In the computed radiography market, 3 Japanese companies, Konica Minolta, FUJIFILM Holdings, and Canon, play important roles. The article also compares them with overseas companies and reviews trends in domestic demand.
The computed radiography market is described as having only 3 Japanese companies among its participating companies. Through Konica Minolta Healthcare Americas, Konica Minolta provides high-sensitivity imaging plates and robust reader equipment, and is highly regarded for product development focused on improving workflow efficiency in clinical settings. Fujifilm is highly rated for the image-quality stability and advanced image-processing software of its CR systems using proprietary phosphor technology. Canon is moving toward digital radiography while supplying lightweight, durable cassettes and high-speed reading devices for CR users, and demonstrates strengths in emergency medicine and portable imaging.
Compared with overseas companies, domestic companies tend to be in the higher price range because of their high quality, but they offer Japanese-language support and prompt maintenance services. Meanwhile, Western companies such as Agfa-Gevaert, Carestream Health, Siemens Healthineers, GE Healthcare Technologies, and Philips Healthcare focus on system integration and workflow efficiency, differentiating themselves through software updates and the use of AI. Domestic demand is driven mainly by the shift from existing analogue X-ray systems to digital systems and the need to improve diagnostic efficiency. In addition to hospitals and diagnostic facilities, demand is also coming from nondestructive testing in industrial applications, dentistry, research institutions, and operations in remote locations.
Trends in domestic demand include rising demand for advanced image diagnosis as the medical workforce ages, as well as the ability to integrate high-quality images into electronic medical records while keeping initial investment down. Other supporting factors include the use of CR in industry, data digitisation at academic research institutions, and the need for durability during disasters and in remote locations.
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