WEEKEND MFP INDUSTRY NOTES
1-20-08
The following is a quick review of copier/MFP industry news from industry publications.
- Ricoh announced that it will launch the new Aficio PRO C900 at the upcoming DRUPA show in Europe:
o 90ppm top speed b/w or color
o C900 is print-only model to ship in October, 2008
o C900S is scan/print/copy version to ship in December, 2008
o 4 tandem OPC drum design
o Polymerized toner technology (Ricoh PxP)
o Does not slow down when running thick stock (similar to Canon imagePRESS C7000VP and Xerox DocuColor 7000/8000AP models)
o Optional EFI Fiery print controllers
o Maximum paper weight handling of 300gsm (at 90ppm)
o Up to 13”x19” paper
o Will handle coated papers
o Uses customer replaceable units for print shops that want to perform their own service
o Finishing options include:
§ Ring binder
§ Perfect binder
§ Plockmatic booklet maker
§ GBC punch unit (for comb binding machines)
o 1200x1200dpi
o 2 bits per pixel (4 shades per color per pixel, or maximum of 16 colors per pixel)
o Based on frame used in Aficio MP9000 b/w system
o Uses color technology acquired when Ricoh purchased Hitachi printing division
- Ricoh now shipping the GX3000 series of desktop color inkjet MFPs:
o Uses Ricoh’s GelSprint viscous ink technology with piezo crystal print heads
o 29ppm b/w or color (based on 5% coverage of each color, speed slows down if more coverage)
o 8 second first print out time
o 35 second warmup time
o 1200x1200dpi (advertised as offering 3600dpi with interpolation)
o 2 bits per pixel
o 250 sheet drawer standard
o Optional 500 sheet drawer
o Optional fax
o Optional document feeder
o Auto duplex
o Letter/legal size paper only
o Optional 100 sheet stack bypass
o Base MSRPs start at $549.00 (max of $849)
o Optional extended warranties do NOT include supplies
o Built-in print controller:
§ 400MHz TMP R4956CXBG-400 RISC processor
§ 32MB RAM standard (can increase to 96MB)
§ HP PCL emulation
§ USB & 10/100BaseT
§ Scan to e-mail/LDAP/FTP/TWAIN
- Ricoh announced it will relabel software from PrinterOn, so that customers can print from Blackberry or Apple iPhone devices. The option will be called “Ricoh HotSpot”.
- Ricoh now has factory direct branches in Phoenix & Tucson. Ricoh Business Solutions has purchased a multi-location dealer, and is converting them to branches:
o Former owners are Gary Colin, Wayne Cernie & Howard Sloane (all former IKON employees)
o Legal name was Desert Business Group, consisting of these companies:
§ Kachina Business Solutions – Tucson, AZ
§ Automated Office Systems – Phoenix, AZ
§ BSA Business Solutions – Phoenix, AZ
§ Kachina Business Solutions – Palm Desert, CA
§ Authorized for Savin (formerly Gestetner) and Kyocera
- Ricoh announced version 3.0 of Ricoh Global Scan. New features:
o Can connect up to 250 Ricoh Aficio MFPs for scanning
o Enhanced OCR
o Can compress b/w scanned files up to 100 times using JBIG2
o Can compress color scans using JPEG2000
o Scan routing functions accessed using MFP’s LCD control panel
o Improved security features
o Built on the .NET platform
o Supports Kerberos and VM Ware ESX server 3.0
- Ricoh settled out of court with Nashua Corp. & Katun Corp. who were making generic toner and OPC drums for some of the Ricoh copiers and printers and apparently infringing on Ricoh patents.
- Sharp announced that it is sourcing “change control software” from Solidcore Systems to provide data security. According to a press release from Solidcore, Sharp’s MX series of MFPs, run on Microsoft Windows XP Embedded operating systems. (in contrast, bizhub’s run on VxWorks, a variant of Unix, which is not prone to hacking or data security problems)
- Oce’ announced that Xerox will relabel its “TCS” lineup of wide format color inkjet printers.
- Oce’ announced its last quarters financials:
o net profit up 34.2%
o third successive quarter of revenue growth
o revenues increased to 838 million euros (approx. $5 billion per year)
o Color represents 23% of revenue
o Gross margin of 41.1%
o Revenue in copier division of 593 million euros, or growth of 4.2%, with color units up 19%
o FM division up 5.9%
- Integrated Book Technology (IBT), a print shop in Troy, NY, announced it has purchased a Xeikon/Punch 6000 production color system.
- Hewlett Packard announced management change. Mike Fawkes, Senior VP of Worldwide Operations has been replaced by Neal Woods, for the Imaging & Printing Group. (IPG) Neal was lured away from Cisco Systems, and will be based in San Diego, CA, reporting to Vyomesh Joshi, CEO.
- Hewlett Packard’s Indigo production color division reports record performance:
o page growth of 45%
o Indigo customer, VistaPrint prints 26,000 orders per day received from 19 different websites.
o New Indigo plant is in Kiryat Gat, Israel, and uses several assembly lines, each 18,400 sq. feet.
- IKON reported that its overall revenue has declined 1%, will cut its first-quarter earnings estimated to 15 cents per share. (stock slid to as low as $9.52 per share on the news, thus fueling more rumors of a buyout)
- To prevent counterfeiting, the U.S. Government has taken the following steps:
o paper texture of U.S. currency is unique
o bills are manufactured with 25% linen and 75% cotton
o include small, randomly disbursed red and blue fibers
o include a clear, polyester security thread that is inscribed with the denomination of the note only visible when held up to the light.
- Police arrested two teenagers in Massachusetts for making fake $20 bills on a color MFP. In addition, they also arrested a woman for using a fake $20 to buy hypodermic needles from a pharmacy.
- Xerox announced more patents it has received that will find their way into future products:
o #7225401 = automatic custom document creation
o #7254772 = changing appearance of screen icons to reflect the age of the document
o #7293868 = new wax for Phaser color printers, that is cured by UV lighting to extend image durability
o #7184032 = Braille overlay for control screens so blind people can use copier
o #7163269 = hot to achieve consistent color books in print on demand systems
o #7295346 = how to improve sharpness of gray or colored fonts
o #7157200 = for emulsion aggregation black toner and developer
- Xerox started a new e-mail ad campaign, offering end users a chance to win one of 11 Phaser 8860 color wax printers be responding to a color questionnaire in order to generate leads to reps for Xerox color MFPs and printers.
- Xerox launched the new DocuPrint 650/1300 production b/w system featuring:
o Base MSRP of $495,000.00
o uses rolls of paper (continuous feed)
o top speed of 1,308 letter size images per minute
o uses flash fusing technology
§ instead of fusers rollers that melt and press toner into paper, this process uses a set of xenon strobe bulbs to bake toner into paper with high heat, but no contact with paper
§ Xerox claims that in order to reach over 110ppm for color, or 200ppm for b/w, you can not use fuser rollers, as the paper is moving too fast for the rollers to bring paper and toner from room temperature to melt temperature. Therefore, they have developed the flash fusing technology to overcome this physics barrier.
§ The xenon strobe bulbs can flash up to 120,000 times per minute
§ This super fast method of generating heat, also only heats the toner, as the white paper reflects most of heat, allowing the paper to keep some of its moisture, and thereby preventing crinkling, and improving back to front registration during auto duplex.
§ Oce’ is also developing a similar technology
o will ship approx 4/1/2008
o 1200x600dpi
o Runs on Xerox FreeFlow DocuSP print controller (actual maker unknown)
o Engine manufactured by Fuji of Japan
- Xerox announced it plans to launch a new print controller for its color systems that can print raw JPEG photos captured from a digital camera without having to do file conversion of opening up a photo application (i.e. Adobe Photoshop).
- To boost acceptance for photo labs to buy Xerox DocuColor production color systems to print photos, Xerox announced the Xerox Picture Me Profitable Kit.
o Includes counter sample display book
o Various sample photo applications
o Will be bundled in sale of DocuColor systems
- Former Xerox and Kodak employees file lawsuit. Apparently they claim that Morgan Stanley mishandled their 401K plan causing them to lose their retirement dollars.
- Xerox announced that a future software upgrade will make the iGen3 production color systems compatible with GRACoL color standards.
- Xerox executive, Val Blauvelt, announced that the company is partnering with Fuji of Japan to develop color inkjet technology for future production color systems. No details given on product, pricing, or launch date.
- Anne Mulcahy, CEO of Xerox, will join the board of directors at The Washington Post newspaper company.
- Fuji Film of Japan announced that it is entering into a joint venture with Xerox to create a recycling factory for printers and copiers in Suzhou, China for $6 million.
- Kodak announced that it will launch a new series of its Creo print controllers, to be called “Nuevo” series.
o can be used to drive Kodak NexPress production color systems
o up to 10 times faster than existing product
o uses parallel computing technology
o ship late in 2008
- Kodak announced new improvements to its DigiMaster production b/w systems (also relabeled by Canon as the imageRUNNER PRO+ series):
o New Print Production Software:
§ Support JDF (job definition format)
§ Increased reliability for digital files
§ Job preview manager
§ Integration with Kodak Prinergy 4.1 Workflow Software
§ Full job ticketing
§ Bi-directional job and print engine status
§ Single point of job submission for both color and b/w jobs
§ Document editing
§ Annotation
§ Imposition
§ File storage
§ Soft proofing
o Print engine enhancement include:
§ Wide variety of paper stock handling
§ Improved overall performance
§ New optional Watkiss SpineMaster adds square backs and prints document title on a saddle stitched booklets
- Kodak announced enhancements for it optional variable data software, DARWIN:
o New graphical user interface
o Scripted rules options
o Cross media capability
o PURL creation (personalized URLs so customer can click on a website that uses their name to respond to offering)
o Expanded barcode library
o Personalized images (instead of just personalized text)
o Enriched charts
o Can integrate with web2print solution
o Enhanced job ticketing
o JDF compatible
- Kodak announced new versions of the NexPress production color systems:
o Old models were 2000, 2100, 2500 & 3000
o New models are S2100, S2500, S3000
o Up to 11,000 sheet capacity
o Up to 5 different types of paper stock on-line at same time
o Optional roll-fed paper supply
o Optional MICR toner (magnetic ink character recognition)
o Variable data microprinting to add secure info to prints
o Optional fifth toner hopper (for clear toner, spot color,etc.)
o For high gloss output, need clear toner option, and off-line NexGlosser system, which is similar to a secondary fusing section
- Kodak announced it has placed a NexPress M700 production color system at Little Printing Company of Uniontown, PA. This is a relabeled version of the Canon imagePRESS C7000VP.
- Kodak announced it is now shipping new accessories for the NexPress M700 production color system(which is a relabeled Canon imagePRESS C7000VP):
o Feeder Module provides 4,000 sheets of additional paper capacity, handle up to 300gsm, 13”x19.2”
o M700 Finisher provides auto stapling, up to 100 sheets maximum. (can stitch up to 300gsm stock, but less than 100 sheets)
o M700 Booklet Maker provides saddle stitch booklets up to 20 sheets (covers up to 300gsm)
o M700 Trimmer provides face trimming of booklets (one side trim only)
o M700 Puncher Unit providers two or 3 hole punch up to 200gsm paper stocks
o M700 Cover Inserter with two trays for post process insertion (200 sheets per tray)
o M700 High Capacity Delivery Unit provides an additional output capacity of 6,000 for max of 12,000 sheets.
- Kodak announced at the DRUPA show in Europe it will show a prototype of the STREAM Concept Press:
o High speed inkjet production color system
o Uses piezo crystal technology printheads (possibly made by Panasonic)
o Print width of 18.6” maximum
o Can print two colors at 250 feet per minute
o 600x600dpi
o 500 feet per minute top speed using rolls of paper for one color
o Meant for volumes of 10,000,000 per month or more
- Lexmark announced a new desktop color laser MFP, the C560n, offering:
o 4 tandem OPC drum design
o Polymerized toner
o 31ppm b/w speed
o 20ppm color speed
o Scan/fax/print/copy
o Base MSRP of $999
o Letter/legal size paper sizes only
o Document feeder
o 600x600dpi (advertised as offering 2400dpi)
o 400MHz processor
o 384MB RAM (can increase to 1GB)
o Optional auto duplex
- Samsung of Korea stated that it expects its laser printer/MFP division to grow 50% this year. It may launch as many as 30 new models this year.
- Toshiba was awarded a bid from San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District of Texas
o 83 units
o 48 month lease
o $289,344.12 per year total cost
o Guaranteed 4 hour response time
o Previous vendor was Xerox
- Toshiba produced yet another study, this time conducted by QualityLogic, proving that genuine factory original OEM supplies/toner produce 28-43% more pages in life as compared with fake generic versions.
- Toshiba now shipping two new workgroup b/w MFPs, the eSTUDIO 353 and 453 systems offering:
o 35 and 45ppm respectively
o 600x600dpi (advertised as offering 2400dpi with interpolation)
o Auto duplex standard
o Two 550 sheet drawers standard
o 100 sheet stack bypass standard
o Optional print controller
§ Called “eBRIDGE”
§ Most likely made by Wind River
§ HP PCL and PostScript emulations standard
§ 40GB hard drive
o Finishing options include stapling, hole-punch and booklet making
o Document feeder top speed of 50opm when scanning
o Optional fax board
o 200 user boxes
o Developer, cleaning unit, corona charge wires and fuser are all cartridges for easy servicing
o 120K/month and 150K/month max duty cycles
o Optional eCopy
o Pricing not announced
- Canon won a bid to provide imageRUNNER MFPs, scanners and Equitrac 5.0 cost recovery devices for the Van Winkle Law Firm in North Carolina.
- Offix, a Canon dealer in Virginia, announced it has won a $500,000 bid from the United States Patent & Trade Office for 190 locations.
- Four major paper makers admit to cheating in the marketing of “recycled paper”. Nippon Paper Industries of Japan, Oji Paper Co., Daio Paper Corp., Mitsubishi Paper Mills Ltdl, & Hokuetsu Paper Mills Ltd. were apparently caught exaggerating about their recycled paper, as they falsified data showing how much of the content was actually made from recycled stock. Xerox, Canon, Konica Minolta & Ricoh all cancelled contracts after the revelation.
- Okidata announced two new desktop color LED printers, the C6050 and C6150 offering:
o 22ppm and 26ppm top color speeds respectively
o 32ppm for b/w top speed for both models
o Uses pulverized toner infused with wax
o Uses 4 tandem OPC drums
o Use mylar film transfer belt
o 120gsm maximum paper weight
o Banner printing support
o Approx. base MSRPs of $1199 and $1499
o Optional extended warranties do NOT include supplies
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