Founded in 1953 and headquartered in Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture, central Japan, OKAHASHI Co., Ltd. blends tradition with innovation as a leading packaging printer. The company offers end-to-end production across sectors such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food, printing on a diverse range of substrates including board, PP, and PET sheets.
With core operations in Nara and expanding footprints in Tokyo and Osaka, as well as Wuxi, China, OKAHASHI is pursuing global growth. In 2024, the company introduced three state-of-the-art systems: the Speedmaster CX 104-7+L press, the MK Promatrix 106 FC hot foil stamping machine, and the MK Diana Eye 55 inspection system.
“It’s not just about solving immediate problems,” says President Okahashi. “The real question is how these investments will support the long-term growth of our company.” With this forward-looking vision, OKAHASHI marks its 70th anniversary not as a milestone to reflect on, but as a launchpad for a bold new era.
Faced with labor shortages and increasing operational demands, OKAHASHI is proactively investing in automation to strengthen its production. “When we see an opportunity to improve output through equipment performance, we invest without hesitation,” says Okahashi, noting that the results are already measurable.
The Speedmaster CX 104 was chosen for its reliability and low downtime risk. Plant Manager Masayuki Fujikawa reports that the press now handles approximately 340 jobs and 1.5 million sheets per month, with makeready times averaging just 30 minutes and a waste rate of only 2%, a significant gain in productivity.
These upgrades are complemented by MK Masterwork equipment, provided through the strategic partnership of HEIDELBERG in China. Founded in 1995, MK Masterwork is known for its advanced die-cutting and foil stamping technologies. “After extensive testing, we selected machines that met our exact performance and quality standards,” says Okahashi.
To further streamline quality assurance, OKAHASHI is shifting from manual visual inspection to fully automated systems, leveraging the capabilities of the Diana Eye 55. Still, Okahashi emphasizes that people remain at the center of the company’s strategy: “Are our employees enjoying their work? Are they fulfilled?”
Automation is also a long-term response to the expected shortage of skilled inspectors. OKAHASHI is actively challenging traditional gender roles by encouraging more women to take on machine and press operation roles. In August 2024, the company launched a women-led, women-only production facility, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at building an inclusive, future-ready workplace.
Looking ahead, OKAHASHI sees color management as a strategic priority. While the company has long relied on the skill of experienced operators, it is now focused on implementing data-driven processes to ensure consistency, speed, and quality in color reproduction.
Since last year, HEIDELBERG has supported OKAHASHI in standardizing color across its Speedmaster presses. The next step is applying these standards to the new Speedmaster CX 104, with target density and dot gain values currently under review. By introducing Prinect Inpress Control, OKAHASHI has already improved color stability, reduced waste, and lightened the inspection workload in final quality checks.
President Okahashi also foresees a shift in customer demand: “By reproducing spot colors with CMYK, we gain flexibility and improve response time. Color management is essential for that.” To support this, the company is currently evaluating Prinect Multicolor as a way to accurately reproduce complex color tones, especially in high-end packaging where spot colors have traditionally dominated.
Becoming a leader in the industry
OKAHASHI’s corporate slogan, “Be United,” expresses the company’s commitment to unity—both internally and with its customers. It also serves as a reminder for each employee to consider how they can grow and thrive alongside the company.
“I want OKAHASHI to become a true leader in the industry—a ‘Gulliver’ in our field,” says Okahashi. “To get there, we need to build strong communication with our people and our clients and continue delivering exceptional products to the world.”
