LEXINGTON, Ky. — Funai Microfluidic Solutions (FMS) celebrates the high-tech company’s recent relocation of its business unit headquarters to Lexington from Osaka, Japan.
FMS’ Business Unit makes hardware and ink cartridges, and provide solutions to customers who are developing or planning to develop printing businesses. For many years, it has been an original equipment manufacturer of Lexmark, and in 2013, it acquired development technology, a manufacturing plant and patent rights for printer-related products from Lexmark.
Mike Marra, chief technology officer at FMS, said the relocation will allow the company to further tap into Lexington’s thriving technological landscape.
“The relocation of our headquarters to Lexington was a natural progression as our facility transitioned from an R&D center to the driver of our global strategy,” Marra said. “Our local dedication to advancing this technology over the course of three decades, in collaboration with the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville, has facilitated the attraction of top-tier talent. This facility’s unique blend of pioneering technology and exceptional skill sets fuels our vision.”
Koji Yamanaka, CEO of the business unit, further amplified the resonance of this strategic shift. He also expressed gratitude for Kentucky’s support of the business community.
“The support of programs such as the Kentucky Business Investment Program and Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA) has made Lexington a welcoming ecosystem for our endeavors,” Yamanaka said. “This acknowledgment reinforces our commitment to spearheading innovation in our domain. As we celebrate our 10th year as a technology powerhouse in the Lexington region, this recognition is truly an honor.”
Raymond Fortuna, director of business development, encapsulated the diverse and dynamic nature of FMS’s endeavors.
“Each day at FMS presents new challenges and opportunities. Our spectrum ranges from high-speed printing technology for food expiration dates to cosmetic devices that redefine skin aesthetics,” Fortuna said. “The establishment of the Funai Life Sciences division is a particular highlight. Our recent partnership-driven product launch revolutionizes drug discovery by enabling smaller labs to afford capabilities historically reserved only for larger operations.”
Funai’s growth has been steadfast, elevating its workforce from 34 full-time employees in January 2020 to the current tally of 50 employees. Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems development manager David Graham affirmed the company’s commitment to expanding in-house capabilities.
“Our significant investment in March 2022, amounting to nearly $4 million for key equipment procurement, has substantially enhanced our production throughput,” Graham said. “This augmentation also strengthens our supply chain resilience, fortifying redundancy and mitigating risks.”
To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority in December 2021 preliminarily approved Funai for up to $200,000 in tax incentives through the KEIA. KEIA allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development and electronic processing.
By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments.
In addition, the company can receive resources from Kentucky’s workforce service providers. Those include no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job-training incentives.
For more information on Funai, visit www.FunaiSolutions.com.
