25 Iconic Innovations That Marked Ricoh's Technological Evolution

Ricoh's journey from its founding in 1936 to becoming a global leader in technology has been defined by numerous products and innovations that have had a significant impact on the office equipment and imaging industries worldwide. Here are 25 iconic products from Ricoh's beginning to the present, which have played a crucial role in shaping Ricoh's business over the years. 

1. Ricohflex III (1950) - A 6x6 format twin-lens reflex camera that played a pivotal role in making cameras widely popular in Japan. Ricoh revolutionized camera production in Japan with a belt-conveyor system, enabling mass production of the Ricohflex Model III at an affordable price. This once-iconic luxury item dominated the market, capturing over 50% during its peak.
   
   
   
   
2. Ricopy 101 (1955) - Ricoh introduced its first diazo copier, the Ricopy 101, revolutionizing office efficiency and pioneering office automation in Japan. Widely popular, it inspired the phrase “make a Ricopy” as a synonym for copying, earning recognition in 2012 as a Mechanical Engineering Heritage item.
   
   
   
3. Ricopy BS-1 (1965) – Ricoh’s first electrostatic copier and the world’s first desktop model with a fixed-platen structure. Capable of copying a wide range of items beyond paper, it became a key driver of technological innovation, business recovery, and Ricoh’s global expansion.
   
4. RICOH PPC900 (1972) - Ricoh's first dry-electrostatic-transfer plain-paper copier.
   
   
   
5. RIFAX 600S (1973) - Ricoh introduced the RIFAX 600S, the world’s first high-speed office facsimile capable of transmitting an A4 page in 60 seconds. A live international transmission demonstration between Tokyo and New York during product launch showcased its groundbreaking performance, solidifying Ricoh’s reputation as a technology leader and earning the model recognition as Essential Historical Material for Science and Technology in 2014.
   
   
   
6. RICOPY DT1200 (1975) - Launched with innovations like dual paper-size feeders and efficient toner usage, it delivered exceptional durability and minimal maintenance, becoming a bestseller and gaining widespread acclaim, especially in the USA.
   
   
   
7. RICOPY FT4060 (1982) - the first dry-toner plain-paper copier, was a major success, selling 100,000 units in just 10 months. The A3-page copier featured high-definition quality, durability, and a compact design, made possible by a new electrophotographic imaging system and advanced technologies in mechanisms and toner. Its versatility in paper types and sizes significantly improved office duplication efficiency.
   
   RICOH LP4120 (1982) - Ricoh launched the “RICOH LP4120” laser printer.
8. Rifax1300 (1983) - Ricoh launched the first plain-paper facsimile machine.
   
9. RICOH COLOR 5000 (1985) - Ricoh introduced the first analog color copier.
   
   
10. IMAGIO 320 (1987) - revolutionized the market by introducing a compact, affordable digital copier priced under 1 million yen, addressing the limitations of costly, bulky analog models. Featuring superior image quality, advanced editing tools, automatic controls, and multifunctionality, it became a practical solution for offices. With over 20,000 units sold in its first year, the IMAGIO 320 was a groundbreaking success.
    
    
    
11. RIFAX D7000 (1989) - the world's first ISDN G4 digital facsimile machine introduced. 
    
    
    
12. ARTAGE 8000 (1990) – Ricoh’s first digital color copier, introduced a groundbreaking four-drum system enabling high-speed color printing at 15 ppm—the fastest of its time. It overcame traditional single-drum limitations, handled various paper types, and made color copying more accessible for routine office use.
    
    
    
13. RICOH DC-1 (1995) - Ricoh's first digital camera, introduced innovative image processing technology adapted from office automation systems, enabling seamless handling of image and non-image data. With its compact, pocket-sized design, it featured advanced capabilities like zoom, data communication, and video recording with sound, which later became standard. The model also supported PC data transfer with dedicated applications and media.
    
    
    
    
14. imagio MF200 (1996) - marked a turning point in copier history, driving the shift from analog to digital models. Compact and affordable, it offered high-definition quality, data storage, and the smallest width for A3 support at the time. Popular with smaller businesses, its success boosted digital copier sales, surpassing analog models in Japan and accelerating the global transition to digital technology.
    
    
    
15. imagio MP C3500RC/C2500RC series (2009) - Ricoh introduced its first reconditioned digital full-color MFPs, utilizing 80% reused parts while maintaining quality standards equal to new products, exemplifying its commitment to resource recycling.
    
16. Biomass Toner (2009) – Ricoh developed and produced the world's first biomass toner*, featured in Japan's imagio MP 6001GP.
    * *As a manufacturer’s genuine supply item.
    
    
    
    
17. IPSiO PJ WX4130N/WX4130 (2011) - The world's smallest and lightest ultra-short-throw projector*¹.
    *¹ Based on ultra-short-throw projectors utilizing mirror reflectors (according to Ricoh’s research as of November 7, 2011).
    
18. RICOH Interactive Whiteboard D5500 (2013) - An interactive whiteboard revolutionizing communication in corporate and educational settings. It enhances meetings and learning by enabling content display from devices, interactive writing on images, and saving displayed data between remote locations.
    
    
    
19. RICOH THETA (2013) - The world's first consumer imaging device capable of capturing fully spherical images with a single shutter release*. Using a micro twin-lens reflex optical system, it captures the entire surrounding space, including areas above and below the device.
    
    *Based on Ricoh Imaging research, as of October 2013.
    
20. RICOH AM S5500P (2015) – Ricoh launched its first 3D Printer, under the RICOH brand.
    
    
    
    
21. RICOH IM C series (2019) - Advanced MFPs which draw on the state-of-art cloud services and AI
22. RICOH EH DSSC series (2020) - The world's first solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) modules designed to generate renewable energy and sustain electronic device charges.
23. RICOH Meeting 360 V1 (2022) - An all-in-one teleconferencing device featuring a 360° camera, microphone, and speakers, revolutionizing web conferencing.
24. RICOH IM C Series (2023) - Full-color multifunction printers, designed to support digital transformation (DX) while delivering industry-leading environmental performance.

These 25 iconic products, each filled with stories, demonstrate Ricoh's commitment to excellence and progress. As Ricoh's legacy of innovation continues to influence industries, the company looks toward the future with a dedication to creating solutions and innovations that are environmentally conscious, leaving a lasting impact on business, education, and beyond.