After Ricoh produced the first high-speed fax machine in the world in 1974, the RIFAX 600S, it coined OA, an acronym that would stand for office automation. The 1980s ushered in Ricoh’s production of word processors, computers, laser printers and optical filing solutions.
The most important breakthrough of this decade happened in 1987 when Ricoh launched the multifunctional office digital copier IMAGIO 320. This began Ricoh’s digitization of office equipments, including equipments that are colored and networkable. The production was monumental that Ricoh opened overseas productions facilities and the Ricoh Asia Industry Ltd. In the process of international expansion, Ricoh acquired Gestetner Holdings Plc. and Savin Corporation.
Now that the global production is in place, Ricoh started to concentrate on strengthening its sales network. European markets were served through the Danka Business Systems Plc. which Ricoh acquired in 2006 and IKON Office Solutions Inc. which was acquired in 2008. The acquisitions and the sales points set up around the world have built a global sales support structure for Ricoh.
While production and sales grew, Ricoh simultaneously emphasized social responsibility and environmental concerns. In 2002, Ricoh became only the second Japanese company to take an active part in the United Nations Global Compact conference. The following year, Ricoh became the first Asian company to receive the prestigious World Environment Center Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development.