September 3, 2024
Saku Insatsujo Co., Ltd., established in 1903, headquartered in Saku City, Nagano Prefecture, (Mr. Yukitaka Usuda, President), is a long-standing, community-focused printing company. With a history spanning 121 years, the company has responded to a wide range of needs, from general commercial printing to the publication of educational books and picture books. Recently, they decided to introduce the R700 Evolution from manroland, with the aim of further enhancing services to the local community and their customers through printing.
History and Contribution to the Local Community
Saku Insatsujo was founded in 1903 and incorporated in 1951. Over many years, it has built trusting relationships with local businesses and government entities, contributing to the development of Saku City and the surrounding areas. Initially starting with small-scale printing such as forms and flyers, the company entered the publishing printing sector after World War II. Today, they are engaged primarily in commercial printing, producing educational books, picture books, publications for general companies, government offices, and free magazines.
Pictured around the company’s signboard (from left): Yukitaka Usuda, President of Saku Insatsujo; Yoshihide Onozaki, Sales Director of manroland Japan; Daisuke Usuda, Managing Director of Saku Insatsujo; and Yasushi Kodama, Managing Director of manroland Japan.
Technological Innovation and Sustainable Growth
Despite the declining demand for printed materials due to a shrinking population and the rise of digital media, Saku Insatsujo is striving for sustainable growth by adopting the latest technologies. The newly introduced R700 Evolution features advanced integration software, the Integration Pilot (a central management software for printing machines), allowing for efficient prepress job preparation and fast data application to the inking mechanism. This reduces make-ready time while ensuring stable, high-quality printing. Furthermore, the machine is equipped with advanced self-learning features that tailor the operation to individual operator preferences, as well as a triple-flow inking mechanism (a variable ink distribution system), which comes standard. The introduction of software features such as QuickChange Job Plus automates job setups, enhancing work efficiency, reducing costs, and improving return on investment (ROI). This cutting-edge machine enables the company to optimize staff placement while minimizing labor requirements in the future.
Contract signed in the president’s office of Saku Insatsujo. (left: President of Saku Insatsujo, Mr. Usuda, right: MD of manroland Japan Mr. Kodama)
Steady Management Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
Reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020, President Usuda stated, “Although we were hit hard during the first few months, our clients’ quick recovery efforts, collaboration with local governments to print vouchers, and the increased demand for book reprints due to school closures and stay-at-home orders helped minimize the impact overall.” He added, “Our ability to handle the entire printing process in-house, from printing to processing, has earned us high trust, and our expertise in anti-counterfeiting technologies allowed us to maintain steady operations throughout the pandemic.”
A Future Shared with the Local Community
In closing, President Usuda remarked, “The printing industry has long been in decline, but printing will never disappear. We are proud of our over 100-year history as Saku Insatsujo, and we will continue to refine our technology and services to remain an essential company in the future.”
manroland will continue to be the ideal partner for Saku Insatsujo Co., Ltd. as it grows alongside the local community.
About Manroland Sheetfed
Manroland Sheetfed GmbH is a leading German producer of sheetfed offset litho printing presses. Founded in 1871, the company is one of the oldest producers of printing presses in the world. Today the company has its own subsidiaries in over 40 countries and is a global watchword for supreme quality and reliability. Manroland Sheetfed GmbH was acquired by Langley Holdings plc in 2012.