Low Hardware Profile A Sign Of The Times At On Demand
By Tracie Hines, Associate Editor, April 13, 2009
Hardware manufacturers at On Demand 2009 kept a lower profile than was usual in some previous years. A
few well-known copier manufacturers didn’t have booths, and some others debuted products in
smaller booths than they’ve occupied in the past. But despite the fiscally conservative tone
among manufacturers, prospective buyers seemed enthusiastic about a number of new products announced,
and product managers across the board seemed pleased with the response to their new introductions.
Canon
Canon showcased its three new imagePRESS models: the 110-ppm imagePRESS
1110P; the 125-ppm imagePRESS
1125P; and the 135-ppm imagePRESS
1135P. Based on a new design platform, these three monochrome printers offer print speeds up to
1200 dpi, handle a wide range of media weights (from 14- to 80-lb. bond) and print on media sizes up to
13" x 19". All three feature suction paper-feeding systems that Canon says helps avoid misfeeds, and
users can load both paper and toner on the fly while the machines are running.
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Canon imagePRESS 1135
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The new imagePRESS design features a twin toner sleeve, which, according to Canon, avoids uneven toner
distribution and results in better image quality with less mottling. Two EFI print controllers will be
available (one EFI Micropress and one EFI imagePRESS) and Canon also announced it will release a third
print controller, the imagePRESS Printer Kit A1, for the series. The new releases received a
“Best of Show” award at On Demand in the Monochrome Digital Printing Equipment category.
Although Canon hosted a private event where the company also previewed two new wide-format product
lines, the information is under embargo until April 29. However, Canon did announce that based on 2008
shipments, it had achieved the rank of number two in the 24-inch and wider market. The company credits
a wide range of products, including a total of 12 different color imagePROGRAF iPF
5100 to 9000 series
printers that range from 17 inches to 60 inches in width and are aimed at the graphic arts market, to
its eight-color “S” series (including the imagePROGRAF iPF
6000S, 8000S and
9000S
models) for CAD/CAM applications.
Duplo
Duplo used On Demand to showcase its newest finishers for various production-level printing systems,
including the DC-645 Integrated Folding System (which adds a knife folding option to the DC-645
Slitter/Cutter/Creaser), the DFS-3500 Bookletmaking System (positioned for the mid-range market and
offering stitching heads, speeds rated at up to 3,000 books an hour, and a fully automated setup) and
the DPB-500 PUR Perfect Binder, which provides high pull-strength that makes it efficient at binding
books printed on coated stocks.
Also showcased was Duplo’s new DSF-5000 Sheet Feeder in-line with the DMB-500 Bookletmaker and
Trimmer, which can support the printed output of multiple printers and reliably feeds a wide variety of
substrates with both ultrasonic and optical double-feed detection, which the company says results in
improved accuracy and reduced waste. The Ultra 205A UV Coater was also demonstrated, delivering
variable speeds between 32 and 120 feet per minute and adding high gloss or satin finishes to an array
of offset or digitally printed documents up to 20.5" wide.
HP
HP introduced five new Designjet large-format devices at On Demand. Targeted to architecture,
engineering and construction (AEC), geographic information systems (GIS) and mechanical computer-aided
design (MCAD) workgroups, the new Designjet T1120 series and the Designjet 4020/4520 series have
replaced the HP T1100 and 4000/4500 series in HP’s current product line.
“Our new large-format printers offer bigger hard-disk drives, faster processors and more memory
than the machines they’re replacing,” said Javier Larraz, worldwide current business
marketing manager for HP’s large format Designjet printers. He noted that today’s customers
are printing more complex files and require more robust capabilities than ever before.
The new HP Designjet printers offer click-to-print response times up to 10 times faster than previous
devices and feature improved overall print quality, with crisper lines and smoother rendering, than
before.
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HP Designjet T1120
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The new Designjet T1120 series prints A1/D-size prints line drawings in as little as 35 seconds (color
images in “fast” resolution print at up to 445 square feet per hour). Color image speed is
rated at up to 30 square feet per hour. Each unit offers enhanced in-printer processing architecture
including an 80-GB hard disk drive, 320 MB or 384 MB of memory, and is compatible with the HP Embedded
Web server so users can remotely manage printer, ink and media usage. Maximum print resolution is 2400
x 1200 optimized dpi, and the devices utilize a six-ink printing system (cyan, gray, magenta, matte
black, photo black and yellow) with margins of 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 millimeters when printing borderless on
photo paper roll, or 5 x 16.75 x 5 x 5 mm on sheet paper. Line accuracy is advertised at 0.1 percent.
HP’s Designjet T1120 Printer series is available in either a 24-inch or a 44-inch model, and
prices range from $3,595 to $5,595. The Designjet T1120ps configurations also include Adobe PostScript
standard, with list prices ranging from $4,595 to $6,795.
The Designjet T1120 series is also available in a choice of MFP configurations. The SD-MFP model (SD
stands for Scanner Definition) offers a CIS scanner with 600-dpi optical resolution, while the HD-MFP
(High Definition) version includes a CCD scanner with optical resolution of 1200 dpi, which is better
suited to high-resolution images such as photographic images and complex renderings. SD-MFP versions
start at $16,500, while the base MSRP of the HD MFP starts higher (a little over $21,000).
HP also introduced the new HP Designjet 4020 and 4020ps printers and the HP Designjet 4520, 4520ps and
4520HD-MFP at On Demand. As with the Designjet T1120 series, “ps” designates a
configuration that includes standard Adobe PostScript, and the HD-MFP version offers high-definition
scanning and copy capabilities.
According to Larraz, the HP Designjet 4020/4520 Printer series is designed specifically for
reprographic houses and large workgroups in enterprise and public sector environments, and delivers
cost-effective large-format drawings that offer “low cost per copy, high-quality output, enhanced
security and tools that help increase productivity and reduce costs.”
The Designjet 4020/4520 Printer series uses four ink colors (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) and
utilizes HP Double Swath technology, an enhanced architecture that allows printing of 100 A1/D-size
prints per hour. HP says unattended printing is possible thanks to 775-ml black and 400-ml color ink
cartridges. The Designjet 4020 handles single printer rolls up to 300 feet long; the Designjet 4520
holds two rolls up to 575 feet long. All models include a 160-GB hard disk drive and up to 1,120 MB of
memory, resolution up to 2400 x 1200 dpi, and rated line accuracy of 0.1 percent.
All of the new Designjet models can work with HP Web Jetadmin, which Larraz says helps to
“seamlessly integrate these large-format printers into existing networks so that they can be
remotely managed the same way you’d manage any HP LaserJet printer.” He also noted,
“They also integrate into HP’s Managed Print Services offerings and are very easy to
use.”
Optional software available for the new Designjet printers and MFPs includes new Serif PosterDesigner
Pro, which, according to HP, offers an intuitive interface, professionally designed templates and a
wide range of tools to help users create effective posters; and HP Accounting Excel Tool 2.0, which
enables the remote creation and viewing of usage tracking reports. All of the new Designjet models are
also compatible with the industry’s key CAD and GIS applications, including AutoCAD, ESRI,
Bentley and Dassault Systems.
InfoPrint
InfoPrint showcased its new 90-ppm InfoPrint PRO
C900. An MFP version, the C900S, will also be available later this year. The InfoPrint PRO C900
was developed in partnership with Ricoh and allows users to replace toner and paper on the
fly. It uses an air-assist feed, which the company says handles coated papers better than vacuum-feed
systems, offers a double-feed detector, a Fiery controller, and can handle media weights up to 300 gsm
(80-lb. cover) at full speed.
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InfoPrint PRO C900
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According to InfoPrint, the device self-calibrates at a set interval, and offers precise physical
registration (plus or minus only half a millimeter). The unit’s tandem trays can handle up to
11,000 sheets, and with the use of two stackers (each has a capacity of 5,000 sheets) plus a
3,000-sheet finisher, output capacity is a robust 13,000 sheets.
The company announced a number of finishers that will be available soon, including a ring binder that
can handle either 50 or 100 sheets; a perfect binder with trimmer unit that binds up to 200 sheets; and
Plockmatic and GBC punch units.
Konica Minolta
Konica Minolta announced several new high-speed bizhub products. These include the bizhub PRO
950, an upgrade from the bizhub PRO 920 which offers a new, sleek design, darker cabinet color
and a new blend of CMYK toner that the company says delivers a wider color gamut than previous models,
as well as the 120-ppm bizhub 1200, the company’s new entry into the high-speed production
market.
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Konica Minolta bizhub PRO 950
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The 95-ppm bizhub PRO 950 and new bizhub PRO 1200/1051 models (120 ppm and 105 ppm, respectively)
feature a new Linux-based print controller and also can be linked in tandem (at no charge) to output
twice the volume in the same amount of time. The new print drivers for all three bizhub models offer
tab creation, as well as the ability to fine-tune images, and the bizhub PRO 950 handles a wider
variety of media weights (11- to 80-lb. bond/300 gsm in simplex, and up to 80-lb. cover/244 gsm in
duplex) than the model it replaces.
The new bizhub PRO 1200 and bizhub PRO 1051 are scheduled for an August launch, and Konica Minolta says
that a Micropress controller will be available for both within a month of their release. A GBC Punch
option will also be available, and users will have the ability to interpose up to three different
sheets into their documents in one process. Both devices will have duty cycles of up to 3 million
impressions, and will be able to handle heavy media weights up to 350 gsm as well.
Konica Minolta also demonstrated its new bizhub C5501
and C6501 models,
which replace the bizhub 5500 and 6500 in the company’s product line. These machines offer many
of the same features as their previous incarnations, but feature a new writing lens material that
lowers the moisture absorption level, as well as a new drum surface designed to stop unwanted material
(such as dust or toner particles) from bonding to the drum. The new models also offer higher rated
toner yields for both color and black. In addition, the new bizhub PRO C65HC is a print-only version of
the bizhub 6501, and is suitable for designs, photo books, short-run packaging and high-impact direct
mail campaigns. Like the 6501, this device will offer a choice of two print controllers (the Fiery
IC-305 v2 or the Creo IC-304). The bizhub 5501 will offer a Fiery IC-408 print controller.
Konica Minolta also showcased the bizhub PRO
2500P, manufactured by Océ, which is aimed at very high volume monochrome duplex
requirements. With a monthly volume of up to 8 million impressions, the unit has a 13,800-sheet paper
capacity and the ability to output up to 15,000 prints per hour. The speed is due in part to this
machine’s Gemini technology, which prints both sides of the sheet in a single pass, with a
jet-airlift and vacuum-feed system that the company says reduces the possibility of multiple sheets
being fed. With a total upgraded paper capacity encompassing 12 paper sources, users can interpose
sheets from any of the main paper drawers. The bizhub PRO 2500P works with PRISMA software developed by
Océ.
Konica Minolta has also refreshed some color bizhub models, including the bizhub C652
(replacing the C650) with a rated engine speed of 65 ppm black and 50 ppm color, and the C552
(replacing the C550), which has a rated engine speed of 55 ppm black/50 ppm color. The new models offer
increased memory and hard-disk drive capacities; faster processors; and include four standard USB
ports. Hard-disk drive encryption is now also included standard (it was optional on previous models).
Also on display were the bizhub C203
and C353, which
offer optional bEST architecture (Konica Minolta’s embedded platform), which allows users to
create customized user interfaces to connect to applications via the devices’ Web browsers.
Also showcased were the recently introduced bizhub 751/601 series
(replacing the older 750 and 600 models), which are designed with the new dark cabinet color as well as
an InfoLine status display that alerts users to errors and maintenance issues and shows them when
messages are being transmitted. The new models also offer redesigned, full-color control panels that
are mounted on an arm on the side of the machines instead of being installed in the front center of
devices themselves.
Océ
Océ used On Demand as the showcase to announce a number of new products in both its hardware and
software lines. The new Océ CS Tandem series combines the 65-ppm Océ CS665
Pro (an OEM of the Konica Minolta bizhub PRO C6501) into as many as four linked engines, which
are linked together by a single centralized Fiery controller, allowing print shops and production
houses the flexibility to add engines (and increase print speed) as they literally get their businesses
“up to speed.” The CS130Tpro links two CS665 Pro printers together; the CS195Tpro features
three 65-ppm engines working in tandem; and with the CS260Tpro configuration, four CS665 Pro devices
are linked, allowing operators to split jobs among them for a total output speed of 260 ppm, or to
assign different jobs to each machine, or a combination of both.
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Océ CS665 Pro
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Océ’s director of color strategy and marketing, Brian Dollard, says that the new color
solutions produce higher quality output than was possible before, at a “much lower” total
cost of ownership. Dollard told BLI that the multiple-engine design offers numerous benefits over
single-engine high-speed production devices, including a centralized workflow via a Fiery controller;
scalability (engines can be added as work load increases); and affordability (because additional 65-ppm
engines are added only as they’re needed, the system can deliver an acquisition cost and TCO that
Océ says is at least 50 percent lower than the costs of a comparable single-engine high
production system running at 120 ppm or higher.
Dollard added that one of the major benefits of a centralized workflow management server is that it
enables a single operator to run a group of printers, which reduces the number of operators required
and also lowers the learning curve, because all the printers work from the same platform.
Because the devices’ Fiery engine server centralizes workflow and uses bidirectional RIPs, jobs
can be routed intelligently based on conditions as they arise. For example, if one printer is
interrupted for any reason, the server can recognize the problem and respond by rerouting or
rebalancing the job load automatically. This minimizes downtime and requires less operator intervention
overall.
Océ says that its high-speed CS Tandem printing solution offers “outstanding quality and
color fidelity and highly consistent output at a much lower cost of ownership,” and announced
that in independent testing, the print engine used in the CS Tandem series produced output with better
repeatability than offset. The company said the CS Tandem printing solution is the first product in its
class to receive Fogra certification, an internationally approved standard for sheet-fed and web offset
printers that tests for color fidelity and quality in a production printing environment. Because of the
high level of repeatability via calibration and color management workflow tools, Océ cited an
average Delta error of less than 2 for all colors (a Delta error of zero would be an identical color
match), which far exceeds the standards set forth in ISO 12647-2 for lithography and ISO 12647-7 for
proofing processes. The CS Tandem series was awarded recognition as Best of Show in the Color
Production category.
In the inkjet category, new Océ product announcements included the new JetStream 500/1000
series, which offer a very small footprint for large-format machines in this speed range. Featuring
print width of 20.3 inches (paper width is 20.5 inches) and capable of printing at a speed of 246 feet
per minute, the new models are additions, not replacements, in the Océ product line. In twin
(tandem) mode, the JetStream 500/1000 can print up to 1,074 letter-size impressions per minute, while
in simplex mode, rated speed is up to 537 letter-size impressions per minute.
Duplex is available (and simplex users can upgrade to duplex capability) and up to six colors can be
printed on both sides of each sheet. The JetStream 500/1000 series machines can be purchased as
black-only machines that can be field upgraded to the maximum color configuration. Océ also
promises that pigment inks will be available for all variants of the JetStream product family later
this year.
Another major new introduction at On Demand, the new Océ JetStream 2800 offers a print width of
29.5 inches (the widest in its class) and a rated speed up to 426 feet a minute (2,792 letter-size
images per minute) at 600-x-600 dpi resolution. This device is available in both monochrome and in CMYK
versions and users can also add an optional fifth color or MICR capability.
The system can be upgraded in the field from monochrome capability up to full color, allowing print
shops to add capabilities as their business demands increase. Océ says this device’s width
and speed make it a lower-cost alternative to offset printing for shorter-run book printing of up to
about 3,500 copies of a book, which is below the typical minimum run length of 5,000 for offset book
presses to be cost-effective. Océ says this system can help keep publishers from printing higher
quantities than they need of books that sell in low quantities.
Océ also announced its new Speed Pass program, which lets customers temporarily upgrade their
Océ devices to higher speeds for the demands of short-term jobs, which the company says can help
finance expansion even in a tight credit market.
Another major announcement at On Demand was the introduction of the new Océ PRISMAsync
Controller Family, print controllers that now provide a common interface for all Océ monochrome
and color production cut-sheet systems, meaning operators only have to learn one workflow, whether they
have color, black or a mixture of both kinds of workflows. The uniformity of the workflow means it
takes fewer trained operators to run the devices, and less training is involved because now monochrome
Océ machines have the same workflow as color devices.
Integrated media catalogs in the PRISMAsync controllers allow operators to define the media for a
specific engine in the fleet, which Océ says allows for more precise media handling and reduces
the possibility of operator error. The media catalog only has to be set up once, and can be imported
from one Océ PRISMAsync controller to another (and from color devices to black ones). Similarly,
color pre-sets allow users the option to choose an automatic mode such as digital photograph or
PowerPoint files. Users can also define color pre-sets, allowing the printer to easily be adapted to
handle specific jobs or color profiles. The controllers also split prepress and print operation tasks,
and job submission can be handled via either the Océ Printer Family print driver or Océ
PRISMAprepare software (which integrates with PRISMAsync controllers for make ready functions including
composition, image layout, media and production.
Océ PRISMAsync controllers are currently available for the VarioPrint 6000 and VarioPrint 4000
models as well as for the Océ CS665 Pro.
Also announced was the new Océ PRISMAproduction Server V 4.02 full color controller, which
handles both PDF and AFP preflight and make ready functions and supports all Océ products; and
Océ PRISMAcolorworks (developed by Creo) and the Océ ColorStream 10000 print controllers,
which support the entire ColorStream 10000 product family and allow variable data printing in PDFs.
Panasonic
Panasonic premiered three new ledger-size color MFPs at On Demand. The new DP-C406 has a rated engine
speed of 40 ppm in black and 30 ppm in color; the DP-C306 runs at 30 ppm in black and 30 ppm in color;
and the DP-C266’s rated engine speed is 26 ppm in both black and color. The new MFPs replace the
DP-C405, DP-C305 and DP-C265 in Panasonic’s product line.
All three MFPs have a new look that features a newly-designed large, full-color high-definition control
panel screen, which, according to Panasonic Product Manager Bob Curci, has enough room for dealers to
insert their own logos at the side on the display. The control panel also tilts to four positions.
Other new enhancements for the new series are a faster processor (now 1 GHz) and standard Gigabyte
Ethernet connectivity. Curci also told BLI that the print controller has been redesigned to make
processing jobs much faster, and Panasonic has also added a conveniently located USB port on the front
of the machine to make scanning to or printing from USB cards easier. The memory card print capability
allows users to print PDF files, as well as Word documents and PowerPoint files, directly from the hard
drive or USB card without having to first open the applications. The devices are also IPv6 ready.
The DP-C406/C306/C266 series also lets users scan in full color to USB, e-mail and hard drive
destinations, including shared Web folders. Documents can be scanned in PDF, OCR and secure PDF modes.
If a PDF is scanned using the OCR function, the page orientation will automatically be corrected so
that the saved image is not upside down or sideways (as often happens with scanned PDF documents). The
scanner also automatically adjusts each scanned image so that it fits the page it will be printed on,
and also uses the original metadata collected by digital cameras to make automatic contrast
adjustments.
Also new for this series is the ability to connect to Panasonic’s DDS software without additional
charge (the licensing arrangement for DDS software can now be purchased several different ways and no
longer requires an individual purchase for each machine; additionally, a free trial version is also now
available).
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Panasonic DP-MC210
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Panasonic also announced the 21-ppm
DP-MC210 MFP,
which Curci told BLI is the first letter/legal-size Panasonic MFP targeted for the BTA channel. A
lesser-featured model of this device is also sold through the retail channel. The BTA version includes
a standard duplex unit and a second paper tray (total paper capacity is 770 sheets), as well as an SD
memory card slot that is not available for the retail version of this MFP.
The DP-MC210 offers standard print, copy, scan and fax capabilities, and all models (the BTA channel
version and the retail version) feature a 3.6-inch color LCD control panel, preview functionality and
direct print capability from SDHC memory. The DP-MC210 allows users to scan or copy both sides of
single or multiple ID cards to be printed onto one side of a single sheet of paper, with the ability to
automatically resize multiple scanned documents so that they fit on the same sheet. Its fax
capabilities include the ability to scroll, zoom, rotate and preview incoming faxes on the
device’s LCD, and faxes can be forwarded to an e-mail address, PC or FTP server or saved to SDHC.
There is also a junk-fax filter and built-in misdialing error-reduction technology.
RISO
RISO announced that in June it will debut five new color inkjet models that will join the HC5500 in its
product line. The new ComColor series will offer a top speed of 150 impressions per minute, and the
higher-end models in the series will have the capability to duplex at the rated engine speed. (Lower
end models in the line will also duplex but at a slower speed than maximum rated engine speed.)
According to David Murphy, vice president of marketing for RISO, the new models offer an enhanced paper
path and will offer the “fastest, least expensive, most reliable performance” in their
market sectors. RISO intends to use the ComColor series as part of its expansion efforts from its
traditional customer base in education/nonprofit markets toward commercial and print markets.
The ComColor series will be targeted at applications such as transactional printing, direct mail,
envelope printing, short-run book printing and forms printing, and will be supported by a national
marketing campaign that will launch in June 2009. “People want lower cost per thousand, and
increased response to full-color mailings,” said Murphy, noting that RISO intends to maximize its
potential for expansion into the commercial marketplace.
The other big news at RISO was a new partnership with Pitney Bowes, which will sell RISO’s HC5500
color inkjet printer in the United States through its mailing systems group. RISO also announced that
it is reorganizing its sales organization, which will result in hiring more people—a welcome
announcement in an industry that has been hit hard by mass layoffs in the last year.
Xerox
Xerox used On Demand to showcase its new Nuvera 200 EA
monochrome digital printing system, which is built using the same technology as the Nuvera 288
but offers a lower price point. The Nuvera 200 EA features the same in-line finishing capabilities as
its predecessor, with the added capability for lay-flat inserts and booklets with the optional GBC
e-Binder 100 finisher. The printer earned an honorable mention in the Monochrome Digital Printing
Equipment category at On-Demand.
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Xerox Nuvera 200 EA monochrome digital printing system
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Also earning an honorable mention at the show was the iGen4 press, which includes in-line
booklet-making capabilities with three-knife trim and was distinguished in the Innovative Use of
Technology category.
On Demand also served as the springboard for Xerox’s debut of its new high-performance,
next-generation Fiery print server for the Xerox iGen4 press. The new Fiery EX Print Server offers
enhanced color management tools and in-line output profiling, and delivers what Xerox says is
“unparalleled color quality.” According to John Henze, vice president of marketing of
EFI’s Fiery Division, “By joining profile making tools with Fiery’s powerful color
management features, customers can achieve seamless integration and automated end-to-end color managed
workflows.”
New features available for the iGen4 include direct connect capability with EFI controllers (as opposed
to connection via a network), helping to streamline operations, and a device link integrator that
allows operators to match color from digital to offset presses and also to apply profiles to VDP
applications.
Xerox also showcased the Watkiss PowerSquare 200, a booklet finishing system that combines stitching,
folding, spine-forming and trimming to create books up to 200 pages long.
