Who is doing what
E Ink and FUJIFILM Imaging Systems Co., Ltd. will work together to build a business in large-format colour ePaper signage, starting with Japan's railway industry, the two companies said. Select sizes are to be introduced in 2027, after prototype assessments are completed successfully.
The sizes and the dates
The 55-inch E Ink Marquee will be shown as a prototype in December 2026 and enter mass production in March 2027. The B1-size E Ink Marquee follows with a prototype in October 2027 and mass production in January 2028.
Why the railway sector
According to the announcement, ePaper is increasingly used as an alternative display medium in the railway industry, particularly because of labour shortages and the rising costs of printing, transporting, installing and disposing of traditional paper posters. Under the arrangement, E Ink contributes its ePaper technology and Fujifilm Imaging Systems its existing railway-sector business base, implementation capabilities and operational experience. The companies plan to support customers from proposals through installation and ongoing operation.
What the companies said
JM Hung, President of E Ink Holdings, said the company sees significant opportunity for its ePaper to replace printed posters in Japan's transportation industry as large-format and colour capabilities advance. He said ePaper offers the visibility of print with the flexibility of digital updates, helping organisations streamline content changes, cut printing and material waste, and deliver timely information on very little power.
Takashi Toyofuku, a Director at FUJIFILM Imaging Systems, said the company's expertise in imaging, printing, colour management and quality control complements E Ink's ePaper technology, and that combining these with its customer relationships should speed adoption of large-format ePaper, beginning with railway advertising and signage and later extending to other industries in Japan.
