WEEKEND MFP INDUSTRY NOTES
11-9-08
The following is a quick review of copier/MFP industry news from industry publications.
As expected, Canon sent out a letter stating that it is de-authorizing IKON. The letter stated; “IKON is no longer an authorized retail dealer of or authorized service provider”. IKON will be able to order parts and supplies for 3 years from Canon. This of course is the result of IKON being acquired by Ricoh.
In an attempt to stop IKON from replacing their Canon MIF with Ricoh units, Canon ran full color, full page ads in major newspapers around the U.S. last week. The ads try to push customers to contact their local Canon factory direct branch for service and sales.
IKON announced it won an FM bid to displace Pitney Bowes at Emory University, including all facilities and hospital.
IKON also announced it won a bid to provide scanning and document management for Harrison County, Kentucky. The project starts by scanning 57,000 records.
Konica Minolta launched the CS-2000A Spectroradiometer, which is used by makers of flat screen televisions to check performance of the products. The CS-2000A is the world’s best ultra-low luminosity analyzer, and can measure as low as 0.000 cd/m2 and contrast measurements of 1,000,000 to 1.
Konica Minolta launched the CM-SA Skin Analysis Software, which will measure Melanin Index, Hb (Hemoglobin) Index and Hb SO2 (Hemoglobin oxygen saturation) Index. The software will be used by pharmaceutical companies, clinical organizations, dermatologists and plastic surgeons.
Toshiba announced it has purchased its 54th & 55th dealers. Details:
HPS Office Systems of Indianapolis, IN
Will report to Toshiba branch in Illinois, and president, John Applegate
Was an authorized dealer for Toshiba and Savin (will no longer market Savin product)
Started selling copiers 35 years ago
Dealership started in 1939
90 employees
Former VP and GM was Wayne Wilkinson
Leon Mordoh, VP and GM, joined in 1965
$15 million annual revenue
Locations include Indianapolis, Muncie, Bloomington, Terre Haute & Columbus
Rocky Mountain Copiers Inc. of Colorado Springs, CO
In a cost cutting move, Xerox announced it will close its pulverized black toner plant in Oklahoma City, OK and lay off 100 employees.
Police in Twin Falls, Idaho, are looking for someone who is flooding the town with $20 bills made from a color copier.
Canon announced a new option for its imagePRESS production color systems. The X-Rite i1Process Control Software will provide more control of the color management of the systems. Pricing and ship date unknown.
More details on Canon’s new production b/w systems, the imagePRESS 1110, 1125 & 1135 models:
actually made by Canon (unlike current Canon imageRUNNER PRO models which are made by Kodak)
110ppm, 125ppm and 135ppm speeds respectively
1200x1200dpi
Up to 14,000 sheets of paper on-line
Optional document feeder scans both sides of original at same time (600dpi)
Can scan in color, even though output is only b/w
256 level grayscale
Up to 300gsm paper handling
Optional print controllers include standard and EFI MicroPress
Finishing options include:
Hole-punching
High capacity stacker
Perfect binder
Booklet maker w/trim
GBC punching
Folding unit
According to Global Industry Analysts Inc., the sale of computer printers worldwide will decline 3.09% per year until 2010. However, color laser printer sales will increase 15.98%.
American TonerServ, maker of generic toner cartridges, announced it is buying a competitor, named iPrint Technologies.
Panasonic announced it has sold off its Victor division, which it originally acquired in 1954. At one time, Victor was a leading manufacturer of high end calculators, among other electronics. Victor has now merged with Kenwood Corp.
The Print Council, an association of print shop owners, announced it will spend $750,000 and hire Leo Burnett Advertising Agency to create an ad campaign aimed at “C-level” executives to promote the use of print in the U.S.
Ricoh launched a direct mail campaign to promote the new Aficio PRO C900 production color system. The mailer program contained:
“Ricoh ROCKS” theme
Mailers were sent across the U.S. to print shops of all sizes
First mailer sent was a “Backstage Pass” inviting prospects for a free demo at the recent Graph Expo trade show in Chicago
Second mailer invited customers to “Unleash Your Inner Rock Star” and get a “Front Row Seat” by going to the local Ricoh factory direct branch for a “Private Performance” of the C900.
End users invited to run print job for free
C900 advertised as offering a “Hot Performance” for a “Cool Price”
Respondents receive a Ricoh-branded T-shirt and a “Record”, which is an invite printed on a sheet of plastic that looks like an LP.
Mailer has a PURL that directs end user to website for response.
History of Ricoh Corp.:
established in Tokyo on 2/5/1936
founded by son of poor farmer, named Kiyoshi Ichimura
original name was Riken Kankoshi Co., Ltd.
First products were optical devices
Named changed two years later to Riken Optical Co.
1950 launched its first camera, the RicohFlex III
In the 1950s launched its first desktop copying machines, the Ricopy 101
In 1960 opened office in Korea
In 1962 opened office in New York
In 1970, formed Ricoh of America
In 1970, offices opened in Switzerland, Taiwan & Holland
Currently has $17 billion in annual revenue with 81,900 employees in 150 offices worldwide
During its recent national dealer meeting, Ricoh announced:
It will launch 8 new color laser MFPs, ranging from 20ppm to 50ppm in next three months
Will keep three brands in the U.S.; Ricoh, Savin & Lanier
Kodak announced a new option for its NexPress production color presses. The option, named Specialty Substrate Leveler, will allow thick, special stocks to run through the machine. This includes Laserwell and Digimagnet stocks, which are loyalty cards and magnetic reference cards.
According to a study conducted by PressTek, maker of digital offset presses, the following is a guideline for print shop owners of the optimum usage of color devices:
Runs of 250 sheets or less are best for digital toner devices
Run lengths of 250 each to 499 each, are good either for toner or digital offset devices
Run lengths of 500 to 20,000 are best for digital offset presses
20,000 or greater is best for conventional offset
Hewlett Packard announced it will resell several third party solutions for tracking prints and copies from its printers and MFPs:
CapellaTech MegaTrack
Pharos Systems Uniprint
SafeCom Tracking & GoPay
Software Shelf
Platinum Direct, a print shop in Dallas, announced it has purchased its second Hewlett Packard Indigo production color system, which it will use to print VPD jobs.
Hewlett Packard announced it is working on a huge color inkjet press for use by newspaper publishers. Expected selling price of $2.5 million.
Laser’s Resource, an HP dealer, announced it won a managed print services bid for Grand Rapids Community College.
personal printers eliminated
5 year cpc contract
Reduced printer/MFP unit count from 300 to 150 placements
HP Web Jetadmin used to track clicks
Hewlett Packard announced it lured Starbucks CFO, Pete Bocian, away to become HP’s new Chief Administrative Officer.
Having trouble printing a color PDF on your MFP? When using Adobe Acrobat Reader, go to the print driver, click on “Advanced” and then click “Print as image”, and job will most likely print.
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