Beginning later this year, Ricoh Japan will begin selling 3D printers, materials, training and support in Japan through its agreement with EnvisionTEC GmbH, the German arm of EnvisionTEC’s global family of companies.

The Ricoh Group has more than 20 years of experience in designing products for 3D printing, cultivated through making prototypes and molds. The company is now focused on developing a 3D printer business that uses this know-how to provide broader 3D printing services.

Ricoh Japan decided to partner with EnvisionTEC because of the high precision and smooth surface finish delivered by EnvisionTEC’s 3D printers using the company’s patented DLP and 3SP technologies. That includes 3D printers such as the company’s 15-year-old Perfactory line, which is now in its fourth generation, as well as printers with large build envelopes such as the Ultra and Vector.