OKI Printing Solutions (the brand name for Oki Data Corporation) has established Oki Data Dalian Co., Ltd., a software development company for printers and Multifunction Products (MFPs), which will began operations in October 2005. This company is OKI Printing Solutions' first overseas software development company and the second company to be based in China. It will be responsible for the development of product software for not only the Chinese printer market, but will also be installed on products sold throughout the world.

Dalian was chosen from various candidate sites in China and is located in the easternmost area of China, near Japan (only three hours from Japan by air). A key factor for choosing Dalian Software Park (DLSP) is its sufficient infrastructures for developing software. Furthermore, the Dalian government is investing in Japanese language education as well as aggressively making a commitment to the promotion of software businesses in order to attract Japanese companies.

The new company will not only develop hardware for monochrome digital LED printers and software for drivers, utilities, and installers, but will also work toward localizing color digital LED printers and MFPs for Asia and Oceania, and customizing products for specific users.

In July 2002, OKI Printing Solutions started the production of serial impact dot matrix printers at Oki Electric Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., the production site in China. Since then, the number of products manufactured there has increased, to include both monochrome and color LED printers. In addition, a branch office was established in Beijing in 2003 as a sales base, expanding the local foothold aggressively.

Mikihiko Maeno, President and CEO of Oki Data Corp said "The continued expansion into China aims to further develop OKI Printing Solutions business growth in China, by not only establishing a software development base but also the continual provision of value-added products and services specifically for Chinese customers."

"In the fiscal year ending March 2008, OKI Printing Solutions expects to obtain a 10% share of the color page printer market and a 30% share of the dot matrix impact printer market in China," he said.