Roland DG has bought a controlling stake in Dimense, the innovative digital embossing technology arm of inks manufacturer Veika, as it looks to expand its role in driving the development of digital wallpaper production.
- Veika’s Aleksey Etin and Roland DG’s Kohei Tanabe
The Japan headquartered wide-format kit manufacturer – Roland DG has taken a 50.1% stake in the Lithuanian business – Dimense in a deal set to be completed by the end of September. Dimense manufacturers hardware and consumables for the production of digitally embossed products. The deal will therefore enable Roland DG have unhindered access to the combined ink and wallpaper related technological capabilities of Dimense and its parent Veika, and in return it would give them access to Roland DG’s global sales channels and technical know-how.
Kohei Tanabe, Roland DG Corporation President said the share purchase marked a “momentous fusion of our mission” to bring “new opportunities to society through digital technology. Throughout the negotiations, I have felt the desire to join forces with them and inspire excitement worldwide,” he added.
On the other hand, Aleksey Etin, CEO of family-run Veika noted that; “Veika and Roland DG have been business partners since 2015. I believe that this joint adventure with Roland DG will be a great opportunity to benefit from the best that the two companies have: Roland DG’s expertise in printer development and distribution capabilities around the world and Veika’s know-how in inks and media development. This partnership will allow us to speed up the progress of Dimense and Ecodeco technologies, as well as take them to a new level,” said Etin.
While Roland DG has highlighted the opportunity in digitally printed wallpapers and other interior décor products, the technology also opens up applications in calendars, event graphics, packaging, point-of-sale, and roll-up banners. The dimensional printing technology features a roll-to-roll printer, the Dimensor S, which runs water-based latex inks and proprietary clear structural ink, and a range of special double-layered substrates. The top layer of the Ecodeco base coating can foam and expand by up to 1.5mm when exposed to heat in the printer, but the areas covered by the structural ink remain flat.
