First On-Line Die Punches For High-Volume Multifunctional Printing Systems
Easy-to-use StreamPunch(tm) Keeps Pace with High-Speed Digital Systems
West Caldwell, NJ, November 11, 2003 - Ricoh Corporation, the leading
provider of digital office equipment, today announced that it has formed a
relationship with General Binding Corporation, the world's leading
manufacturer and marketer of systems to organize, bind, enhance, protect and
present information, to create StreamPunch(tm), one of the world's first
interchangeable die punch for high-volume multifunction systems.
This relationship was formed to streamline the production of ready-to-bind
documents as part of an on-line punching and printing process. StreamPunch
is integrated with select Ricoh systems that operate at ideal speeds for
corporate and production environments.
Operation is simple, allowing the end-user to activate StreamPunch through
the touch of a button, producing perfectly punched documents-now ready for
binding. The punch process is automatic, enabling the Ricoh system to
maintain speeds of up to 105 pages per minute. Until now, end-users in many
corporate and commercial environments had to punch documents manually,
hand-loading each individual lift of paper into an off-line punch.
"The StreamPunch delivers what consumers want: technology that makes binding
easier. It eliminates the manual part of the punching process, which is
time-consuming and leaves room for error," said Rick McCallion,
vice-president of Product Technology and Partnering for GBC's Industrial and
Print Finishing Group.
"Ricoh is excited to introduce one of the world's first cost-effective
on-line interchangeable die punch for our high volume systems," said Hede
Nonaka, vice president of Marketing for Ricoh Corporation. "Ricoh clearly
addresses our customers requirements for streamlining their finishing
process in the corporate and production environments. This new offering is
clearly a differentiator in the high-volume production market."
StreamPunch is compact and therefore, completely adaptable to fit into any
office or production environment. Despite its sophisticated technology, it
is competitively priced for corporate and production markets. Additionally,
StreamPunch accommodates five binding styles and six removable die sets
including: ColorCoil(tm), WireBind(tm), CombBind(tm), VeloBind®, or
traditional Three-Ring.
"GBC is a world leader in many of our binding categories and we are pleased
to work with an industry leader such as Ricoh in the digital imaging
marketplace," McCallion added. GBC is a world leader in many of our binding
categories, and the Ricoh and GBC brands have always been associated with
innovation and quality worldwide."
About General Binding Corporation
GBC is a world leader in products that bind, laminate and display
information at work, at school and at home. GBC's Industrial & Print
Finishing Group innovates and markets professional-grade binding and
laminating equipment and supplies worldwide. GBC products are marketed in
more than 100 countries under the GBC, Quartet and Ibico brand names.
About Ricoh Corporation
Ricoh Corporation, headquartered in West Caldwell, N.J., is a subsidiary of
Ricoh Company Ltd., the 67-year-old leading supplier of office automation
equipment and electronics, with fiscal year 2002 sales in excess of $14.7
billion.
The Company oversees Ricoh operations in North, Central and South America,
including the Ricoh, Savin, Gestetner and Lanier brands. For fiscal year
2002, Ricoh Corporation sales exceeded $2.8 billion.
Ricoh Corporation is a leading provider of multifunctional document systems
including color and black & white digital imaging systems, facsimile
products, printers, scanners, digital duplicators and wide format
engineering systems.
Information about Ricoh's complete range of products and services can be
accessed on the World Wide Web at www.ricoh-usa.com.
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