Ricoh May Build Office Automation Equipment at New Plant in Tustin

What is Ricoh Corp. going to produce in its new manufacturing plant in Tustin?

The company isn’t saying yet, but two possible candidates are facsimile machines and laser computer printers. Both products have been strong sellers for the Japanese electronics concern.

Ricoh, the county’s largest Japanese-owned firm, with 1,100 employees, announced plans in August to build its third plant in the county and boost employment by 600 people. The plant, in the Freeway Technology Center in Tustin, will complement Ricoh’s other plants in Santa Ana and Irvine.

Ricoh is considering building one or two new products at the Tustin plant. One of those products, company spokeswoman Phyllis Badham said, will represent a “major product line for our business.”

She declined to provide details of the product, except to say it would be some type of office automation equipment.

Ricoh’s new Tustin facility includes two buildings. Ricoh Electronics Inc.’s headquarters staff members, who are now in Santa Ana, will relocate to part of one building. Copier manufacturing will be moved into another part of the same building. The second building will be the site of manufacturing for the unannounced product.

Ricoh manufactures copiers and related products, heat-sensitive papers and facsimile machines at its local plants. The company opened its first county plant in 1972.

Ricoh’s expansion in the county is a major part of a $100-million national expansion. Last week, the company announced plans to build a fourth U.S. facility in Georgia.

Ricoh may reveal more details in July, when the president of its Japanese-based parent, Hiroshi Hamada, plans to visit the county.