KYOWA LEATHER CLOTH CO., LTD. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of synthetic leather materials for automotive interiors. The company launched the Sobagni consumer brand featuring fashion and everyday items made from its own synthetic leather material, using Roland DG’s LEF2-300 benchtop flatbed UV printer to create a range of colorful designs.

Roland DGA, Roland DG’s U.S. sales and marketing subsidiary recently marked the selling of its 10,000th VersaSTUDIO BN-20 desktop printer/cutter by presenting the purchasing customer, Mi-Vo Creations, with complimentary gifts and a commemorative plaque at PRINTING United 2022 in Las Vegas. The presentation took place during a brief ceremony held at the Roland DGA booth.

Formula SAE Japan (FSAEJ) is an all-inclusive monozukuri competition where students play the main role in planning, designing and constructing their very own formula-style racing car. Roland DG is sponsoring teams from The University of Tokyo and Shizuoka University by assisting with the production of racing car stickers and team uniforms.

The refreshment space at the Faculty of Informatics at the Hamamatsu Campus of Shizuoka University has been officially named the “Roland DG Lounge,” a venue where students can catch up with others, work on their skills and explore their creativity.

A ceiling painting by legendary Ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai has been digitally reproduced (as shown in the photo) in its original size using Roland DG’s UV printer. It was on display in the “Digital x Hokusai” Special Exhibition that ran until July 3, 2022 at NTT’s InterCommunication Center [ICC] Gallery A in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

The Tokyo Creative Center is the largest Roland DG demonstration center in Japan and is located at its Tokyo-based sales office. It was recently refurbished and relocated to Shinagawa where it re-opened its doors to visitors on February 28, 2022.

The latest models of Roland DG’s TrueVIS VG3 series wide-format printer/cutters were unveiled at JAPAN SHOP 2022, the 51st International Exhibition for Shop Systems and Fixturing, which was held at Tokyo Big Sight from March 1 to 4.

Daiya Industry Co., Ltd. in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, is a manufacturer of support clothing and other medical products that uses Roland DG’s inkjet printers to produce made-to-order designs and in-house prototypes. We organized an online meeting to chat with Tomohiro Igi, who is in charge of product planning and development at Daiya.

Makers-Lab Toyohashi in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture is a makerspace run by Science Create Co., Ltd., a public-private (third sector) organization based in the area. The lab was opened in 2015 within Toyohashi Science Core, a center promoting industry-academic collaboration and supporting the creation of new industries in the Higashi-Mikawa region. As a lab that allows anyone to put their fabrication skills into practice, Makers-Lab Toyohashi is seeking to breathe new life into local industry.

COVID-19 vaccinations are progressively being rolled out throughout Japan. To ensure that the process is conducted smoothly, signage for venue guidance and warnings are essential. Roland DG manufactures and sells wide-format inkjet printers and printer/cutters that are used to produce large-format signs with excellent visibility and were used recently to assist with efforts at mass vaccination centers in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, where the company’s head office is located.

Signboards are the main line of business for POPBOX in Asakusa, Tokyo. As a specialist in the signboard industry, they also manufacture various fixtures and sell cutting sheets for promotional media. Three of Roland DG's TrueVIS VG2-540 wide-format printer/cutters are being used by POPBOX, so we had a chat with supervisor Makoto Tanabe (in photo above) to find out more.

Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Seagull Co., Ltd. in Okayama, Japan has recorded growth in online sales of original smartphone cases and leather accessories printed with Roland DG’s LEF series UV printers.