Cook stated that Seiko Ink is “the world’s first” in ink production.
Editor’s note: This article comes from WeChat public account “iFeng Technology” (ID: ifeng_tech) , Compiled Xiao Yu, reproduced with permission.
It does not support 5G, nor is it a foldable screen. This is the iPhone 11 series mobile phone released by Apple this year. However, it sells well and exceeds many expectations. In addition to the acclaimed three-camera camera, the new color scheme-dark night green-is also a big weapon for the iPhone 11’s sales.
September 13 this year, the iPhone 11 series of mobile phones began to sell in advance, which is surprisingly hot. According to data released by JD.com, the pre-sale volume of iPhone 11 series phones increased by 480% year-on-year, and the first order was sold within 1 second. The iPhone 11 Pro series was sold out in 5 minutes. The most popular item was iPhone 11 Pro dark green.
Even the well-known analyst Ming Guo, who is not very optimistic about the iPhone 11, also released a report that the iPhone 11 pre-orders were better than expected in the first weekend, and raised the iPhone 11 series shipments to 70-75 million units in 2019. He said that the demand for new color matching is obviously stronger. The dark green of the iPhone 11 Pro, the green and purple of the iPhone 11, all take about 2-3 weeks or longer to ship, and the average delivery time for other colors is shorter than 10 days.
Official data may be more convincing. Bloomberg calculated based on data released by the Telecommunications Research Institute of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China. In September and October this year, Apple ’s iPhone shipments in China were 10 million units, a year-on-year increase of 6%. better.
The small company behind dark night green
Early this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook embarked on a trip to Asia, visiting Singapore, Japan, Thailand and other countries. During a three-day trip to Japan, Cook specifically visited a company that many people had never heard of: Seiko Advance, and tweeted about it.
In an interview with the Nikkei Asian Review, Cook said that Apple was able to release the iPhone 11 Pro with the new dark night green color scheme, and Seiko Ink was “contributing.” “Only high-quality controls and processes can make it,” Cook said.
Seiko Ink was an ink manufacturer, founded in 1950, and a coating supplier at the time. Its story is a good illustration of how an established company adapts to changes in the new era.Shi also showed the continuity of the decline of Japanese technological strength in some well-known domestic companies.
Tweet by Cook visiting Seiko Ink Factory
In general, the production of green inks involves pollutants such as halogens. However, Yukinori Kabe, sales manager of Seiko Ink, said the company has developed a cleaner process that provides higher color accuracy and durability. This technology has attracted environmentally-conscious Cook, who also praised Seiko’s plans to switch to renewable solar and wind energy in 2020.
Dark Night Green is not the only color offered by Seiko Ink for the iPhone 11 Pro. This company is also the color supplier for the gold, space gray, and silver iPhone 11 Pro models. “We are the exclusive color supplier for iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max.” Yukinori Kabe said.
By contrast, the lower-priced iPhone 11 has multiple color suppliers. Cook stated that Seiko Ink is “the world’s first” in ink production.
“Looking only at technical excellence, regardless of company size”
Compared to Apple, Seiko Ink can be described as a witch. Seiko Ink has only 160 employees and annual revenues of billions of yen, or tens of millions of dollars. Apple’s latest fiscal year had revenues of $ 260.2 billion.
While Cook lamented the technology of Seiko Ink, it seemed that the management of Seiko Ink was also moved by Cook’s attitude. “Cook shows us how he deals with companies that have great technology,” Yukinori Kabe said. “No matter how small your company is, as long as you have excellent technology, Apple is your customer.”
The cooperation between the two parties began in 2011, and that year was a watershed moment in Apple’s history. Apple legend founder Steve Jobs retired from cancer that year and died in October. Cook took over Jobs’ baton and became Apple CEO. Cook allied with Apple in 1998, and his supply chain management capabilities at PC maker Compaq Computer attracted Jobs.
In the same year, a sales representative of Seiko Ink received an email from Apple. Apple wants Seiko Ink and other ink makers to send representatives to the U.S. to show themThe product.
Toshio Hiraguri, now President of Seiko Ink, sent Yukinori Kabe to introduce the company’s technology to Apple executives in charge of the supply chain. At that time, Yukinori Kabe did not know about Cook, and the two met for the first time in December this year.
Hirato Toshio, President of Seiko Ink
In fact, it can be said that Seiko Ink has been preparing for this for decades. It already produces inks for industrial products, including appliances and automobiles. With the rapid development of the Japanese economy in the decades following World War II, the business of Seiko Ink has also expanded.
In 1972, Seiko Ink formed a technology alliance with an American ink manufacturer, who mastered advanced screen printing technology and was able to print on a variety of materials. This cooperation has helped Seiko Ink strengthen its independent screen printing technology, which is still the core expertise of Seiko Ink today.
Apple is demanding: hundreds of standards must be met
Even so, when Yukinori Kabe recalled his visit to Apple, he revealed a “very different world” to the outside world. He said suppliers were expected to meet hundreds of standards at the time. “At that time, we found that we couldn’t meet Apple’s high standards.” He said.
After four years of trial and error, Seiko Ink finally started supplying black ink for the iPhone. Apple orders now account for 40% of Seiko’s ink revenue. At the same time, Seiko Ink supplies inks to major global smartphone manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics. Its ink is mainly used in high-end mobile phones. Seiko Ink’s other businesses are supplying inks for electrical appliances, signs, and vending machines. Although Seiko Ink did not want to disclose specific figures, it said that sales were growing and becoming an Apple supplier was a major boost to the company’s business.
Cook said that Apple and Seiko Ink have been working together for many years and “grow together.” “Both parties enjoy the days of working together, and we are pushing each other for further innovation,” he said.
The management of Seiko Ink said that since Cook’s visit, the company has been receiving visits from other potential customers. For Seiko Ink, the challenge for the company is to continue this momentum. “We maintain strict quality control.” Hiroshi Toshio said he replaced his father in November
Compared to Apple, Seiko Ink can be described as a witch. Seiko Ink has only 160 employees and annual revenues of billions of yen, or tens of millions of dollars. Apple’s latest fiscal year had revenues of $ 260.2 billion.
While Cook lamented the technology of Seiko Ink, it seemed that the management of Seiko Ink was also moved by Cook’s attitude. “Cook shows us how he deals with companies that have great technology,” Yukinori Kabe said. “No matter how small your company is, as long as you have excellent technology, Apple is your customer.”
The cooperation between the two parties began in 2011, and that year was a watershed moment in Apple’s history. Apple legend founder Steve Jobs retired from cancer that year and died in October. Cook took over Jobs’ baton and became Apple CEO. Cook allied with Apple in 1998, and his supply chain management capabilities at PC maker Compaq Computer attracted Jobs.
In the same year, a sales representative of Seiko Ink received an email from Apple. Apple wants Seiko Ink and other ink makers to send representatives to the U.S. to show themThe product.
Toshio Hiraguri, now President of Seiko Ink, sent Yukinori Kabe to introduce the company’s technology to Apple executives in charge of the supply chain. At that time, Yukinori Kabe did not know about Cook, and the two met for the first time in December this year.
Hirato Toshio, President of Seiko Ink
In fact, it can be said that Seiko Ink has been preparing for this for decades. It already produces inks for industrial products, including appliances and automobiles. With the rapid development of the Japanese economy in the decades following World War II, the business of Seiko Ink has also expanded.
In 1972, Seiko Ink formed a technology alliance with an American ink manufacturer, who mastered advanced screen printing technology and was able to print on a variety of materials. This cooperation has helped Seiko Ink strengthen its independent screen printing technology, which is still the core expertise of Seiko Ink today.