SATO Japan announces the incorporation of its international office - Barcode SATO International Pte Ltd

Tokyo, Japan-Jan 31, 2001. As a commitment to its global expansion plans, SATO Corporation has announced the incorporation of its international office, Barcode SATO International Pte Ltd. In its first step towards global expansion, SATO Corporation, a pioneer in the barcode industry, has clearly spelt out its global intentions with an international office.

"I am pleased to announce that Barcode SATO International (BSI) is the secret weapon towards our international growth approach. BSI's main role would be to provide support spanning from Operations to Marketing to Sales to our Group Member Companies (GMCs) in a move to further facilitate their business activities," confirmed Mr. Waki, Executive Director, SATO Corporation, and Managing Director, Barcode SATO International.

"Where SATO's Group Member Companies have been functioning on their own in the past, with the inclusion of BSI, these Group Member Companies would play the role of Strategic Business Units (SBU) with BSI overlooking these units. By doing so, it would create a top view of SATO's performance and strategy. BSI would then be able to integrate the activities of all these GMCs so that our costs would be driven down, whilst increasing our productivity. The results: synergy and a stronger global presence," added Mr. Waki.

SATO Corporation has been set-up successfully for more than 60 years where it is a market leader in Japan. Investments are being made to further expand and strengthen BSI so that BSI would be even better equipped in supporting the GMCs.

For more information, please contact Alicia Tan (Ms), Marketing Executive, Sales & Marketing (BSI), at marketing@sato-int.com

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About Barcode SATO International (BSI)

Barcode SATO International (BSI), the global sales headquarters of SATO Corporation, is a world leader of automatic identification products including barcode printers. BSI was incorporated in 2001 to oversee and support sales, marketing and customer service activities at all group member companies. As part of its expansion plans, BSI is rapidly strengthening its own team, as well as that of its overseas group member companies. BSI is the driving force behind SATO Corporation’s global branding strategy and expansion into new markets and territories.

About SATO

SATO is a pioneer in the Automatic Identification and Data Collection (AIDC) industry, and the inventor of the world’s first electronic thermal transfer barcode printer. It revolutionised the barcoding industry by introducing the Data Collection System (DCS) and Labelling concept – a total barcode and labelling solutions approach providing high quality barcode printers, scanners/hand held terminals, label design software and consumables. SATO is a public listed company in Japan and has worldwide offices in United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and China. SATO reported revenues of US$445 million in 2002. SATO stock is traded on first section of Tokyo Stock Exchange. More information can be found at www.sato.co.jp.