“Mutoh’s main objectives with this realignment plan is to optimise our organisation’s go-to-market strategy and to strengthen our supply chain and overall customer support activities," said Mutoh Belgium managing director Arthur Vanhoutte.

From April this year the company will base all of its warehousing and logistics activities for the Europe, Middle East and Africa regions in Belgium, meaning all hardware manufactured in Japan consumables, supplies and spare parts will be warehoused at Mutoh Belgium's Oostende facility for direct shipment to all authorised resellers across the EMEA area.

The Belgium operation will also be solely responsible for controlling product and commercial marketing and communications for the EMEA region. Mutoh Belgium, Mutoh Deutschland and Mutoh North Europe will remain responsible for all sales, after-sales service, technical service, local marketing and sales support activities in their respective territories.

Vanhoutte said: “The plan will provide us opportunities for further optimisation of our cost structures, more effective brand building and marketing communication activities whilst at the same time increasing efficiency and effectiveness of all Mutoh business units in Europe.

“These steps will create a more powerful organisation to demonstrate the strength of ‘One Mutoh’ and will lead to a better customer experience."