Fujifilm will sell its Chinese printing plate factory and transfer its European business operations to the Chinese manufacturer Huangshan Jinruitai Technology (JRT). Following the discontinuation of production in the United States in 2022 and the closure of the Tilburg plant in the Netherlands in 2023, Fujifilm will concentrate its plate production in Japan.
Signed on August 28, 2026, the agreement calls for JRT to acquire 100% of Fujifilm Printing Plate China. The Chinese manufacturer will also take over sales and related operations in Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Fujifilm will retain these operations in Japan, the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
JRT will also obtain a license to use Fujifilm's product trademarks and certain intellectual property rights, including patents, in the transferred markets. The sale of the Chinese subsidiary is expected to be finalized by the end of 2026, followed by the sale of the business operations in the first half of 2027.
The sale comes at a time when Fujifilm?s printing plate business was already experiencing a decline in several markets. For the fiscal year ending in March 2026, the Japanese manufacturer reported a decline in printing plate sales in Europe and the United States and the discontinuation of prepress consumables deemed unprofitable in analog printing.
At the same time, Fujifilm plans to accelerate the growth of its digital business in commercial printing and packaging. The manufacturer is relying in particular on its Revoria digital presses, as well as its inkjet printheads and inks.
A long-standing partner of Fujifilm, JRT develops, manufactures, and markets printing plates. Its product lineup includes thermal CTP plates, CTCP plates, and developer-free plates.
The acquisition, therefore, does not only involve the Chinese industrial site and sales. JRT states that it also includes international customers, sales channels, technical expertise, and operational systems related to the transferred operations. The Chinese manufacturer assures that it will maintain supply, technical support, and customer service during the transition.
