News

OmtoolT Delivers Its AccuRoute® Solution on Sharp OSAT-Enabled MFPs

Andover, Mass. and Mahwah, N. J., April 8, 2008 - Omtool, Ltd. (OTCBB:OMTL), a leading provider of document capture and handling solutions along with Sharp Document Imaging and Information Company of America (SIICA), today announced the development and delivery of Omtool's AccuRoute document capture and handling solution for Sharp OSAT-enabled multifunction peripherals (MFPs).

The AccuRoute Embedded Device Client for Sharp OSA-enabled MFPs allows users to access AccuRoute's document capture and handling features through AccuRoute-specific buttons that can be added to the touch screen control panel of any Sharp OSA-enabled multi-function peripheral (MFP).  Using these functions, users can scan hardcopy documents at the MFP for delivery to personal or public distributions on the AccuRoute system.  Users can also access AccuRoute from the MFP for simple, ad-hoc document routing operations such as a quick scan-to-self for delivery back to the user's desktop or scan-to-fax. 


HP Unveils Imaging and Printing Devices, Solutions and Services for Enterprises

PALO ALTO, Calif., April 8, 2008 - HP today announced a broad expansion of its imaging and printing portfolio for large businesses.

The company's latest offerings help enterprises manage, secure and simplify their imaging and printing environments and improve workflows to reduce costs and enhance productivity.

The new offerings include six HP LaserJet printers, an enterprise-class scanner for document capture, three access control printing solutions, four printing services and an accreditation, certification and test program for HP's software solution development partners.

HP also extended the reach of its $300 million "What Do You Have To Say?" global interactive marketing campaign to target large businesses. In the expansion, print and online advertising and interactive tools will showcase how 3M worked with HP to globally reduce its device count by 47 percent and save more than $3 million in just two years.


Ricoh Sponsors Newsweek's Second Annual Global Environment and Leadership Conference

West Caldwell, NJ,   April 07, 2008 — Ricoh Americas Corporation announced today that it is a presenting sponsor of Newsweek’s Second Annual Global Environment and Leadership Conference being held on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. This conference gathers the top business leaders, academics and policy makers from around the globe, in both public and private sectors, to address the current and future state of the earth’s ecosystem and how best to protect the planet by reducing carbon footprints.

Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York City, will give the morning keynote address at the conference, followed by panel discussions on topics including Profitability via Sustainability and Politics, Advocacy and The Environment. Keith Hennessey, assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council at the White House is the luncheon keynote speaker.


PostNet Locations in North America to Use EFI Digital StoreFront

Foster City, Calif. – April 7, 2008 – EFI (NASDAQ: EFII), the world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation, today announced that PostNet, a full service, diversified business center with locations worldwide, will deploy EFI Digital StoreFront™ (DSF) web-to-print solution in more than 400 centers in the United States and Canada.

DSF is EFI’s web-to-print platform providing a digital on-ramp for customers to connect with their preferred printer. DSF eases print job specification and file handling for the customer while automating workflow at the printer. With DSF, printers can provide proactive job status via the Web and customers are given better visibility into the production process via online job tracking. PostNet franchises now have the ability to create their own storefronts and to receive PDF-ready files from customers.


Konica Minolta Enters into Strategic Business Alliance Agreement with Océ

Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc (President and CEO: Yoshikatsu Ota) entered into a strategic business alliance agreement with Oce, a company headquartered in Venlo, The Netherlands (President and CEO: Rokus van Iperen) on April 4, 2008 to cooperate in development and marketing for office and production printing systems.

Background

Based on basic partnership agreement announced on Jan 15 2008, both parties confirmed more concrete policy and plan overviewed as below.

Overview of the strategic business alliance agreement


HP and State of California Initiate Environmental Printing Program with Goal to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 500 Tons per Year

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 7, 2008 - HP today announced it has partnered with the State of California to implement a print cartridge recycling and environmental printing program throughout State agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 500 tons per year after full implementation.(1)

The collaborative program couples print cartridge recycling with a unique rewards system that provides points toward upgrading printers to more efficient HP models. Piloted with the State Board of Equalization last year, the program begins with free return and recycling services for HP ink and toner cartridges through the HP Planet Partners program. If fully implemented statewide, the program would divert 100 tons of print cartridges from landfills annually.(2)


Canon USA and Sepialine Introduce Advanced Accounting for Canon Large Format Printers

Lake Success, N.Y., and San Francisco, April 7, 2008 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in imaging solutions, and Sepialine, Inc., today announced the immediate availability of Sepialine's print accounting software for the Canon imagePROGRAF large format printer series. The new software extends Sepialine's Argos Cost Recovery System by integrating directly with imagePROGRAF large format printers to provide detailed print records that include total ink consumption.

"Capturing print costs is critical to our customers, and that's why our partnership with Sepialine is an important step for us," said Jim Rosetta, vice president and general manager, Imaging Systems Group, Canon U.S.A. "For firms looking to monitor and recover print expenses, Sepialine's ability to report costs based on actual usage is a unique and tangible benefit. Our relationship with Sepialine allows Canon to deliver truly outstanding cost recovery, and we're gratified to count Sepialine as a partner."


Canon USA and Sepialine Announce Availability of Sepialine's Argos Print and Copy Accounting Solutions for Canon's MEAP Embedded Platform

Lake Success, N.Y., and San Francisco, April 7, 2008 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in imaging solutions, and Sepialine, Inc., today announced the availability of Sepialine's Argos Embedded Copy Tracking for Canon's Multifunctional Embedded Application Platform (MEAP). Sepialine's new MEAP software application helps corporate customers better track prints and copies without the need for external hardware terminals when using Canon imageRUNNER devices. For Sepialine's core audience of architecture, engineering and reprographic professionals, the new MEAP application translates to increased business insight and cost savings.

As a part of Sepialine's Argos Cost Recovery System, the new Embedded Copy Tracking software delivers an innovative workflow that improves the process of tracking MFPs by separating device access control and billing. With Argos, users access MFP devices using only a numeric passcode. Then, when the job is complete, the user accesses the Argos Desktop Client on their personal computer to complete the accounting process. Unlike conventional copy tracking products that require numerous prompts and long key sequences, Argos copy tracking streamlines the process for users, resulting in increased accuracy and an improved user experience. Sepialine's embedded MEAP application eliminates the expense and hassle of external copy tracking terminals.
"The MEAP enabled cost tracking solution from Sepialine affords users a significant convenience, along with benefits not easily available on an external keypad or terminal," said Dennis Amorosano, senior director, Solutions Business Development Division, Canon U.S.A. "This new embedded application is another example of how Canon and our partners can enhance workflow through the industry leading MEAP technology, increasing productivity for the end-user."


In Depth with Jim D'Emidio

from Buyers Lab.

April 4, 2008 – BLI recently spoke with Jim D’Emidio, newly appointed president of Muratec America. He is replacing Yutaka Moriwaki, who has been promoted to general manager of Muratec Sales Limited, the domestic sales division of Murata Machinery Limited. D’Emidio, who has been with Muratec for 21 years, was previously vice president of sales and marketing.

BLI: Effective April 1, you have been promoted to president of Muratec America, replacing Yutaka Moriwaki. How will this management restructuring position Muratec for growth?

D’Emidio: Basically, it’s not much of a restructuring. I’ve been vice president of sales and marketing for 10 years and the only real change that has happened is we won’t have a Japanese president. Although we’ve had a Japanese president for the last 10 years, the American management has been pretty much managing the company with oversight. Now our oversight will just be in Japan. We are poised to take advantage of whatever the market provides us as a secondary manufacturer.


Océ announces First Quarter 2008 Results

Trumbull, CT, April 3, 2008 – Océ N.V.
Highlights:

  • First quarter revenues grew organically by 1.3%; excluding fax by 1.8%
  • Revenues from sales of printers up organically by 5.9%, partly thanks to partnerships
  • Recurring revenues lag behind because of economic situation in US
  • Gross margin decreases to 38.5% [2007: 39.4%]
  • Operating income is Euro 32.1 million, excluding one-off items Euro 17.5 million
  • Extra cost reduction of Euro 50 million to Euro 80 million in 2008

Comments by Rokus van Iperen, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors:
‘In the first quarter two significant developments occurred:
First, revenues from the sale of printers increased organically by 6%, partly due to our successful partnerships. On the back of this good sales performance, Océ has gained market share in wide format, color and high volume cutsheet printing. Especially in Asia we achieved excellent growth, whilst sales also increased in Europe.


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