Corporate Timeline

History of Business Activities

Growth Period: Building Core Technology (1981–1989)

  • 1981

    1. AMDEK Corporation was established in Osaka as a subsidiary of the Roland Corporation with the goal of expanding further upon a wealth of electronic music technology, beginning with the manufacture of electronic music instrument kits.
    • AMDEK

  • 1983

    1. Changed the corporate name to Roland DG Corporation (DG stands for Digital Group).

  • 1985

    1. Established a subsidiary in Belgium (currently Roland DG EMEA N.V.).
    2. Moved the company headquarters to Takaoka-cho, Hamamatsu.

  • 1988

    1. Moved the company headquarters to a new office in Okubo-cho, Hamamatsu.
    2. Established a subsidiary in Australia (Roland DG Australia Pty. Ltd.).
    • Roland DG

    • Transition Period: Building Core Markets (1990–1999)

  • 1990

    1. Established a subsidiary in the U.S.A. (Roland DGA Corporation).

  • 1992

    1. Established a factory in Shin-Miyakoda, Hamamatsu.
    • Miyakoda factory

  • 1996

    1. Moved the company headquarters to Shin-Miyakoda, Hamamatsu.
    2. Roland DGA Corporation established the group’s first Roland University (currently Roland DG Academy).

  • 1999

    1. Received ISO 9001 certification.
    2. Constructed factory blocks at the Miyakoda headquarters.

    • Growth Period: Establishment of Business Model (2000–2009)

  • 2000

    1. Received ISO 14001 certification.
    2. Started digital cell production using the Digital Yatai.
    3. Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Second Section.
    • Digital Yatai

  • 2001

    1. Roland DGA Corporation received ISO 9002 certification.
    2. Established Modeling R Corporation to expand the 3D business.

  • 2002

    1. Established a subsidiary in the U.K. (Roland DG (U.K.) Ltd.).
    2. Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section.

  • 2005

    1. Established a subsidiary in Spain (Roland Digital Group Iberia, S.L.).
    2. Established a new Miyakoda factory.
    • Miyakoda factory

  • 2006

    1. Established a subsidiary in Italy (Roland DG Mid Europe S.r.l.).
    2. Renewed the Digital Yatai and started as D-Shop.

  • 2007

    1. Implemented IMS (Integrated Management System), incorporating ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

  • 2008

    1. Established the group’s first Roland DG Creative Center at the subsidiary in Italy.
    2. Launched Roland DG Care.
    3. Expanded Miyakoda factory.
    4. Established a subsidiary in Denmark (Roland DG North Europe A/S).

    • New Founding (2010–2019)

  • 2011

    1. Established the first foreign manufacturing subsidiary in Thailand (Roland Digital Group (Thailand) Ltd.).

  • 2012

    1. Established a subsidiary in China (Roland DG (China) Corporation).
    2. Established a subsidiary in Korea (Roland DG Korea Inc.).
    3. Established a shared services subsidiary in Spain (Roland DG EMEA, S.L.).

  • 2013

    1. Established a subsidiary in Brazil (Roland DG Brasil Ltd.).
    2. Held the first-ever SE Awards of the World contest for service engineers.

  • 2014

    1. Established a subsidiary in the Netherlands (Roland DG Europe Holdings B.V.), a holding company providing fund management of group companies in Europe.
    2. Established a subsidiary in Russia (Roland DG RUS LLC).

  • 2017

    1. Transferred the 3D business to a newly-established subsidiary, DGSHAPE Corporation.
    2. DGSHAPE started operation focusing on the dental, medical and 3D digital fabrication businesses.

    • Portfolio Transition Period (2020–2024)

  • 2022

    1. Established a joint venture company (CERAWEI TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD) engaged in binder-jet 3D printer business in China.

  • 2023

    1. Commenced operations at the new Thailand factory building and transferred production functions.
    2. Established a subsidiary in Lithuania (UAB DG DIMENSE).
    3. Completed relocation and commenced operations at the newly built head office building, consolidating the previous head office and the Miyakoda office.
    • Thailand factory
    • Roland DG Head office

  • 2024

    1. Delisted the company’s shares.

History of Product Development

Growth Period: Building Core Technology (1981–1989)

  • 1982

    1. Released the CMU-800 Computer Music, which allowed the user to compose and automatically perform music using a computer.
    2. Released the DXY-100 pen plotter, which could be connected to a computer to produce architectural drawings and schematics.
    • CMU-800
      CMU-800
    • DXY-100
      DXY-100

  • 1983

    1. Released the DXY-800 A3-size pen plotter.

  • 1985

    1. Released the DPX-2000 A2-size pen plotter.
    • DPX-2000
      DPX-2000

  • 1986

    1. Released the first of the CAMM-3 series of 3D milling machines, the PNC-3000.
    • PNC-3000
      PNC-3000

  • 1987

    1. Released the first of the CAMM-2 series of engraving machines, the PNC-2000.
    • PNC-2000
      PNC-2000

  • 1988

    1. Released the first of the CAMM-1 series of cutting plotters, the PNC-1000.
    • PNC-1000
      PNC-1000

    • Transition Period: Building Core Markets (1990–1999)

  • 1995

    1. Released the Color CAMM PNC-5000, the world’s first thermal transfer color printer/cutter.

  • 1996

    1. Released the STIKA STX-7 compact cutting plotter and MODELA MDX-3 3D milling machine, targeting the hobby and crafts markets.
    • MDX-3
      MDX-3

  • 1997

    1. Released the CAMMJET CJ-70, the world’s first wide-format inkjet printer/cutter, capable of printing water-based pigment ink.
    2. Released the PC-60 thermal transfer printer/cutter.
    • PC-60
      PC-60

  • 1998

    1. Released the world’s first 6-color, 1440-dpi wide-format inkjet printer, the Hi-Fi JET FJ-50.
    • FJ-50
      FJ-50

    • Growth Period: Establishment of Business Model (2000–2009)

  • 2002

    1. Released the PRO II series (SJ-740/SJ-540/SC-540/FJ-540/CJ-540).
    • SC-540
      SC-540

  • 2003

    1. Released ECO-SOL INK, an environmentally friendly eco-solvent ink that could print directly onto uncoated media.
    2. Released the VersaCAMM SP-300, an inkjet printer/cutter designed to enhance on-demand production of small jobs.
    • ECO-SOL INK
      ECO-SOL INK

  • 2004

    1. Released the SOLJET PRO II SJ-1000EX grand format inkjet printer, capable of 2600 mm print width.

  • 2007

    1. Released the VersaCAMM VP series inkjet printer/cutter, capable of in-house production of promotional materials.
    • VP-540
      VP-540

  • 2008

    1. Released the VersaUV LEC-300, UV-LED inkjet printer/cutter, capable of multi-layered printing on a wide variety of substrates.
    • LEC-300
      LEC-300

  • 2009

    1. Released the SOLJET PRO III XC-540MT, the world’s first inkjet printer/cutter, capable of printing metallic silver ink.
    • XC-540MT
      XC-540MT

    • New Founding (2010–2019)

  • 2010

    1. Released the first of the DWX series of dental milling machine.

  • 2011

    1. Released the iModela iM-01 digital hobby mill.
    2. Released the VersaUV LEF-12, desktop-size UV-LED inkjet printer.
    • LEF-12
      LEF-12

  • 2012

    1. Released the METAZA MPX-90M, direct part marking device for the medical industry.

  • 2013

    1. Released the SOLJET PRO 4 XF-640, the company’s fastest inkjet printer to date.
    • XF-640
      XF-640

  • 2014

    1. Released the monoFab series, the company’s first 3D printer, the ARM-10, and a new milling machine, the SRM-20.
    2. Released the Texart RT-640, dye sublimation transfer printer for exclusive use in textile printing.
    3. Launched medical instrument traceability and maintenance support system project run in conjunction with Hamamatsu University School of Medicine.
    • ARM-10
      ARM-10

  • 2015

    1. Released the company’s first dental wet mill and a new dry mill.

  • 2018

    1. DGSHAPE released the dental mill with DWINDEX performance visualization software to help dental labs run a more productive and efficient business.
    2. DGSHAPE released the LD-80, the world’s first laser foil decorator.
    3. Released cotodesign design and print management software for customizing store merchandise on demand using customers’ favorite designs and photos.
    • DWINDEX
      DWINDEX

    • Portfolio Transition Period (2020–2024)

  • 2021

    1. Launched the free cloud-based Roland DG Connect service.
    2. Released the VersaSTUDIO BN-20A desktop printer/cutter for a new era of work styles.
    • VersaSTUDIO BN-20A
      BN-20A

  • 2023

    1. Released the AP-640 resin printer from the TrueVIS series.
    • TrueVIS AP-640
      AP-640

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