By Graham K. Rogers

Epson has a number of links to the Arts World, and offers support for several environmental causes, but it also provides sponsorship and other forms of support for sports endeavours, for example its technical and financial support for this year's AMG Mercedes Formula One team. The team benefits from Epson's expertise in the product areas of inkjet printers, scanners, 3LCD projectors and wearables, including smart glasses and health/sports sensing products.

Since 2010, Epson has also had a relationship with the popular Manchester United football team. A continuation of the agreement has been announced and this reconfirms Epson as the club's Official Office Equipment Supplier until the end of the 2017/18 season. This will help boost Epson's global profile and support business growth for products such as inkjet printers, scanners, projectors and smart glasses.

As part of the re-signed agreement Epson will continue to enjoy stadium advertising rights and hospitality, while it supplies the team with core office and front-of-house printing and imaging equipment.

Ian Cameron, General Manager of Brand Communications at Epson commented on the continuing global relationship, "The partnership to date has provided us with numerous benefits in key markets such as the office and emerging economies, and the renewal reiterates both organizations' strong and ongoing commitment to excellence and to helping our customers to achieve their dreams."

The Group Managing Director of Manchester United, Richard Arnold said of Epson that the company has shown the innovation and determination to take this name further, breaking into new and emerging markets. As an example of the use of technology that Epson provides he cited the innovative 3D projector commercial featuring Manchester United players, which has been seen by over 10 million people worldwide.

More information about the sponsorship arrangement between Epson and Manchester United, including the clever 3D video "Game of Colours" is available online.

Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand where he is also Assistant Dean. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs. He is now continuing that in the Bangkok Post supplement, Life.