Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 21:25
A Look at Volume and Cost per Print Trends
By George Mikolay, Senior Product Editor, A3/Copier MFPs, September 1, 2010
When one of our subscribers asked us about how cost per page has changed over the last five years, we decided to do a little digging of our own regarding trends not only in per-page costs, but monthly volumes as well. Here’s what we found out.
“Since the recession began, the industry has seen declining volumes in each segment of product over the last few years,” said Thomas Walter, director of aftermarket sales for Toshiba’s Marketing and Operations. Indeed, he observed, it seems the historic volume pattern of a successor model always printing a little more than its predecessor model has now been completely inverted.
According to Larry Hunt of Larry Hunt Publications, which conducts a wide range of user surveys on document imaging issues, volume on monochrome models in the 85- to 125-ppm speed range is currently about 168,000 impressions a month, down from an average of 250,000 impressions four to five years ago. While the average monthly volume produced on color models in the 30- to 70-ppm speed range experienced significant growth, now averaging about 38,000 impressions, compared with about 8,000 impressions six to seven years ago, this volume has flattened out in the last year or two. An overall decline in usage and total volume per month since the recession began was confirmed by a number of the independent dealers we spoke with as well.
So what’s to blame for the volume decline? One of the key contributors to the decline is the unemployment rate, said Toshiba’s Walter. As employment grows, volumes will too. But with current unemployment levels hovering around 10 percent, and flat hiring projected for the undetermined future, copier vendors and dealers shouldn’t be holding their breath. Adding to the concerns is that the recession hit right when people began migrating to color. Companies are turning color off; people are printing less in general. So it’s not realistic to expect volumes to return to their pre-recession 2007 levels. “We’re not going to sit back and hope volumes come back to 2007 levels,” said Walter. “But if we get 90 percent of 2007 volumes back, we’d consider that a success.”
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 21:24
A3 Versus A4: New Advanced Search Capabilities Added to bliQ
By George Mikolay, Senior Product Editor, A3/Copier MFPs, August 31, 2010
When you hear about A3 (11" x 17") versus A4 (8.5" x 11"/8.5" x 14") and how the lines are continuing to blur between the products, it’s not exactly groundbreaking news. We’ve been talking about this topic for years. A3 (copier) vendors, who were the first to launch devices with multifunction capabilities including printing, scanning and faxing, first really took notice of A4 (printer) vendors offering multifunctional devices in 2004 with HP’s launch of the LaserJet 4345 MFP. Touted by HP as a “game-changing” product that would “disrupt” the traditional copier-centric multifunctional product market, the device featured a suggested retail price (SRP) that at the time was 72 percent below the average of copier-based multifunction device competitors. Device capabilities were limited, however. In addition to only accommodating paper sizes up to 8.5" x 14", maximum paper capacity was 50 percent below the average of A3-based competitors, and only basic finishing capabilities were offered. The LaserJet 4345’s control panel was also unlike any found on competitive A3 devices, making the transition from traditional A3 devices more confusing for end users.
In the years since then, A4 and A3 models have become much more alike. In fact, today we challenge anyone to look at the control panel of any number of MFPs, and without knowing anything else about them, tell us which control panel belongs to the A4 device and which to the A3 device.
· Customizable touch-sensitive LCD display, in color
· Easy-to-navigate menu system
· Copier-like naming conventions on A4 control panels, such as duplexing
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 21:23
Could Your Paper be Bad for Your Printer’s Health?
August 31, 2010 - An extensive test conducted by Buyers Lab for HP found that certain papers can cause reliability and image quality problems in laser printers. The test encompassed nearly 2.5 million pages on 50 printers with five paper types. All 30 of the printers run with papers carrying the ColorLok® logo, which signifies that they meet a range of quality standards, produced 50,000 pages—a combined total of 1.5 million pages—with no reliability or image quality issues. In fact, they operated for up to nine times longer than printers running the paper types with large-size particle mineral fillers that do not meet the ColorLok® standard. Printers running ColorLok® papers also experienced more than four times fewer paper jams per paper type and maintained good quality output for up to three times longer than the same printers when run with the low-quality paper types. In addition, the ColorLok® papers left printers cleaner on the inside, leaving behind less paper dust and toner contamination that could potentially contribute to reliability issues.
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 21:01
ONYX Graphics Production RIP Software Supports the New Pantone Plus Series and Pantone Fashion + Home Color Libraries
SALT LAKE CITY, August 31, 2010 – With the recent release of version X10 of production RIP software, ONYX Graphics, Inc. adds support for the new PANTONE® PLUS SERIES, the next generation of the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM® and the PANTONE FASHION + HOME System Color Libraries. Users of ONYX® ProductionHouseTM, ONYX PosterShop® and ONYX RIPCenterTM version X10 RIP software will see immediate compatibility with content creation software also using the PANTONE PLUS SERIES, leading to easier processes, shorter timelines and improved color matching capabilities.
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 20:59
Plan a Visit to Printing Industries of America's GRAPH EXPO Booth 3661
Printing Industries of America is bringing expertise, knowledge, and industry assets to McCormick Place this October for GRAPH EXPO 2010. Visitors to the booth (#3661) will find an arsenal of resources to unlock success in their companies as well as assist printers with communicating the importance and power of a printed piece.
Technology, Sustainability and Research
Experts from Printing Industries technology, sustainability and research team will be in the booth. Have questions about a particular application, process, or need some valuable industry insight? They'll be able to help. The technology, sustainability and research team will be available throughout the show and will be highlighting solutions with interactive presentations, including demonstrations of the press simulators.
Learn the Issues
At GRAPH EXPO 2010, Lisbeth Lyons, vice president of Government Affairs at Printing Industries of America, will be on hand to discuss the association’s political advocacy efforts. Lyons can offer in-depth information on PrintPAC, the voluntary, non-partisan political action committee of Printing Industries of America. In addition, she’ll be talking about the 2010 Mid-Term Election, and how hot topics like labor, tax, health care, postal, and environmental policies are affecting the print industry.
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 08/30/2010 - 20:58
Xerox Secure Print Your Piece of Mind for Confidential Documents
Xerox has the answer
Use the Xerox® Secure Print feature. If you don’t want your confidential or private documents to be left in the output tray, open for viewing, or even taken by someone else, Secure Print allows you to control the print timing of your documents. You can now optimize your print solution by using a workgroup device to print all your documents, without worrying about security!
Here’s an example:
You need to print your company’s product roadmap or an employee’s development plan. In the past, you may have used a personal printer to print these types of files. With Secure Print, the workgroup printer becomes your own personal printer! Print the file, and in the print Properties section, select Secure Print from the menu (this varies from device to device: see your user manual for exact instructions). Select a passcode of your choice and send the job to be printed. The job is held in the job list until you release it. At the device control panel, type in your passcode and the document prints. You control when the print takes place! Best of all, if multiple jobs are held using the same passcode, they are all released for printing at once – making it easy and quick for you to collect your jobs.
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 08/30/2010 - 20:03
Canon Device Management Application is Now Available to Océ Customers
TRUMBULL, CONN. August 30, 2010 – Océ, an international leader in digital document management, today announced the availability of Canon imageWARE Enterprise Management Console software, along with additional plug-ins for added functionality to Océ North America, Document Printing Systems customers. This highly scalable web-based management solution is capable of monitoring multiple Canon and third-party networked print and MFP devices. Additionally, an Accounting Management Plug-in and an Access Management System Plug-in allow an administrator to configure and control users, groups and output costs. This solution provides the scalability, adaptability and automation that large corporations demand today.
"Our customers look to us for complete office printing solutions. With Canon, we now offer the best technology, both in hardware and software, to meet those needs," said John Reilly, President, Océ North America, Document Printing Systems. "We are excited that the addition of Canon software to our portfolio enables us to provide our customers with the best printing solutions available in the market."
imageWARE Enterprise Management Console allows users to achieve greater organizational efficiency and helps control costs by informing users of where their devices are and how they are used. Using the plug-ins, administrators have the ability to manage and set controls for items, such as color usage and costs for charge back usage. In addition, the ability to view real-time device status puts less strain on IT departments by enabling them to monitor device status and receive email alerts if errors occur.
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 08/30/2010 - 20:01
EFI Connect Users' Conference Keeps Springtime Slot in Las Vegas in 2011; Adobe CEO Confirmed as Opening Night Speaker
Foster City, Calif. - Aug. 30, 2010 - EFI™ (Nasdaq: EFII), a world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation, today announced the 12th annual Connect users' conference will take place next year from April 26 to April 29 at the Wynn Las Vegas. Connect enables print industry leaders from around the world to attend educational sessions, test drive the latest EFI products, voice their opinions at user group meetings, discuss industry trends, and network with peers.
The Connect lab area will once again showcase the full portfolio of EFI solutions, including the complete print MIS line-up (PrintSmith™, Pace™, Monarch, Radius, Digital StoreFront® and more), numerous Fiery® solutions, VUTEk®, Rastek™ and Jetrion® printers, as well as live demos of end-to-end workflow integrations. The event will also feature the return of the popular live auction.
The Connect conference will kick off with a lively "fireside chat" between Adobe President and CEO Shantanu Narayen and EFI CEO Guy Gecht on Tuesday evening, April 26. The two will discuss a variety of topics, including the future of printing and Adobe's strategy moving forward.
"EFI Connect 2011 will build on our very successful 2010 event, offering attendees many opportunities for learning, discussion and idea exchange," said Frank Mallozzi, senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing, EFI. "We'll showcase our full portfolio of products and solutions, including our newest addition, EFI Radius packaging software. The lab area, together with exciting speakers, in-depth educational sessions and industry vendor booths, all make Connect a 'must attend' event."
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 08/30/2010 - 19:58
EFI Improves Color for DRAFTFCB – The Proof is in the Jell-O
Company Profile
Submitted by Corey A Smith on Mon, 08/30/2010 - 19:48
Improve Productivity with Print Management
In the office, it seems we are always in a hurry. For this reason, very rarely does anyone take the time to fix a printer. Instead, they are forced to find a different 
device so they can complete their task in a time-efficient manner.
Furthermore, IT departments rarely have the time or resources to fix mechanical issues in office devices. But still, they are forced to take control of the issue and organize some sort of fix, whether it is an easy paper jam or having to schedule a repair from a local company.
Luckily, there is a better way. Managed Print Services Programs continually monitor your printer fleet and deliver valuable productivity benefits to your business.
Proactive Service: Managed Print Service means there will be someone monitoring your printer fleet for you. If a printer is out of service, it can often be fixed before it becomes an issue for your business’ productivity.
Submitted by Corey A Smith on Mon, 08/30/2010 - 19:45
Easy Green Printing
Nowadays, everyone is looking for ways to cut down their carbon footprint. Unfortunately, it can be fairly expensive to “go green”. Having a green printing strategy can help you save money at the same time as saving the environment.
Office printing consumes a lot of paper and energy. Based on average usages, it is very easy for your office to contribute tens of thousands of pounds of greenhouse gases to the environment a year.
One simple and effective way to reduce your office’s carbon footprint is to set your printers and copiers to default with two sided printing. By turning two pages into one, you can reduce paper usage by 50%. This small step can save up to 60 trees annually and eliminate up to 14,000 lbs of greenhouse gases. It could also save your company money by using less paper!
Submitted by Corey A Smith on Thu, 08/26/2010 - 21:38
Free Up Office Space with Multifunction Devices
Not long ago, cellular phones were simply used for phone calls. However, today we can e-mail, text, surf the internet, take pictures, and even watch movies on our cell phones. It is very clear that we expect a single device to do more than just one task. This should not be any different in the workplace.
With the digital revolution in full swing, people are getting more and more used to working with a myriad of devices, each designed to make our lives just that little bit more convenient. The traditional office probably includes printers, fax
machines, copiers and scanners. These devices not only take up physical space, but they also consume financial resources.
Just as our cell phones have integrated with other devices, a multifunction printer (MFP) can combine various document-related tasks into one easy-to-manage machine. With a MFP, your company can cut overhead costs and free up valuable space. Plus, you can help enable remote employees with easy online integration.
Submitted by Corey A Smith on Thu, 08/26/2010 - 20:55
Cost-Effective Printing
Documents are a vital part to any organization. Unfortunately, they can also cost a lot of money! The high cost of printing can take up nearly 3% of annual revenue.
However, there is good news. When the expense of document printing is managed properly it can be reduced by an average of 30%. On top of cutting costs, you can increase productivity simultaneously.
The strategy? Centralizing the purchase of printer supplies.
Many organizations purchase printing supplies by workgroup or department. When these supplies are mixed in with the purchasing of office supplies the expense can buried, making it very difficult to manage.
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/26/2010 - 20:06
Océ Print Management Software Delivers New Efficiency for Print Service Providers
Venlo, The Netherlands, 26 August 2010 - Océ, an international leader in digital document management and delivery, today announced the latest release of Océ PRISMAaccess print management software. Version 5.1 integrates new features that make it even easier for print service providers to process incoming jobs, archive files and provide greater cost transparency.
Efficient email integration
Océ PRISMAaccess 5.1 makes it as easy as possible for print service operators to process incoming jobs. Even with a web interface or a downloadable driver, customers still send jobs by email with files attached. To help operators process these orders more efficiently, the latest version of the software includes email integration. Operators can open emails and fill in the job ticket all within Microsoft Outlook. The job ticket opens in a separate window. Basic information like the job owner’s name and location are already filled in. All the operator has to do is add the job requirements detailed in the customer’s email.
Easier preflighting of PDFs
More and more jobs are submitted to print service providers as PDFs. Océ PRISMAaccess 5.1 integrates the core functions of Enfocus PitStop Pro making preflighting PDFs much quicker and easier. Operators can check PDFs for things like missing fonts and low-resolution images without having to open a separate application. Preflight rules only have to be configured once. This saves valuable time when deadlines are tight. After preflighting, Océ PRISMAaccess 5.1 software can also generate an overview with all problems found.
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/26/2010 - 20:04
OKI Printing Solutions Introduces New Retail SignDirector Solution to Help Retailers React Faster
MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., August 26, 2010- SignDirector™ is an efficient way to electronically distribute and manage signage across retail operations
OKI Data Americas, which markets its products under the OKI Printing Solutions brand, introduces the SignDirector Solution, a web-based application that allows retailers to react quickly to the marketplace by printing signs on-demand at the store level. Compatible with OKI’s digital color printers, the solution allows stores to easily print onsite with OKI’s driverless printing capabilities, reducing the need to outsource or print and ship signs because the right signs are immediately available from corporate.
“This solution is ideal for corporations that want to streamline processes and better manage in-store promotions across all locations to increase efficiency and time to market,” said Terry Cruikshank, Sr. Manager, Industry Marketing at OKI Data Americas. “SignDirector gives headquarters full control over in-store signage and reduces outsourcing and eliminates wasted signs through electronic distribution. Additionally, the solution simplifies the printing process for store employees, therefore overall productivity increases.”
The SignDirector Solution from OKI Printing Solutions helps companies simplify in-store sign printing and become more cost-efficient. Through the use of unlimited defined merchandise departments and store groups, promotions can be localized and quickly updated to reflect product availability or other adjustments. Store personnel simply log into the company portal and select the signs needed by name or thumbnail and click print.
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/26/2010 - 20:01
EFI to Present at the 2010 Citi Technology Conference and the Kaufman Bros. 13th Annual Investor Conference
FOSTER CITY, Calif., Aug. 26, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Electronics For Imaging, Inc. (Nasdaq:EFII), a world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation, announced today that Company management will present at the upcoming 2010 Citi Technology Conference and the Kaufman Bros. 13th Annual Investor Conference.
2010 Citi Technology Conference
Date:
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Time:
1:00 PM (ET)
Location:
New York Marriott Marquis Times Square, 1535 Broadway, New York, NY
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 08/25/2010 - 22:04
Xerox Named ‘Company of the Year’ By IT Resellers for Workgroup Color Printers
WILSONVILLE, Ore. – Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX) was named “Company of the Year” and “Overall Winner” in the workgroup color printers category by Everything Channel’s CRN Magazine, a leading industry publication and website for value-added resellers, solution providers and other channel professionals.
In this survey of more than 3,700 solution providers, Xerox earned top scores for support and partnership, surpassing all competitors in the workgroup color printers category. The scores are based on vendor satisfaction ratings in 18 product and service categories.
“For 25 years, we have asked solution providers to rate vendors on their channel commitment and excellence in providing superb service to identify the true leaders of the channel. Winning the CRN Annual Report Card is one of the most prestigious honors in the IT channel industry, and we congratulate Xerox for making it to the list,” said Kelley Damore, vice president, editorial director, Everything Channel.
Xerox helps resellers worldwide grow their business through a broad range of products and programs, such as PagePack® 3.0, a suite of managed print services programs that help partners deliver cost savings and productivity improvements to their customers.
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 08/25/2010 - 22:01
Aiming to Further Expand Its Core Office Equipment Business in the High-Growth Market Konica Minolta Establishes a Sales Subsidiary in India
Tokyo (August 25, 2010) -- Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc. (Konica Minolta) is pleased to announce that it has established a wholly-owned office equipment sales subsidiary in India.
Background and purpose of the new company
Konica Minolta has been distributing its office equipment in India through local distributors in the past years. In light of the rapid economic growth in India, it became essential to formulate a sales strategy to better meet the specific needs in the Indian market. With this awareness, Konica Minolta decided to establish the new subsidiary in India to make committed efforts to increase sales in this promising market. Through the new subsidiary, Konica Minolta aims to increase customer satisfaction and reinforce its ability to develop businesses locally by strengthening marketing; enhancing and expanding the existing sales network; exploiting new sales channels; and improving customer service.
The establishment of the new subsidiary in India is meant as part of the global strategy of the Konica Minolta Group to increase profitability and growth potential in newly emerging markets.
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 08/24/2010 - 22:06
Kodak and CAPSYS Advance Web-Based Document Management with New Integration for KODAK Capture Pro Software
ROCHESTER, N.Y. and COLORADO SPRINGS, CO., Aug. 24—Kodak and CAPSYS announce a new agreement that integrates KODAK Capture Pro Software with CAPSYS CAPTURE Thin-Client Document Capture Software Application. The Independent Software Vendor (ISV) agreement establishes a new solution for customers looking to scan, extract, classify and index data from both electronic and paper-based documents. The combination of Capture Pro Software and CAPSYS Software will also enable users to use batch capture and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) capabilities from either on-premise or remote locations.
“Organizations investing in document management solutions will find that the integration between CAPSYS Software and Capture Pro Software offers a more robust set of document scanning and data capture features,” said Greg Cooke, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at CAPSYS. “The combined capabilities of these products make it easier to capture and process documents from almost any location, at anytime from anywhere within a business.”
The integration between CAPSYS Software and Capture Pro Software provides flexible configuration choices for customers. If a Web-based solution is needed, the CAPSYS Browser can be set up to remotely release scanned or indexed documents into Capture Pro Software for image and data processing. Capture Pro Software will release scanned information into the organization’s document management system. Customers with a server-based workflow can also use Capture Pro Software to scan and release documents into the CAPSYS Server for processing, which then releases information into a document management system. Users may also run the Capture Pro Software in its entirety without CAPSYS Software.
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 08/24/2010 - 21:57
Canon U.S.A. Introduces 7000-Lumen Installation Projector With Superb Imagery and Precise Color Control
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., August 24, 2010 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced the high-performance XGA-resolution LV-7590 Multimedia Projector. Delivering 7000 lumens of brightness and a contrast ratio of 1800:1, this new projector offers five optional lenses that enable it to be customized to a variety of front or rear projection applications. This flexibility makes the LV-7590 Multimedia Projector ideal for installation in large venues such as houses of worship, school auditoriums, showrooms, large conference rooms, art galleries, museums and small theaters. The LV-7590 Multimedia Projector also employs a Color Control Device, an advanced technology that helps to deliver exceptional image clarity and precise color.
"The installation market is a large and growing segment for multimedia projectors," noted Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. "Canon's new LV-7590 Multimedia Projector provides this market with the performance and features that are most in demand such as high brightness for clear, high-quality image display even in well-lit environments."
Optional Lenses for Installation Flexibility
Five optional lenses enable installers to customize Canon's new LV-7590 Multimedia Projector for a variety of applications. The five optional lenses include an Ultra Wide-Angle Lens (LV-IL01); Wide-Angle Zoom Lens (LV-IL02); Long-Focus Zoom Lens (LV-IL03); Ultra Long-Focus Zoom Lens (LV-IL04); and a 1.3x Zoom Lens (LV-IL05).