During the year to March 31 2010, the company's operating income also dropped dramatically, down 85% to £5.3m.

In 2010, Roland DG made a loss of around £600,000, compared to a profit of nearly £22m in the previous year.

Mashiro Tomioka, president of Roland DG, cited the economic downturn as a major factor for "weak" capital investment during the year.

The company also identified a weak recovery over the course of the year coupled with the adverse impact of a strong yen, which added to the decline in sales.

Tomioka said: "While elements of the global economy remain uncertain, we expect to achieve increased sales and income for the 2011 fiscal year through aggressive sales activities with a focus on new products, continued maintenance of appropriate inventory levels and a commitment to streamlining our operations by improving production efficiency and lowering costs.