Inkjet & Digital Printing
Océ opens technology center in Singapore
Friday 29. February 2008 - Océ, an international leader in document management, opened Océ Technologies Asia today. Based in Singapore, Océ Technologies Asia will become the control tower for Océs Asian activities including research and development, product introductions, supply chain management and procurement.
“The foundation of Océ Technologies Asia – OTA – fits within our strategy to achieve the lowest possible level of production costs,” said Anton Schaaf, Chief Technology and Operations Officer at Océ. “OTA will make a solid contribution to Océs operational excellence program. Singapore is a good location for continuously improving our product range as well as steering our research, manufacturing and logistic activities in the region. The city-state has a solid infrastructure and well-educated staff. Océ has been active in Singapore for over 30 years. By opening OTA, Océ underlines how serious we are about doing business in Asia and in developing a more balanced operational portfolio.”
Océ Technologies Asia will develop R&D skills
Océ employs more than 120 staff in Singapore. OTA will supervise Océs manufacturing activities in Asia, drive supply base developments, oversee the start-up of new products in the manufacturing plants and safeguard their quality and delivery. Furthermore, a dedicated OTA team will work closely with the Singaporean Economic Development Board. The partnership will sharpen the skills and manufacturing technologies needed to develop and manufacture high tech printers in the region.
“We are delighted that Océ, a world leader in document management and printing, has decided to set up its control tower for R&D, new product introductions and supply chain management activities in Singapore,” said Manohar Khiatani, Assistant Managing Director of the Singapore Economic Development Board. “We are confident that Océ will find Singapore to be an ideal location for these high value activities given our strong talent pool and supplier base as well as our comprehensive logistics and R&D capabilities.”
Enhancing Océs positioning in Asia
OTAs opening is part of an ongoing process to raise Océs visibility in Asia. In 2007, Océ generated approximately 5% of overall sales of 3.1 billion in Asia. Some 18 years ago, Océ opened an International Purchasing Office in Singapore to drive the development of an Asian supply base.
For the last five years, Océ has cooperated with contract manufacturers in the production of mainly wide format and some cutsheet modules, previously manufactured in The Netherlands.
This generated average production savings amounting to as much as 30%, fully in line with Océs stated objective of relocating approximately 80% of the Venlo production value of the cutsheet and wide format printers to countries in Asia and Central Europe by the end of 2008.
In 2007, Océ and Eindhoven University, one of the Netherlands leading centers of excellence, joined forces in the Talent Scholarship Program to attract the best and brightest Asian students to the university for a two-year graduate course in technology and innovation, followed by a three-year career contract at Océ.
Recently Océ has made substantial progress in building a professional distribution network in Asia. In March 2007, Océ announced the Founder Group in China will be selling Océ printers in the Chinese market. In January 2008, Océ announced that Fuji Xerox would be selling Océ wide format color printers for the technical documentation market throughout Asia.
“We are moving quickly towards our set objectives,” said Tjebbe Smit, OTA director. “It is an honour to build a team in Singapore with highly skilled and motivated people, capable of leading our technological operations in Asia. We are keen to bring out the best of our R&D and manufacturing partners and to further improve our systems for this rapidly-growing printer market.”