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In a bold and somewhat controversial move, OKI is quietly fading into the shadows of the corporate world as Ricoh and Toshiba Tec carve up the company’s assets and technologies. The acquisition of OKI by Ricoh in July 2024 was just the beginning of a much larger corporate reshuffling, culminating in the formation of ETRIA CO., LTD., a joint venture between Ricoh and Toshiba Tec aimed at consolidating their printer businesses.
(Tonernews.com would like to thank our friends at Spravnytoner.cz for this breaking news below)
What started as a merger of technology and resources has now evolved into a near-total takeover of OKI. The Japanese company, once a prominent player in the multifunction printer market, is gradually losing its identity. By October 1, 2025, OKI will officially cease to exist as an independent entity, as it will be absorbed into the new joint venture through a demerger.
Ricoh will control a massive 80.74% of ETRIA’s shares, while Toshiba Tec retains just 14.25%—and OKI will be left with a meager 5.01% stake. This is a staggering blow to a brand that was once recognized for its technological prowess in the LED head and multifunction printer space. What’s left of OKI is now little more than a footnote in a power struggle between two industry giants, Ricoh and Toshiba Tec, who will leverage OKI’s assets for their own benefit.
Perhaps the most telling part of this acquisition is the strategic stripping of OKI’s resources. While Ricoh and Toshiba Tec are focusing on adopting OKI’s LED head technology—which is renowned for energy-efficient, compact printing solutions—they are also gaining control of OKI’s substantial manufacturing facility in Thailand. The integration of OKI’s assets into ETRIA is a clear attempt to streamline production and maximize profits, but at the cost of OKI’s autonomy and its legacy in the printing world.
And yet, the corporate rhetoric insists that the Ricoh, Toshiba Tec, and OKI brands will maintain their commercial independence. The question remains: how much longer can these brands hold onto their separate identities when the very companies that owned them have effectively consolidated power and control under one roof?
Despite the legal assurances that the brands will remain distinct, there’s little doubt that OKI’s legacy is being overshadowed in the pursuit of corporate efficiency and profit. The once-vibrant company is now a footnote in the larger battle for market dominance between Ricoh and Toshiba Tec. The print industry’s evolution is unfolding at the expense of a company that had once been on the cutting edge of technological innovation.
OKI’s demise is not just a corporate restructuring—it’s a silent takeover that highlights the harsh reality of the modern business world: smaller companies are increasingly being swallowed by giants in their pursuit of market control. As Ricoh and Toshiba Tec move forward, the question remains—was this a strategic partnership, or a calculated elimination of a competitor? The answer, it seems, may lie in the very future of printing technology itself.
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