Seiko beginning

 

Epson first made its mark as the SEIKO Group with the production of watches featuring both micro-mechatronics and electronic technology. We later developed a printing timer that was chosen for the official timekeeping at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Epson's ongoing partnerships with World class sport

 

Epson is born

 

After a period of diversification, we launched the world's first electronic printer, the EP-101 was launched in 1968. Indeed, the name Epson is a combination of EP-101 and 'son'. The name being adopted to express our determination to produce many worthy 'sons' of the extremely successful EP-101 printer, which marked the beginning of our business expansion.

More about the Epson and Seiko global operations

 

Epson Europe

Epson has had a presence in Europe since the establishment of our first two European sales companies in the UK and Germany in 1978. Since then, our European network has continued to expand throughout our entire sales region, that is Europe, Middle-East, Russia and Africa, meeting the particular needs of our customers in their own local markets. Our aim throughout the region is to satisfy our customers by delivering the highest level of service to match the quality of our products.

Epson Europe B.V. was established in Amsterdam in 1990 to take on the special challenges and diversity of the European markets. Epson Europe addresses the need to effectively manage operations in an atmosphere of fast-paced changes within the intensely competitive high-tech information and electronics industry.

 

Company organisation

 

The European organisation is made up of many affiliate companies and offices staffed by people of many different nationalities and cultures. With Europe's increasingly strong single economic market, we recognise the need for all Epson companies throughout the EMEA region to work together with a professional, flexible attitude as "one" harmonised organisation. Only in this way can Epson be sure to meet the needs of our employees, customers, business partners and shareholders.

 

Corporate values

 

Epson values the driving force within us all to go one step further. Not only to meet existing challenges but also to realise, through technology, the most imaginative of dreams. We aim to enhance our position in the market by continuing to make technological breakthroughs that will enable today's vision to become tomorrow's reality.

More information about Epson's corporate values

 

Key milestones

 

Some of Epson's major accomplishments include - 1881 K Hattori & Co Ltd (now SEIKO Corporation) is inaugurated.
- 1964 The SEIKO Group is selected as the official timekeeper for the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
- 1968 The world's first mini-printer, the Epson EP-101, is launched (pictured).
- 1973 The world's first LCD-equipped digital quartz watch, the Seiko Quartz 06LC, is released.
- 1975 The Epson brand is established.
- 1983 The world's first portable colour LCD television is developed.
- 1993 The world's smallest micro-robot, Monsieur - listed in the Guinness Book Of World Records - is developed.
- 1994 The Epson Stylus Color pioneers Epson's worldwide range of desktop colour inkjet printers.
- 1995 The world's smallest, lightest and brightest multi-media projector, the Epson EMP-3000, is launched.
- 1998 The world's first colour printer in space, The Epson Stylus Color 800, is launched on board the Space Shuttle Discovery.
- 1999 The Epson Stylus Pro 9000, a large-format printer destined for graphic art professionals, is launched.
- 2001 The Epson Stylus Photo 895 is launched, incorporating Epson's unique PRINT Image Matching technology.
- 2002 More than 9,500 patents claimed for Epson technologies.
- 2002 Epson wins European awards for the best photo printer, digital scanner and multimedia projector of the year 2002-2003.
- 2003 Epson launches the latest generation of its revolutionary DURABrite inks.
- 2004 Epson launches Picture Mate - a portable printer that can be placed in the living room or kitchen for unrivalled ease of use.
- 2005 Epson releases the EMP-TWD1 - a combined DVD player and projector that expands the home-projector market.

For a full list of Epson milestones, click here.