Singapore – SATO International, the world’s leading manufacturer of label and barcode printers, and a specialist in data collection systems (DCS), is pleased to announce today its strategic collaboration with Vision Group, a leading Auto-ID technology enterprise in China. Both companies launched the partnership officially last week with the signing of the contract and release of a press announcement in Beijing. The two companies share a common goal: to promote and develop Auto-ID technology and its applications in China. In that light, the partnership will introduce Vision Group as SATO strategic business partner in China; wherein Vision Group will be granted sole distributorship of SATO's CL408e and CL412e barcode printers and related services in China. The purview of all other SATO printer and labelling businesses in China will remain with SATO Shanghai through its direct selling initiatives and various sales channels.

SATO Corporation was set up in 1940 by its late Chairman, Mr. Yo Sato. It started off from a humble beginning as a conventional industrial company but has since grown from strength to strength, globally setting up overseas offices in the US, Europe, United Kingdom, Poland, France, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and China. SATO has long been known as the Expert of the Experts in the AIDC industry with a product market share of 40% in the Asia Pacific region.
With the latest addition of RFID, SATO’s products and services are widely used in many different industries such as logistics, medicine, food processing, automobile manufacture, safety surveillance, etc. In addition, the applications developed by SATO add value to any company from the smallest retail shop to mega departmental stores – in establishing barcoding and traceability systems.

This strategic alliance follows shortly after SATO’s recent establishment of a new office in Shen Zhen, in October last year. Thus, this further cements SATO’s commitment to the China market.
Mr. Otsuka, President of SATO Corporation, expressed: “By entering into this strategic business partnership, SATO has, on top of selling direct and through its current channels, given distribution rights of one of its prime products, namely, the CL4xx series, to Vision Group in China. With Vision Group’s strong distribution network, rich experience and service capability in the AIDC market, we believe that, together, SATO and Vision Group can provide end users with the most competitive products, localized solutions and after-sales services to further promote barcode applications in China. We also strongly believe that China users are the main beneficiary of this partnership.”

Mr. Otsuka further stressed that the Auto-ID technology market is rapidly expanding, and China, with its sheer market size, has also become the fastest growing Auto-ID market worldwide. It is also an important overseas market for SATO. Thus, Vision Group’s IT industry chain based on Auto-ID technology will provide an excellent platform in this partnership. At the same time, both parties can exchange their rich technical, market operation and management operation know-how.

Mr. Li, CEO of Vision Group, added “this partnership is the next big thing in our international Auto-ID tie up after the strategic business partnership with Casio back in 2003. Vision Group places great emphasis on this strategic alliance with SATO. Through this partnership, Vision Group hopes to improve its labelling techniques, development and applications principles, thereby providing total Auto-ID solutions for users and contributing to the development of Auto-ID applications in China.”

Mr. Li further stated that Vision Group will make use of its extensive experience in product distribution, technical support, market expansion, staff development, sales, etc, to help SATO achieve a breakthrough in the growing China market. Mr. Li also emphasized that in this business partnership with SATO, both parties will complement each other in branding, product and staff development, and create a win-win relationship. In the near future, the partnership is slated to embark on total cooperation in the Auto-ID area.

In addition, Vision Group has also set up Dalian Vision Auto-ID Company in a joint venture with Da Xian Company, which boasts many years of experience in manufacturing. This new company will be the manufacturing base and logistics centre for Vision Group, and aims to become the biggest AIDC enterprise within China in the next few years. At the same time, through similar partnerships, Dalian Vision Group also aims to trigger related business development within China, attracting international cooperation and building up Dalian as the AIDC industrial park in China.

About Vision Group
Vision Group was set up in 1996, specializing in the development and system integration of Auto-ID technology and products, mobile value added service, electronic payment service provider, ERP, information solutions for enterprises and EMC. Presently, Vision Group comprises Beijing Visiontech Development Co. Ltd, Beijing Visionelectron Technology Co. Ltd, Beijing Visioninfo Technology Development Co. Ltd, Beijing Visionlean Information Technology Co. Ltd, Dalian Vision Auto-ID, Shanghai Harvest Network Technology Co Ltd, Liaoning Energy Development Group and Vision Academy.