Olympus Sagamihara Distribution Center Commences Operation of
Automated Packaging System Advances supply chain automation and strengthens stable supply of medical products

March 5, 2025

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TOKYO, March 5, 2025 - Olympus Corporation (Olympus), a global MedTech company committed to making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling, today announced that as part of its supply chain automation efforts, it has commenced the full-scale operation of J-RexS, an automatic height-adjustable packaging machine, at its Sagamihara Distribution Center in Kanagawa Prefecture. The implementation of J-RexS, developed by leading corrugated board manufacturer Rengo Co., Ltd. (Rengo), represents a significant milestone as it marks the completion of an automated warehouse environment, which includes optimizing packaging sizes and enhancing shipping efficiency. Through establishing this efficient and stable logistics framework, Olympus strengthens its supply chain resilience while addressing the "2024 problem" in Japan’s logistics industry.

J-RexS is an automatic packaging machine made in Japan that accepts various footprints of corrugated boxes within the designated range, and cuts and seals them according to the product’s height. It incorporates the world's first corrugated board-cutting processing technology that does not use blades. The system also cuts down transportation costs through minimizing the consumption of packaging materials.

In addition to installing J-RexS, Olympus has integrated an automatic size measurement machine that records the dimensions and weight of each packaged box, and automatically transmits the data to the shipping company, thereby eliminating the need for the carrier to measure shipments upon receipt.

Outcomes of implementing these systems:

• Reduced shipping volume: Optimization of package sizes to enhance transportation efficiency and reduce the number of required trucks.
• Streamlined packing operations: Automation of certain manual packing processes to expedite operations.
• Enhanced transportation efficiency: Real-time data integration with logistics providers to improve the accuracy of shipping operations while maintaining lead times.
• Environmental impact reduction: Decrease in the variety of corrugated board types used from 12 to 4, leading to reduced material usage and costs.

Since 2019, Olympus has been advancing its supply chain automation efforts, including the deployment of state-of-the-art robotic storage systems and automated warehouses.¹ The introduction of the height-adjustable automatic packaging machine signifies the completion of the originally envisioned automation plan. Through the introduction of this equipment, Olympus aims to reduce cargo volume shipments by 17% compared to 2023 levels, alongside a decrease in truck usage and working hours, thereby contributing meaningfully to solving the "2024 problem" in Japan’s logistics industry.

1 Olympus Corporation. (2021, January 29). Olympus launches supply chain automation in its largest logistics facility in Japan posting huge efficiency gains [Press release].

About Olympus

At Olympus, we are committed to Our Purpose of making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling. As a global medical technology company, we partner with healthcare professionals to provide innovative solutions and services for early detection, diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment, aiming to improve patient outcomes by elevating the standard of care in targeted disease states. For more than 100 years, Olympus has pursued a goal of contributing to society by producing products designed with the purpose of delivering optimal outcomes for its customers around the world. For more information, visit https://www.olympus-global.com/ and follow our global X account: @Olympus_Corp.