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Handling the high volumes: Vendors focus on high ppm and paper supply office solutions
In the office environment, interesting new printing perks are a nice touch, but managers in large organizations first and foremost want a workhorse that can handle the high volumes. Vendors such as Sharp, Xerox, and Canon are coming to market with machines designed to handle the demand.
Sharp Electronics of Canada made its debut in the high-volume segment in March, with the launch of three flagship products—the MX-M850, MX-M950 and the MX-M1100. The devices offer speeds from 85 to 110 pages per minute (ppm), and are controlled by a large colour LCD display for ease of operation and viewing, according to Sharp. They also support the Sharp Open Systems architecture for seamless integration with network applications and the company’s security suite.
“Designed for the large enterprise environment, the high-speed series allows for large production in highvolume CRD, corporate data centres and service bureaus, and gives businesses the power to customize their MFP to their specific business with a variety of finishing and paper supply options,” says Brad Wardell, director of marketing with Sharp’s business solutions division in Mississauga, Ont.
Image stability
Built for heavy volume, the new MX series use Scan2 technology to minimize paper handling while providing faster scan speeds. The devices have the highest online paper capacities in their class (up to 8,050 sheets), ensuring print and copy jobs are processed efficiently, Sharp reports. Average monthly volumes range from 50,000 up to 500,000. The devices also have an 80 GB hard drive with 768 MB of standard memory.
One of the challenges with high-volume printing and copying is image stability due to heat build-up in the device. To deal with that issue, Sharp has developed a cooling system to prevent excessive heat.
A multi-feed detection sensor uses ultra-sonic technology to diagnose misfeeds, and the series also uses independent motor units to handle essential areas such as the paper transfer and pickup units. The technology helps ensure more dependable paper transportation, according to Sharp.
For increased durability, the MX series was designed with a high-rigid frame to protect and isolate critical machine components during heavy use from high-speed and high-volume output.
Another vendor focused on the high-volume space is Xerox, which has been rolling out new models this year. The DocuColor 260 colour printer/copier is the fastest colour system in the Xerox office line, the company reports.
It prints and copies at up to 60 pages per minute (ppm) in colour and 75 ppm in black and white. It can tackle everyday monochrome prints, and it also produces posters, direct-mail pieces, short-run brochures and manuals. The system provides a reliable monochrome printer, but also establishes a means to create high-end materials, without requiring investment in a full production press, according to Xerox.
The DocuColor 260 is available with an optional light-production finisher that offers increased stapling capacity, an interposer for tab stock-insertion, hole punching and a stacker tray.
Also available is the DocuColor 242 and 252 models, which output at the same speed as their predecessors (the DocuColor 240 and 250), but with expanded finishing options and an enhanced user interface.
Canon Canada Inc. has also come to market with a device for high-volumes; called the imageRunner 5075 series. The multifunctional printers (MFPs) output up to 75 ppm, while the 5065 and 5055 deliver 65 and 55 ppm respectively.
The MFPs have fast warm-up/recovery times, and a large paper capacity, making them well-suited to heavy volumes and light production users, Canon reports.
New features include a single-pass duplex scanner/feeder that efficiently captures image data from both sides of an original simultaneously; expanded set finishing/stapling capacities; and advanced folding and document insertion options.
“With their robust engine and document handling capabilities, these devices are…designed to deliver office solutions increased levels of speed and productivity to high print volume office environments,” says Mason Olds, senior vice-president and general manager of the Imaging Systems Group with Canon.
These devices can be equipped with the Canon UFR II/PCL/PS printer kit for network printing in general office environments. For busier workplaces with higher bandwidth needs, users may opt for the imagePASS controller to support more sophisticated document production needs.
Canon’s Universal Send feature—which integrates with the new single-pass duplex scanner/feeder to improve office workflow when sending information to e-mail, network folders, mail boxes and Internet fax destinations—is also available. os
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