For over five decades, RK Print has worked alongside Matsuo Sangyo, providing the Japanese market with high-quality coating and print testing equipment backed by local technical expertise. Our partnership, which began in 1970, is one of the longest-standing relationships in RK Print’s history and continues to help manufacturers develop innovative products with confidence.
A Partnership That Stands the Test of Time
The relationship between RK Print and Matsuo Sangyo began after a handwritten letter was sent in response to a newspaper article featuring the RK K Hand Coater. More than 55 years later, that initial connection has grown into a trusted partnership, supporting customers across Japan with industry-leading laboratory and pilot coating solutions.
Matsuo Sangyo serves a diverse range of industries through the import, export and domestic supply of coating raw materials, high-performance functional materials, industrial equipment, optical components and automotive parts. Their technical knowledge, combined with RK Print’s equipment, enables customers to carry out accurate product development and process optimisation.
Supporting Research and Product Development
One of the key advantages of RK Print equipment is its flexibility. As Matsuo Sangyo explains:
“RK equipment plays a key role in supporting these markets. Their strengths lie in the ability to perform a wide variety of tests simply by changing the head, combined with a space-saving design and the ability to carry out accurate, efficient testing using small amounts of material.”
This versatility allows manufacturers to evaluate multiple coating techniques using a single platform, helping to reduce development time, minimise material waste and generate reliable, repeatable results.
Hands-On Demonstration Facilities
To provide customers with practical experience before investment, Matsuo Sangyo has established a dedicated RK demonstration facility in Japan featuring the VCML Pilot Coater. The facility enables customers to conduct trials using their own substrates and coating formulations, giving them confidence that processes developed in the laboratory can be successfully transferred to production.
This capability has proven particularly valuable for companies focused on sustainable product development.
A customer of Matsuo Sangyo, Dainichiseika (Japan), commented:
“With VCML, we can now produce reliable, reproducible data that matches real production environments—accelerating our sustainability-focused R&D.”
Looking Ahead
Strong distributor partnerships are fundamental to RK Print’s global success. By combining innovative equipment with local technical support, Matsuo Sangyo continues to help manufacturers across Japan improve product development, optimise coating processes and accelerate innovation.
We are proud to have worked alongside Matsuo Sangyo for more than 55 years and look forward to continuing our successful partnership for many years to come.
