Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) and Konica Minolta have reached agreement and exchanged contracts on DNP taking over the Konica Minolta Odawara site, where Konica Minolta manufactures silver halide color photographic paper. DNP will take over the land, buildings and color photographic paper manufacturing business, and from October 1, 2006 plans to operate the business as a wholly-owned subsidiary. As a result of this agreement, DNP will make effective use of quality and production control technologies for color photographic paper in the manufacture of dye sublimation thermal transfer recording media.
In concrete terms, DNP plans to commence the production of receiver paper for dye sublimation thermal transfer recording method at the Odawara site from 2008. DNP, thereby, is aiming for dramatic improvements in performance, quality stability and productivity compared to existing receiver paper manufacturing methods. DNP also plans to position the Odawara site as the core production base for the digital photo print business via the production of receiver paper for dye sublimation thermal transfer recording method.
DNP will also take over the manufacture of color photographic paper, and will be supplying this to the clients in Japan and abroad.
Konica Minolta, with a view to concentrate in its core “business technologies” segment, its strategic “optics and display devices” segment and its growth expected “medical and healthcare” segment on the basis of “selection and concentration,” has decided in January to withdraw from its camera and photo businesses. In this regard, Konica Minolta has been thoroughly considering how to make effective use of color photographic paper manufacturing site in Odawara in the future, and has reached the agreement with DNP this time.
DNP commenced production of dye sublimation thermal transfer recording media from the late 1980’s, and in addition to capturing top global share purchased Pixel Magic Imaging TM of San Marcos, Texas in 2004. In Japan, DNP has operated the digital photo printing service “PrintRush,” a kiosk terminal format self-printing system from 2005
On July 1, 2006, DNP also took over two businesses from Konica Minolta, establishing DNP ID Imaging Co. Ltd., which will conduct an ID imaging business and DNP Photo Supplies Marketing Co. Ltd., which will carry out the domestic sales of photo related products. In addition to these businesses, by taking over the manufacturing business of the Odawara site, DNP aims to put into place a system to supply total products and services related to digital print photographs, from the manufacture of various print media, through the development and marketing of print systems, all while planning further business expansion.
