Fujifilm Philippines officially announced the appointment of Masahiro Uehara as new President.
Uehara, formerly managing director of Fujifilm Hongkong, assumes his new role as the company continues to expand its presence to adapt and respond to customers’ changing needs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fujifilm is primarily associated with photographic films and cameras, but in reality, it is one of company’s product lines, apart from document and graphics solutions and healthcare products. Established in the Philippines in 2012, Fujifilm has been steadily increasing its foothold in the healthcare and graphic industry as well as photography, offering solutions and adopting technologies and knowhow to ensure that its products and services adhere to the demands of their customers.
The company is currently offering a range of products and services such as healthcare (medical equipment and pharmaceuticals); Materials (graphic systems, inkjet printers, semiconductor materials, and recording media); Business Innovation (digital color multi-function devices and printers for office use, as well as services for business solutions); and Imaging (including photo and imaging devices such as mirrorless and instant cameras, and photo printing services).
“Fujifilm has gone far beyond its roots in photography, using its knowledge and expertise to expand into several other industries and businesses. Our company has grown to be known for its technology-driven solutions, offering complete solutions in various high-tech fields,” said Uehara.
Following the acquisition of the diagnostic imaging-related business of Hitachi Ltd by Fujifilm Corporation in March 2021, Fujifilm Philippines started offering comprehensive healthcare solutions which cover computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray, ultrasound systems, endoscopy, in-vitro diagnostic systems, and picture archiving and communications systems.
Uehara said Fujifilm Philippines is now focusing on the health and well-being of the Filipino people. At the height of the pandemic, Fujifilm installed FDR Go PLUS, a digital mobile X-ray in various hospitals across the country to help frontliners do chest X-rays and determine patients with COVID-19 symptoms.
“Our products will help healthcare providers diagnose and treat more patients at a faster rate while also providing greater patient comfort and safety. Fujifilm will continue to provide a range of products and services that address the needs of healthcare personnel, helping to improve medical care and supporting the well-being of people,” he said.
On the photography business segment, Fujifilm introduced in November 2022 the Fujifilm X-T5, a mirrorless camera that offers a unique shooting experience with its latest sensor, fast processor, and advanced autofocus system. It has a lightweight body and analog dials that provide a unique and authentic shooting experience.
Mirrorless camera has the same creativity and image quality of a DLSR but is smaller and has a lighter body that’s easier to use. It is great for travel, blogging, vlogging, and capturing everyday memories. It also offers interchangeable lenses.
Fujifilm Instax continues to be one of the world’s leaders in the instant camera industry due to its popularity with millennials and Gen Z. The latest instax camera in the market is the instax mini Evo, which is considered the best venture at a hybrid instant-and-digital camera. It offers all the analog charm of an instant camera but with digital control over which images to print on an instax mini film using a small LCD screen.
Easy to use, Instax offers creative ways for users to customize their prints and share them with family and friends. With just a press of a button, instax can instantly capture a moment in seconds with high quality prints.
Fujifilm’s Graphic Systems Division has also established itself as a strong player in the offset, flexo, wide-format, print on demand businesses for commercial, labels and packaging, publishing, signs and advertising purposes of the firm’s advanced digital and offset printers are being used by various players in the local printing industry.
Although its flexo business is relatively new in the market, introduced only in the latter part of 2022, Uehara shared they have high hopes that the market for this will increase soon.
The company will continue promoting its offset printing, highlighting its eco-friendly processless CTP Plates that can save production cost and help reduce environmental impact. It is also looking to expand its digital machine lineup and services this year to meet the needs of the local market.
“Fujifilm Philippines is always looking for ways to improve our service and make our products more accessible to customers. We are confident that we can help the local businesses in the Philippines to reach their goals and grow their businesses even further,” Uehara said.