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When did Fujifilm come to Spain?

The Japanese company came to Spain in 1989 and located its main office in Barcelona. At this main office we dedicate ourselves to marketing products and services in the areas of Electronic Imaging, Photo Imaging, Medical Systems, Graphic Systems, Optical Devices y Recording Media. Iberia's geographical area includes the Fujifilm Europe GmbH branch offices in Spain and Portugal.

 

How has the company evolved since then?
Fujifilm became known as a manufacturer of photographic material. Their characteristic green spool boxes could be found in stores all over the world. However, around the year 2000 the market for photographic film began suffering a rapid recession as a consequence of digital photography starting to take off. Fujifilm met this challenge with an impressive and successful transformation of its business. Globally, it created Fujifilm Advanced Research Laboratories as the Fujifilm group's main R&D&I center. It is a laboratory complex set up for researchers, scientists and engineers from the group's various companies in order to achieve cross-sector cooperation among them.

 

What differentiates Fujifilm's medical division from what its competitors can offer in that market sector?
Fujifilm's Medical Systems division has become the only one capable of offering a wide range of options for processing diagnostic digital images, which encompasses the following specialties: programs for managing and storing all of a hospital's diagnostic images; flexible endoscopy (in which we are technology leaders); radiology —with digital mammography devices, CT scanners, digital detectors, ultrasound devices and X-ray rooms—; and clinical analysis, with safety and simplicity in operation and diversity in the tests, all in one. An ideal solution for all doctors who need reliable and immediate biochemical blood results.

 

What does Fujifilm's commitment to its Medical Systems division in Iberia mean?
The medical sector has a crucial role for the company since it has become one of the largest comprehensive health care firms in the world. Fujifilm is a pioneer in the field of diagnostic imaging and information systems for medical centers and facilities. Its clinical equipment, products and proven technologies in various applications are being constantly developed in order to help health professionals do their work in the most efficient way, and it also continues to diversify its offer in new medical, health and well-being sectors. Fujifilm is strongly committed to its Medical Systems division in Iberia with the goal of positioning ourselves as one of the major firms in the acquisition and processing of diagnostic imaging, meeting the needs of medical professionals and offering them a global diagnostic imaging solution.

 

What investment has Fujifilm made in Spain?
Since its beginnings, Fujifilm has invested 7% of its sales revenue in R&D, which has allowed the company to adapt to technological changes and offer the marketplace new products. In this way, a company focused on producing photographic film and paper has developed into a holding company with different business areas constantly growing. Specifically, the office in Spain has a team made up of 110 professionals. In a few years we went from three to 110. In Portugal, there are 45 professionals conducting their work.

 

What is Spain's importance in Fujfilm's strategy?
Europe, and specifically Spain, is key for Fujifilm mainly for two reasons: first of all, because the company wants to have a double-digit increase in business volume during its new 2017-18 fiscal year in the Medical Systems sector and, furthermore, because of their desire to enter those markets in which they do not yet have a presence. Because of its geographical location, Spain has a strategic value for the company. On the one hand, it maintains its international presence, and on the other hand, it is a good hub for Latin America, the Mediterranean arc and North African countries.

 

What projects do you currently have underway and what are the upcoming challenges?
This new orientation of the company toward the Healthcare area responds to a new scenario and global structure and to the incorporation of innovative and disruptive products. The initiative ‘Sumar, Let’s grow together!’ responds to a business plan that we are carrying out in order to drive the Medical Systems division in Iberia, and one of its major cornerstones is its human assets, the talent. ‘Sumar’ (Join) comes from the idea that goals are achieved thanks to the contribution of each member of the team at the individual level: each person is an indispensable part that “suma” (joins) the team. One clear example of this was the consolidation of the Center for Development of clinical software, Workflow and Business Intelligence, as well as the creation of an endoscopy repair center to provide coverage to Iberia and the rest of Europe.