Epson (Thailand) is focusing on the corporate printing system market to create a new revenue stream and offset flagging sales in its consumer printer business.
The Japanese printer and projector manufacturer is also looking to participate in the junta's smart classroom project through partnership with local computer-integrated systems firms.
Yunyong Muneemongkoltorn, general manager of Epson (Thailand), said overall shipments of local printers for corporate and education markets in Thailand has a compound annual growth rate of 10-15% from 2014-16, beating flat growth in the consumer printer segment.
"Total printer sales in Thailand are expected to reach 1.45 million units this year, increasing to 1.79 million by 2016," he said, adding the local printer market declined at the start of 2013 with sales of 1.52 million units, down from 1.99 million in 2012.
Mr Yunyong said Epson is developing a variety of integrated printing systems to serve industries that require sophisticated printing techniques such as industrial printers and digital photo laboratories.
He said early next year the company will introduce inkjet printers that can print on A3 paper to compete directly with multi-function printers in the corporate market. The A3 inkjet printer is being touted as providing colour printing at one-third the cost per page of laser printers.
Mr Yunyong said projectors are another growth area as companies require higher technologies to facilitate their operations.
"We believe the use of projectors at conferences will make it a high-growth sector when the Asean Economic Community starts in 2015," he said, adding the junta has a policy to support e-conferences among state agencies.
The projector business is expected to generate 18% of total revenue this fiscal year ending March 2015, he said.
Mr Yunyong said over the next three to five years, the corporate product segment will contribute up to 60% of total revenue in Thailand, up from 53% this year.
"Epson Thailand expects revenue to grow by 8-10% this year, helped by strong spending from corporations," he said.