Leveraging Ricoh’s proprietary PHM (Photopolymer-based Hybrid Molding) technology.
On May 30–31, 2025, the Re charge ceramics exhibition opened at the University of Tokyo’s Komaba Research Campus, highlighting the results of a pioneering collaboration between Ricoh Company, Ltd. and the Product Design Laboratory (pdlab) led by Professor Shunji Yamanaka.
This showcase highlighted the intersection of material science, additive manufacturing, and design by exploring 3D printed ceramics created using Ricoh’s proprietary PHM (Particle Homogenization Modeling) technology.
More than a collection of technical achievements, the exhibition offers a sensory encounter with ceramics that pushes the boundaries of form and fabrication. Visitors are encouraged to touch, smell, sound, and feel the ceramic components on display, which range from structurally complex forms to aesthetically refined objects.
These pieces represent a new research phase into structural ceramics—materials traditionally valued for their heat resistance and strength but rarely associated with expressive design.
The exhibition underscores Ricoh’s ongoing research into additive manufacturing of structural ceramics. This field remains largely experimental but quickly proves its potential for various industrial and creative applications. Through this collaboration with pdlab, the team aims to spark a conversation around what ceramics can be, not only in technical terms but in terms of material experience and design possibilities.
Directed by Shunji Yamanaka and Mariko Higaki, with exhibition design by Rinako Sonobe and graphic design by Tomohiro Hori, the installation brings together a wide range of contributors from academia, design, and industry.
The lineup of exhibitors includes researchers, designers, and engineers such as Kiichi Kamoda (Ricoh), Ayaka Miyamoto (Nichicon), Tomohiro Tachi, and Yasuaki Kakehi, among others.
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