On January 31, FUJIFILM Business Innovation and Konica Minolta formalised a joint venture – first mooted in April, 2024 – under the name of Global Procurement Partners Corp based in Yokohama, Japan to coordinate the procurement of raw materials and parts in the multifunction printer (MFP), office printer and production printer segments. The strategic alliance aims to leverage their extensive supplier networks to strengthen their business foundations by establishing a robust supply system for their products and streamlining their business processes in order to improve the competitiveness of both groups.
President Masaharu Furukawa, who also serves as Corporate Vice President and Director at FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp, will lead the venture, which is expected to employ 192 individuals, including temporary staff. Of these, 137 employees will be seconded by FUJIFILM Business Innovation, while 55 will come from Konica Minolta. FUJIFILM will be the major shareholder at 75%.
Global Procurement Partners Corp. will focus on developing advanced procurement strategies and deploying them across production sites. The company will lead procurement functions, including supplier negotiations and procurement management, while ensuring externally sourced goods’ quality, cost, delivery and environmental compliance. This collaboration aims to streamline operations and enhance efficiency across both parent organisations.
“Sharing a common understating of the challenges facing the business, the two leading companies will be able to mutually maximise strengths through this alliance,” noted Toshimitsu Taiko, President and CEO, Konica Minolta, Inc. “I am looking forward to working together to improve investment efficiency and cost-competitiveness, strengthen capabilities for stable supply, environmental initiatives, and business continuity plans (BCP), and pursue the potential for enhancing business resilience as global manufacturers.”
Naoki Hama, President and CEO, FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp, said: “The ongoing discussions for this business alliance are of immense importance as we strive to strengthen our competitiveness and expand our global presence to make a significant leap forward. We are confident that this partnership will create a new framework to enhance our supply chain and build a robust business foundation.”
One of the major thrusts of this alliance will be the development and production of toner-based printing systems. Fujifilm and Konica Minolta wish to combine their expertise to offer solutions tailored to the needs of today’s professionals.
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