process-free metal and polyester computer-to-plate imaging devices including the popular Impressia and PlateMaker lines. The company is headquartered in Mobile, Ala., USA, with offices in Sacramento, Calif., USA, Duiven, Netherlands, and Zhengzhou, China. Xanté products are distributed through a worldwide network of reseller and distribution partners. For more information, please visit Xanté.com.

OKI, Reg. T.M. OKI Electric Industry Co., Ltd. ENERGY STAR Reg. T.M. U.S. EPA.