WEEKEND MFP INDUSTRY NOTES
3-30-08
The following is a quick review of copier/MFP industry news from industry publications.
- Quick financial snapshots of various companies in the industry, comparing expected total revenue for fiscal 2007:
o Canon = $42 billion
o Danka = $432 million
o Hewlett Packard = $100 billion
o Matsu****a/Panasonic = $86 billion
o Okidata = $5.9 billion
o Sharp = $34 billion
- Ford announced that it will offer optional color inkjet printers that can be mounted into the center console stack in its pickup trucks.
- Ricoh stated it will spend $96.7 million on a new printer/MFP manufacturing plant in Thailand.
o 1200 to 4000 employees
o 20,000 to 140,000 units per month capacity
o Plans on moving production from existing plants in China to Thailand in future due to lower costs
- Ricoh announced it will continue to be the office office equipment supplier of Major League Baseball and run TV ads in 22 markets during games.
- Ricoh is planning on launching an 80cpm b/w laser MFP, the MP 8000. It is a faster version of the existing MP6000 and MP7500 models which offer 60ppm and 75ppm. Expected base MSRP will be $28,900.00
- More details on the new high speed color laser MFPs from Ricoh, the MP C6000 and C7500:
o Replaces the Aficio Color 5560 and 3260C models, but based on the same engines (so these are NOT true production print models)
o 4 tandem OPC drum design
o Ricoh PxP toner (polymerized)
o C6000 offers 55ppm color and 60ppm b/w for base MSRP of $29,800.00
o C7500 offers 70ppm color and 75ppm b/w for base MSRP of $37,800.00
o 43,200 page yield for black toner based on 5% coverage on page
o 21,600 page yield for CMY toners based on 5%
o 7.5 second first copy out time for C6000
o 6.4 second first copy out time for C7500
o 75 second warmup time
o Copy data encryption kit for $675
o Optional fax board for $1000 (add second line for $625 plus $140 for RAM)
o Comes standard with two 1100 sheet letter size paper drawers, two 550 sheet universal drawers and 100 sheet stack bypass
Optional 4,000 sheet letter size only side-mounted paper deck for $2200 (can covert to legal size only for $810)
Optional 2000 sheet side-mounted 12”x18” paper tray for $4550 (requires removal of the 100 sheet stack bypass, and can not be combined with the 4000 sheet deck)
Optional $1450 conversion kit that takes the two 1100 sheet letter size drawers, and converts them into a single 1100 sheet 11”x17” paper drawer
Only the stack bypass apparently can hold 10point or thicker paper
o Auto duplex standard
o Finishing options include:
500 sheet output tray for $145
SR4010 stapling finisher for $2200, with 50 sheet stapled sets
SR4020 15 sheet booklet maker for $3000
SR5000 stapling finisher for $5500 plus $280 adaptor kit offers 100 sheet stapled sets, but no booklet making
Nine bin mailbox output trays for $2000
$350 for a paper jogger unit
$875 for hole punch unit
$1100 for cover inserter with single tray
$3500 for dual tray cover inserter
$7000 for z-fold unit
o Document feeder top scan speed of 69opm for color at 200dpi and 81opm for b/w
When copying operates at 60opm for C6000 and 75opm for C7500
o Optional embedded generic print controller for $2200.00
Actual maker unknown (most likely Oak Technology)
1.4GHz Intel Pentium processor
1.5GB RAM
Two 160GB hard drives (one is used to store scanned document images)
Hard drive erase kit for $375
Hard drive encryption kit for $370
USB & 10/100BaseT ports
1000BaseT gigabit port for $440.00
HP PCL print driver
PostScript driver option is $2200.00
Scan to e-mail/folder/SMB/FTP/URL/LDAP
Embedded software interface for $140 (Java VM card)
File format converter to access data on hard drive for $575
o Optional EFI Fiery print controller (Ricoh will call it the E7100)
- NEC launched the NEC MyOffice C520, which is a relabeled Konica Minolta bizhub C10.
- Canon announced that one of its branches sold an imagePRESS C7000VP production color system to Prosit Print Solutions, a printshop in Broomall, PA. It also placed two of these systems at Centiv Services Inc., a print shop in Burlington, NJ., along with an off-line Duplo DC645 slitter/cutter/creaser unit.
- Canon provided some details on its finances:
o Last quarter’s profit up 1.8%
o Target of 6.5% growth in revenue for this year worldwide
o Results “were mainly hurt by the stronger-than-expected effect of the subprime mortgage crisis in the United States”
o In U.S., totals fell short of sales targets
o Will switch to a corporate officer system of management on 4/11/08
Company believes that the new system will allows for swift execution of business decisions by keeping broader managerial responsibilities separate from day-to-day business operations
Board member will be responsible for drawing up business plans and overseeing operations
Corporate officers will be in charge of running their divisions
Board size will shrink from 27 directors to 20
10 corporate officers will be appointed and expanded to 25 people
Will keep its corporate auditors
- A new site seller from Canon, that its dealers, like IKON, place in proposals, promotes the following propaganda:
o “Canon Has Remained the #1 Choice, Overall, For Copiers In the U.S. For 24 of the Last 25 Years” – (while this is true, it is based on shear number of units placed, not on revenue, and includes over 220,000 small, cheap desktop b/w units that are sold via on-line firms, electronics stores or office supply stores)
o “Canon consistently devotes approximately 10% of its net sales to R&D investment each year, which far exceeds R&D spending of its competitors by 2:1” (what Canon does not say is that this research and development budget includes billions of dollars currently wasted trying to develop flat screen HDTV sets, none of which are available for sale yet)
o “For the last 21 years, Canon ranked third in the world for receiving patents” (again, Canon neglects to tell the reader than many of these have to do with HDTV sets, not copiers)
- Canon announced that its imagePRESS production color systems will interface with Agfa Graphics’ Apogee Suite software, which is a JDF workflow solution
- Canon announced a new option for the imagePRESS series, called i1-Process Control, which uses an X-Rite product for color management.
- At the upcoming DRUPA show in Europe, Canon apparently plans on launching a “clear toner” option for its imagePRESS color systems to provide glossy output. In addition, it will launch a new line of b/w only imagePRESS systems.
- More details on new color MFP from Canon, the imageRUNNER C2550 featuring:
o Base MSRP of $8000.00
o 25ppm top speed for b/w
o 23ppm top speed for full color
o 4 tandem OPC drum design
o 600x600dpi standard (can upgrade to 1200x1200dpi by adding RAM and PostScript)
o 2/4 bit selectable (does NOT offer 8 bits per pixel)
o Black toner yield of 26,000 pages based on 5% toner coverage
o Color toners yield 14,000 pages each based on 5%
o Uses pulverized toner infused with wax, and does not need fuser oil
o Black drum yield of 70,000 pages
o Color drums yield 60,000 pages
o Color LCD touch screen
o Optional document feeder only holds 50 originals
44opm scan speed at 300dpi
28opm scan speed at 600dpi
MSRP $1200
o Maximum paper size 12”x18”
o Two 550 sheet paper drawers standard with 50 sheet stack bypass
o Can add two more 550 sheet drawers ($1450) or a 2,700 sheet letter size paper deck ($2100)
o Optional fax board (one line for $800, and second line for $650)
o Optional internal tray for $100
o Optional stapling finisher for $1200 (no booklet making)
o Generic print controller standard
Most likely made by NetSilicon
USB & 10/100BaseT ports
80GB hard drive
Hard drive encryption for $325
Hard drive erase kit for $325
1GB RAM standard (can upgrade to 1.5GB for $250)
Dual processors
Scan to e-mail/folders/LDAP
Compressed scan to PDF for $1100
Optional encrypted PDF for $900
Comes standard with Windows printing only
Optional HP PCL print driver ($800)
Optional PostScript print driver ($800 and must buy extra $250 RAM)
Optional Windows XPS print driver in future
No EFI Fiery upgrade available
Web access feature for $1000
- Xerox is preparing to launch a new low end color MFP.
o Made by Fuji of Japan
o 16ppm color
o 22ppm b/w
o Up to 11”x17” paper size
o 4 tandem OPC drum design
o Optional fax board
o No finishing
o Approx. base MSRP of $10,100.00 including print controller
- Xerox announced it will relabel solution software from Notable Solutions Inc. (NSI).
o The Xerox SMART-document Travel Express option is actually NSI AutoStore Express
o $600 MSRP for each Xerox MFP
- Xerox created a new on-line tool to help its reps sell new Xerox MFPs by attempting to prove to customers that they will save the environment. The new Xerox “Sustainability Calculator” allows the Xerox rep to plug in details on the customer’s current fleet of office equipment, and determine how much energy is wasted and how much greenhouse gases are being emitted. Of course, this savings can be used to acquire new Xerox “Energy Star” compliant MFPs. Xerox claims it used this calculator to win a bid at Northrup Grumman Corp. to replace 2,000 printers and MFPs with 1,100 new Xerox devices.
- Illegal accounting will cost Xerox $670 million. In a court case that started in 2000, Xerox shareholders sued Xerox, and its auditors, KPMG, over financial irregularities. The stock value at the time plummeted from $60 per share to $5, and has yet to return to its former value. KPMG will shell out $80 million. Both firms agreed to pay this money back to shareholders, but were allowed not to directly admitting any wrongdoing. Xerox has already paid a $10 million fine to the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2002, which claimed that Xerox inflated its actual annual revenues by over $3 billion.
- Captaris Inc., maker of solution software, including the best-selling RightFax product, has hired an outside firm to explore either merging or selling out to another company.
- More info on Samsung’s first floor-standing color laser MFP, the CLX-8380DN offering:
o Base MSRP of $4999.00
o Actually made by Samsung of Korea
o Letter/legal size paper only
o Competes against the Hewlett Packard Color LaserJet 4730MFP
o This product may be relabeled by Xerox and Muratec (as they currently relabel other Samsung made models)
o 40ppm top speed color or b/w
o 600x600dpi or 1200x1200dpi (not 8 bits per pixel)
o Interpolated up to 4800dpi
o 4 tandem OPC drum design
o Polymerized toner
o Comes standard with 520 sheet paper tray and 100 sheet stack bypass
o Optional two more 520 sheet drawers ($349 apiece) or a 2100 sheet letter size paper deck ($799)
o Optional 100 sheet document feeder
o Auto duplex standard
o Optional stapling finisher for $649 (50 sheet stapled sets, no booklet making)
o Built-in print controller
Actual maker unknown
HP PCL and PostScript print drivers included
USB & 10/100BaseT ports
256MB RAM standard (can upgrade to 512MB)
80GB hard drive
Scan to e-mail/FTP/SMB
o Optional fax board
o 11 second first b/w copy out time
o 13 second first color copy out time
o Black toner yield of 18,000 pages based on 5% coverage for $65.00 each
o Color toners yield 12,000 pages each based on 5% for $149 each
o Each drum has yield of 50,000 pages, with black for $165.00 and C, M or Y for $245.00
o Waste toner cartridge yield of 100,000 pages
o PM kit #1 has yield of 100,000 pages for $149.00
o PM kit #2 has yield of 200,000 pages for $229.00
- Fedex Kinko’s printshop locations’s revenue was up 1% year over year. Details:
o includes revenue from new locations (252 were opened)
o higher package acceptance fees
o lower revenue from selling copies
o due to slow economic conditions, company will slow rate of expansion with only 70 new stores budgeted in 2008.
- EFI, maker of Fiery controllers, announced it has hired Bill Bieger as Sales Director for North America. He previously worked at X-Rite, BestColor and Kodak. He will report to GM, Stefan Spiegel.
- Toshiba previewed a new line up of color laser MFPs. Tentative details:
o eSTUDIO 5520C, 6520C & 6530C
5520 offers 55ppm, 65ppm for 6520 and 6530
Actually made by Toshiba
4 tandem OPC drum design
Workgroup size (not production print models)
10.4” color LCD touch screen display
Most likely will be 8 bit per pixel
Built-in generic print controller called “eBRIDGE”
• Actual manufacturer unknown (most likely Wind River)
Optional EFI Fiery
Optional fax board
Two-part developer system, called SR Self Refresh, that automatically replenishes developer into the system as new toner is introduced, eliminating the need to install or maintain developer for the life of the MFP (other competitive models have the developer as part of the drum/imaging unit, so it is changed when the drum is changed)
Toshiba eFINE image processing system to enhance color clarity and text rendering
5.3 second first b/w copy out time, and 6.5 seconds for color
Optional fax, paper handling, and finishing choices
o eSTUDIO 2330C, 2830C, 3530C & 4520C models
based on engine in existing Toshiba-made models like the 3510C
will replace the discontinued 2500C, 3500C, 3510C and 4500C
speeds are 23ppm, 28ppm, 35ppm and 45ppm
supports Microsoft Windows Vista print drivers
all the above models will ship this summer
most likely will offer 8 bits per pixel
offer same paper handling and finishing options as current models
all support the “eBRIDGE Open Platform” (similar to Canon’s MEAP, where solution software can be controlled through copier control panel)
5.2 second first b/w copy out time, 8.6 second first color copy out time
Support banner printing
8.5” color LCD touch screen display
Built-in generic controller or EFI Fiery controller
- Toshiba unveiled new b/w laser MFPs as well, the eSTUDIO 455, 655, 755 & 855 offering:
o 45, 65, 75 & 85ppm top speeds
o Replaces the 453, 523, 603, 723 and 853 models
o 8.5” color LCD touch screen display
- During its last dealer meeting, Toshiba admitted that while it is committed to the independent dealer channel, it now only receives 40% of its sales from dealers in the U.S. even though its goal is a 50/50 split with its branches.
o also stated that revenue for past fiscal was behind budget projections
o Mark Matthews, Exec VP stated; “when you’re through changing, you’re through”, and cited as originator of this phrase, Bruce Barton. He also said; “They won’t remember the words you spoke or how you spoke them. They will only remember how you made them feel.”
- Okidata now shipping a new floor standing color MFP, the Oki CX3641 featuring:
o replaces the now discontinued CX3640
o 4 tandem OPC drum design
o Uses pulverized toner infused with wax (no fuser oil)
o Will be sold by independent copier/printer dealers
o May be offered with service/supply contracts like a traditional color MFP
o Uses Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology instead of laser
o Up to 12”x18” paper size
o Max paper weight of 307gsm through bypass
o Can perform banner printing
o Includes embedded EFI Fiery print controller
o Top speed of 36ppm
o 100 sheet document feeder
o Optional booklet maker finisher with optional hole punch
o 1200x1200dpi
o 2/4 bit selectable (does NOT offer 8 bits per pixel)
o When selecting the “HD Color Printing” mode (4 bit/1200dpi), engine slows down to half speed
o Full color LCD touch screen control panel
o In order to replace the 4 toners, end user must raise the scanner and document feeder assembly three feet up in the air, open up the top of the engine, and then lift out the toners.
o Base MSRP of $19,000.00
- According to recent survey, 40.4% of architects/CAD/engineers expect their wide format color printing to increase.
- A copier is to blame for starting a fire in Long’s Chapel Christian Church of Alamance County, NC. Damage in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Fire Marchal J. B. Brown stated that the fire was caused by the copier’s finisher, which malfunctioned. The reverend Dr. James Baughn did not disclose the make and model.
- Epson launched a desktop color inkjet printer that it hopes will compete against desktop laser printers. The new Epson Stylus C120 offers:
o MSRP of $69.99
o Up to 37ppm top speed for b/w (based on page with only 5% ink coverage)
o Up to 20ppm top speed color (based on page with only 5% ink coverage and in low quality draft printing mode)
o Uses Epson’s piezo crystal printhead technology, called Advanced DX3 MicroPiezo, can create three different ink droplet sizes
o DURABrite inks that resist smudging and smearing
Individual ink cartridges for each color
Can hold two black ink cartridges
o Maximum paper size of 8.5” x 44” (letter, legal and banner printing)
o USB port
o Optional extended warranties do NOT include supplies
- According to PC Magazine, facts regarding paper usage in corporate America:
o Producing a single sheet of copy paper requires 13 ounces of clean water
o Average office worker prints 10,000 pages each year
o Total amount of paper used in offices equivalent to 8 million tons
o One tree produces 16.67 reams of paper on average
o Takes 178 million trees to produce enough paper for one year
o There are 97 billion e-mail messages produced each year
- The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed an earlier court decision that led to dismissal of a lawsuit against IKON by another dealer. NewCal of California had sued IKON under anti-monopoly laws regarding cpc leases that IKON had with customers. Court date not set, but NewCal claims IKON illegally extended the CPC leases beyond their original term of 60 months without informing the customers, thus preventing the customers from switching to another vendor.
- American TonerServe Corp, a provider of off-brand printer cartridges, announced that it has hired an acquisition specialist to grow the company to $45 million by buying some of its competitors in the U.S. This was announced by CEO
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