Kyocera to Sell Off Non-Core Businesses
Kyocera, a leading provider of inkjet presses, as well as electronic components, communication devices, and medical equipment, will divest 10% of its consolidated revenue, about $1.27 billion, by the end of fiscal year 2025, according to an article in DIGITIMES Asia. The Japanese company is reportedly facing declining profitability in key sectors, including automotive electronics and semiconductor-related operations.
The company plans to sell off non-core businesses with weak profit prospects, though it has not disclosed the specific assets targeted for sale. Its inkjet business does not appear to be one of those, however. In September, Kyocera announced it is a market leader in high-speed cut sheet inkjet production print, with 34.5% of market share. Its TASKalfa Pro 15000c cut sheet inkjet press, the company said, has been No. 1 in the market for the last three quarters. In the in-plant market, Kyocera inkjet presses have found a niche, particularly among K-12 in-plants, such as Fontana Unified School District, Kansas City Public Schools, and Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.
Still, Kyocera's consolidated operating profit has steadily declined over the past three years, according to the DIGITIMES Asia article, dropping by 14% year over year in fiscal year 2022 and 28% in fiscal year 2023. For fiscal year 2024, the company projects a further 27% decrease. Those familiar with Kyocera's inkjet division have told IPI off the record that they are not concerned with this announcement because inkjet is one of the company's core and growing businesses.
Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited more than 180 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.
