As well as manufacturing sheetfed presses, the new plant will be the centre for future product development, with Kubota stating that the firm is currently working on some potential inkjet products. Laser cutting is also being evaluated.

Chinese manufacturer Hans Gronhi acquired Japanese counterpart Shinohara in 2012, and manufacturing was subsequently consolidated in China.

However, the firm has now decided to make a major investment in a new 5,000sqm facility in Shizuoka that will manufacture presses for markets outside of Asia. “Customers should know we will be making our presses the way we always have, by hand, to bring ultimate quality to the market,” Kubota said.

The new facility will make the Shinohara’s full range of presses, in formats spanning B3 to SRA1 for its home market of Japan and key export territories including Europe and the US.

Parent Hans Gronhi will still continue to make Shinohara presses for Chinese and Asian customers at its giant 385,000sqm plant in Yingkou.

The firm is exhibiting on the stand of UK distributor Printers Superstore (N5-D411).