August News Bytes

Following are the big and small news stories from the end of July through the end of August.

Agiliant Introduces Consulting Practice for Imaging Channel 

Aug. 29, 2012 – Agiliant, Inc., a multi-market provider of “Enterprise Level” managed information technology (IT) services to small and mid-sized businesses, has announced that Charles Lamb will lead a new independent consulting practice focused on enabling document output dealers to more effectively establish and grow their managed services business.

As Agiliant shifts the primary go-to-market focus of its business to a direct model, Lamb will leverage the infrastructure tools, processes and solutions that he has been instrumental in developing as vice president of sales at Agiliant, to continue working with BTA dealers to advance their offerings into managed print and IT services on a consulting basis.

Prior to Agiliant, Lamb has over 25 years of experience in the imaging industry, working with some of the most successful dealers in the country to grow their managed print services and businesses.

While Agiliant’s original business model was predominantly built around partnering with office technology dealers across the country to deliver managed network services to small and mid-sized, the company has largely shifted its focus to delivering services directly to customers. With Agiliant’s direct business growing at a rapid rate, the company will focus its internal resources at that business, creating the opportunity for the separate consulting practice.

For more information on the consulting services available to office technology dealers, contact Charles Lamb at (888) 823-0006.

Lexmark Announces Restructuring

Aug. 28, 2012 – Lexmark International, Inc. has announced restructuring actions, including the exiting of the development and manufacturing of the company’s remaining inkjet hardware, which are expected to result in annualized savings of $95 million once fully implemented. Lexmark will continue to provide service, support and aftermarket supplies for its inkjet installed base.

“Today’s announcement represents difficult decisions, which are necessary to drive improved profitability and significant savings,” says Paul Rooke, Lexmark chairman and chief executive officer. “Our investments are focused on higher value imaging and software solutions, and we believe the synergies between imaging and the emerging software elements of our business will continue to drive growth across the organization.

“As we move forward, we remain confident in our strategy, competitiveness and ability to create value for shareholders,” added Rooke.

The restructuring actions are expected to result in reductions primarily in inkjet-related infrastructure as well as positions in research and development, supply chain and other support functions.  The actions include closing the Cebu, Philippines, inkjet supplies manufacturing facility by the end of 2015. The actions also include eliminating inkjet development worldwide, including costs related to facilities, tooling, equipment, contract termination, and scrapping in process inventory, which are expected to be principally complete by the end of 2013.

These restructuring actions are expected to result in the elimination of approximately 1,700 positions worldwide, including 1,100 manufacturing positions. The company is working with its strategic advisors to explore the sale of the company’s inkjet-related technology.

These actions are expected to generate $85 million savings in 2013, increasing to ongoing annualized savings of $95 million beginning in 2015. Savings should be split approximately 65 percent to operating expense, and 35 percent to cost of goods sold. The company expects the majority of these savings to favorably impact pre-tax earnings.

The total program pre-tax cost for these actions is expected to be $160 million, with $110 million incurred in 2012, $30 million incurred in 2013, and the remaining $20 million incurred in 2014 and 2015. The total program cash flow impact for these actions is expected to be $75 million, with $40 million impacting 2012, $30 million impacting 2013, and the remaining $5 million impacting 2014 and 2015.

BTA East to Host Grand Slam Oct. 2-3 in Rye Brook, N.Y. 

Aug. 28, 2012 – On Oct. 2-3, 2012, the Business Technology Association’s (BTA; www.bta.org) East district will host its fifth annual Grand Slam event at the Doral Arrowwood in Rye Brook, N.Y. Dealers who register by Friday, Aug. 31, will receive a $50 on-site rebate.

The event will feature a keynote presentation by Norihiko Ina, president and CEO of KYOCERA Document Solutions America Inc. There will also be five additional education sessions presented by industry leaders providing insight and strategies that can help any office technology dealership reach new heights.

Dealers will be able to participate in networking events that will allow them to connect with their peers. In addition, there will be time to visit with 35 exhibiting sponsors, many of which will hold drawings for great prizes during the event. Dealer attendees can also enter on site for a chance to win a $500 American Express gift card from BTA East.

The event schedule also includes time for fun. Attendees will see the Boston Red Sox take on the New York Yankees from a private suite in Yankee Stadium. In addition, tee times have been reserved for Tuesday, Oct. 2, at the Doral Arrowwood’s golf course, which is critically acclaimed as one of the most difficult in the country.

The event begins at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2, with an opportunity to visit with exhibiting sponsors, opening comments, and Ina’s keynote presentation, “The Total Document Solutions Approach: How to Increase Your End-User Engagements and, Ultimately, Sales.” A welcoming reception will follow from 5:30 until 7 p.m., giving attendees time to network with peers and exhibiting sponsors.

Breakfast will be served from 7 until 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 3, followed by opening comments and three education sessions. Breaks between sessions will give attendees time to visit exhibitor tables and network with fellow dealers. After the morning education sessions, lunch will be served, followed by the final two education sessions, closing comments and prize drawings. At 5 p.m., buses will leave for Yankee Stadium for a 5:45 p.m. baseball game.

In addition to the keynote presentation, the Grand Slam education sessions will be: “MPS: Beat the Curve!,” with Teri Dunn of Print Management Solutions Group; “Best Practices & Benchmarking in a Modern Dealership,” with Todd Johnson, Strategic Business Associates; “Making a Strong Move Toward a Sale,” with Mike Adams, Power Appointment Setting; “The Shift to A4: Optimizing the Opportunity,” with Lou and Andy Slawetsky, Industry Analysts Inc.; and “Crafting a Mobility Offering,” with John Barbieri, CompTIA.

In addition, BTA General Counsel Bob Goldberg will be available during the event to provide free legal consultations to BTA members.

Preceding the Grand Slam event on Oct. 1-2, BTA and Jim Kahrs of Prosperity Plus Management Consulting Inc. will offer the Master Closer Course as the frontrunner

education workshop. Front-runner attendees will receive free registration to Grand Slam. For more information, visit www.bta.org/MasterCloserCourse.

BTA member registration (with game ticket) for Grand Slam is $229, which includes the keynote session, education sessions, Tuesday cocktail reception, and Wednesday breakfast, lunch and dinner. BTA member registration without a game ticket is $199, and does not include dinner on Wednesday. Non-member registration with a game ticket is $279. Non-member registration without a game ticket is $249. For more information, including full session descriptions and the registration form for the event, visit www.bta.org/BTAEastEvent.

Konica Minolta Announces bizhub C554/C454 High-Speed Color MFPs 

August 27, 2012 – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. has announced the launch of the bizhub C554/C454 Series of color multifunctional products (MFP – print, copy, fax and scan all in one system).  Offering advanced features, functions and built-in benefits that allow for a fully customizable workflow solution, as well as the recently launched INFO-Palette design, this new series brings easy access to important business information with added functionality, enhanced connectivity, and improved workflow, according to a Konica Minolta press announcement.

With output speeds of 55 ppm (bizhub C554) and 45 ppm (bizhub C454) in both color and B&W, both models feature modular finishing options to produce stapled, hole-punched, saddle-stitched, even tri-folded output. The bizhub C554/C454 series offers a maximum paper capacity of up to 6,650 sheets, with standard dual paper feed cabinets and optional large capacity paper units for long print runs without operator intervention. Accommodating media in sizes up to 12-inches x 18-inches and weights from 14 lb. bond paper (52 gsm) to 100 lb. cover stock (300 gsm), the newest bizhubs include Konica Minolta’s exclusive Emperon print system, a 1,200-dpi print resolution for high quality images, and improved scanning speeds of up to 160 originals per minute.  Special features provide superior performance for today’s specialized healthcare, legal and educational applications – including seamless integration with industry-standard software and enhanced security to protect sensitive patient, client and student information.

In addition, Konica Minolta’s INFO-Palette design offers bizhub C554/C454 series users the new control panel interface with a “touch & swipe” feel similar to the latest advanced mobile devices.

Organic Growth Fuels FlexPrint’s Third Straight Inc. 500|5000 Listing

August 27, 2012 – FlexPrint, Inc. has once again joined the prestigious Inc. 500|5000 list for the third straight year.  FlexPrint’s growth has been purely organic, and continues to expand by providing exceptional service and adding to its growing national customer base – from coast to coast, according to the company  FlexPrint now shares a similar pedigree with companies like Intuit, Oracle, and Microsoft.

“It’s truly an honor to be included in this prestigious list for a third consecutive year,” says Frank Gaspari, CEO of FlexPrint, Inc. “This is evidence that the hard work, dedication, and passion our employees display in providing exceptional customer service is the foundation of what makes FlexPrint unusual.  They are the reason why FlexPrint’s customer base continues to grow nationwide.”

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/5000.

Applied Imaging Honored on “Metropolitan Detroit’s 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For”

August 21, 2012 – Applied Imaging, a Michigan office technology solutions provider has been named as one of “Metropolitan Detroit’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For” by Michigan Business and Professional Association (www.101bestandbrightest.com).

The 101 Best and Brightest to Work For Award honors companies with the highest quality human resources initiatives. To meet these requirements each honoree was evaluated in various categories, including: Compensation, Benefits and Employee Solutions; Employee Enrichment, Engagement and Retention; Employee Education and Development; Recruitment, Selection and Orientation; Employee Achievement and Recognition; Communication and Shared Vision; Diversity and Inclusion; Work-Life Balance; Community Initiatives; Strategic Company Performance and the Best of the Best Small Business.

“This year’s honorees have clearly demonstrated why each of them would be an ideal place for employees to work.  Companies that capitalize on their greatest resources – their employees – know how to attract and attain top talent,” says Jennifer Klug, MBPA president. “The selection, recognition and awarding of this year’s 101 companies allows our organization to showcase their best practices and we are proud to offer them a venue to do this.”

“We are honored to be recognized as one of Metropolitan Detroit’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For,” adds John Lowery, president of Applied Imaging. “We believe the recognition is a reflection of our Keep It in the Mitt spirit that has a focus on creating a great working environment for our people.”

Lowery continued, “We are especially pleased because this is our 25^th anniversary year and this honor validates Applied’s internal culture that burns bright with unbridled ambition in what the future holds for our team.”

Applied Imaging will be honored by the MBPA on Thursday, September 27 at the Henry Hotel located at 300 Town Center Drive in Dearborn.

Photizo Group Listed in 2012 Inc. 5000, among America’s Fastest Growing, Privately-Held Companies

August 22, 2012 – Inc. magazine has ranked Photizo Group No. 918 on its sixth annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest growing, privately-held companies. The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy—America’s independent entrepreneurs. Photizo joins Yelp, yogurt maker Chobani, Giftcards.com, KIND and hatmaker Tilly’s, among other prominent brands featured on this year’s list.

“The period 2008 to 2011 was one of the toughest business periods in history. To have survived this time is a great accomplishment, but to have thrived is incredible. This kind of achievement is not possible without teamwork and our entire team is incredibly proud of this honor,” says Edward Crowley, CEO and founder of Photizo.

In a stagnant economic environment, the median growth rate of 2012 Inc. 5000 companies remains an impressive 97 percent. The companies on this year’s list report having created more than 400,000 jobs in the past three years, and aggregate revenue among the honorees reached $299 billion. Photizo was judged on revenue performance between 2008 and 2011, prior to the acquisition of Lyra Research, and based on actual organic growth. To qualify for the list, a firm must be privately held, have generated at least $100,000 in revenue in 2008, and generated a minimum of $2 million in revenue in 2011.

Katun Corporation Announces Partnership with Arlington Industries

August 22, 2012 – Katun Corporation has announced its partnership with Arlington Industries, a wholesale distributor of imaging supplies in the United States. The partnership will enable Arlington Industries to reinforce its position as leading distributor of branded compatible printer supplies, especially in the growing color supplies market. Katun Performance remanufactured color toners for use in HP printers, and Media Sciences new-build color toners toners for use in a wide range of printer brands, including Brother, Dell, Epson, Konica Minolta, Okidata, Samsung and Xerox applications, provide OEM-equivalent yields, print quality and color reproduction. Products are tested in Katun’s state of the art STMC-certified Research and Development facility, to ensure consistent, reliable performance.

These products, which are now in stock and available for immediate purchase, are available through Arlington at significant cost savings versus the equivalent OEM toner, enabling computer supply specialists, office supply dealers and other resellers to  improve their profit margins while providing their customers with lower-cost, high-performance printer supply products and complete satisfaction, according to a Katun press announcement.

2012 BTA Service Report Now Available 

Aug. 21, 2012 – The Business Technology Association (BTA, www.bta.org) has released the first in its 2012 BTA Benchmarking Series reports, the 2012 BTA Service Report. The report tabulates the results of a survey completed by 311 office technology dealers. It shows the levels of dealership performance and metrics by both size of business and geographic region. This report is useful for comparing the service operations of a dealership to other U.S. dealerships.

The 2012 BTA Service Report, prepared for BTA by Survey Advantage, provides data in four categories: profitability (service revenue per service employee and per technician, service sales per unit in base, service gross profit, rental and CPC revenue allocations, clicks per unit on contract, etc.), personnel (technician accountable time, average billing rate, incentive plans, distribution of time, clicks per technician, etc.), call center efficiencies (response times, gross calls per day, recalls and incompletes, installation times, service department automation, etc.) and product (copier/MFPs on contract and T&M, percent of sales, etc.).

The report provides the medians of the responses to the survey questions. Those questions include the following:

· What is the average response time from the time the customer places a call until a tech arrives?

· What is the length of time for your typical, successful installation?

· What is your typical car stock value?

· What is your average number of total calls per day?

· After the base cost is subtracted, how is CPC money allocated for color copier/MFPs?

· What is your average hourly billing rate for shop and field work?

· How many parts inventory turns do you experience annually?

· For what job performance areas do you provide incentives?

BTA members receive all of the 2012 BTA Benchmarking Series reports free with membership. Non-members may purchase each report individually or as a set. The 2012 BTA Compensation and Finance reports will be available later this fall.

For more information on the 2012 BTA Benchmarking Series reports, or to download or purchase the 2012 BTA Service Report, visit www.bta.org/BenchmarkingReports or call (800) 843-5059. 

DocuWare and LincWare Partner 

August 21, 2012 – DocuWare and LincWare have announced a new alliance partnership. Known for its document management solutions, DocuWare has built its reputation on being the most effective tool for leveraging data confined to traditional paper-based documents and workflows, according to a company press announcement. LincDoc reportedly makes enterprise information easier to collect, process and apply. The solution replaces paper forms with Web interfaces that use contextual business logic to capture information. Data entered into LincDoc can be connected to any existing database to both pull and push information, removing the stranglehold processes have on products and customer service. Scanning delays, manual errors and redundant data entry can all be eliminated from the operation, making LincDoc an ideal way to speed customer onboarding and improve any data-intensive business process.

“This alliance partnership offers yet another selling advantage for our resellers enabling them to create effective solutions best suited to their customers’ requirements,” states Greg Schloemer, President, DocuWare Corporation.

The LincWare integration with DocuWare will benefit organizations that use paper forms to stimulate business processes whether in finance, transportation, accounting, human resources, healthcare, higher education, or government. Interested resellers looking to learn more about creating effective customer solutions when combining DocuWare and LincWare can learn more at www.lincware.com or www.docuware.com. 

Katun Corporation Launches Sales Lead Generation and Conversion Tool Powered by ECI Acsellerate

August 20, 2012 – Katun Corporation, an alternative supplier to the office equipment industry has introduced the Profit Badger lead generation and conversion  tool. This software solution dynamically uncovers sales leads and prioritizes them by leveraging ECi Acsellerate’s industry sales intelligence and reporting application.

A combination of Web-based analytics, advanced reporting and sales alerts, Katun’s Profit Badger provides automated sales leads and color conversion dashboard reporting. It then prioritizes the leads based on custom criteria, such as manufacturer, customer-specific accounts and savings percentage.

Katun Corporation Names Todd Mavis President and CEO

August 2012 – Katun Corporation, one of the world’s leading suppliers of OEM-compatible supplies and parts to the office equipment industry, has announced that Todd Mavis has been appointed President and CEO of Katun, effective August 13, 2012. He replaces Carlyle Singer, who has held the position of CEO since June 2005.

 

“We are very excited to have Todd join Katun as he comes to us having run a number of successful mid-size global companies,” saysd Justin Hillenbrand, partner at Monomoy Capital Partners, which acquired Katun in 2008. “Todd not only brings his background in the office equipment industry, but he also provides Katun with the necessary leadership and experience to excel in today’s market.”  Hillenbrand also expressed gratitude to the outgoing CEO Singer.  “I would also like to thank Carlyle Singer for her dedication and many contributions over the last seven years.”

Mavis most recently served as Chief Executive Officer for First Advantage Corporation, a leader in global HR outsourcing services and executive vice president of operations for Corelogic, a risk mitigation service company. Mavis brings to Katun a wealth of office equipment industry experience, having served as president and CEO of Danka, a $1.3B global distributor of office imaging products and services, from 2004 to 2006.

 

Mavis is a member of the Katun Board of Directors and has served on numerous public and private company Boards.

 

EFI Launches M500 Self-Serve Copy and Print Station for Campuses, Libraries and Print Providers

August 6, 2012 – EFI has launched the M500 Self-Serve Copy and Print Station, the industry’s only self-serve system that allows mobile printing from mobile phones, iPads, USB drives and cloud accounts like Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, and EFI PrintMe. The M500 station is unique in that it accepts credit cards, campus cards, and cash cards at the device, eliminating the need for coin-operated machines, according to EFI. The system is also Payment Application Data Security Standard (PA-DSS) validated to assist in Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance audits. The M500 station is available immediately through EFI resellers, and a video of how the system works can be seen at: www.efi.com/M500.

“Students today are more digital, more mobile, and keep more documents in the cloud,” says John Henze, vice president of Fiery marketing at EFI. “Antiquated devices like coin-operated copiers are not meeting their printing needs and create cash management headaches for university staff. EFI’s M500 station provides the easiest way for users to access, pay and print in a completely self-serve environment.”

Tablets, mobile phones and laptops, as well as the use of online cloud storage, are the new tools for students. According to a Harris Interactive poll, the number of students using tablets has tripled over the past year, and 36 percent of the college students surveyed plan to buy a tablet in the next six months. Additionally, 63 percent believe that tablets will replace textbooks in the next five years. At the same time, printed documents and materials are still a requirement at most universities.

The M500 station is EFI’s latest addition to a line of more than 4,000 self-serve copy and print devices installed across the United States handling over 100,000 transactions per day. A flexible and scalable system for colleges and libraries, the M500 station addresses student demands for printing from any mobile device, as well as from popular cloud storage services. It features a large 10-inch color touchscreen, provides secure encrypted communications, integrates with campus card and billing systems, and works with any PostScript printer or multifunction printer. The station supports 1D/2D barcode scanning for mobile devices and discount cards. A simple user interface with support for multiple languages speeds transactions.

EFI has a full line of products that meet the needs of the college and library market, including: cash card vending kiosks, register software and card readers for staff sales of cash cards, and backend management and reporting software.

Print Audit Releases Print Audit 6 for Mac Version 6.3.4

August 14, 2012 – Print Audit has released an update for the Mac version of its flagship print management software, Print Audit 6. Print Audit 6 for Mac version 6.3.4 includes improved tracking accuracy and enhancements to the program’s user interface.

Print Audit 6 is a suite of print management products that can be used to uncover document creation inefficiencies, enforce printing rules and recover expenses from clients or users. The suite is comprised of three components called Analysis, Rules and Recovery which can be purchased in a variety of configurations depending on the needs of the organization.

Print Audit 6 for Mac version 6.3.4 is a free update for current Print Audit 6 for Mac customers. To upgrade or learn more about the changes made in this release, please visit the following URL: www.printaudit.com/software-updates.asp?id=3

EFI Launches M500 Self-Serve Copy and Print Station for Campuses, Libraries and Print Providers

 

 

August 6, 2012 – EFI has launched the M500 Self-Serve Copy and Print Station, the industry’s only self-serve system that allows mobile printing from mobile phones, iPads, USB drives and cloud accounts like Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, and EFI PrintMe. The M500 station is unique in that it accepts credit cards, campus cards, and cash cards at the device, eliminating the need for coin-operated machines, according to EFI. The system is also Payment Application Data Security Standard (PA-DSS) validated to assist in Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance audits. The M500 station is available immediately through EFI resellers, and a video of how the system works can be seen at: www.efi.com/M500.

 

“Students today are more digital, more mobile, and keep more documents in the cloud,” says John Henze, vice president of Fiery marketing at EFI. “Antiquated devices like coin-operated copiers are not meeting their printing needs and create cash management headaches for university staff. EFI’s M500 station provides the easiest way for users to access, pay and print in a completely self-serve environment.”

Tablets, mobile phones and laptops, as well as the use of online cloud storage, are the new tools for students. According to a Harris Interactive poll, the number of students using tablets has tripled over the past year, and 36 percent of the college students surveyed plan to buy a tablet in the next six months. Additionally, 63 percent believe that tablets will replace textbooks in the next five years. At the same time, printed documents and materials are still a requirement at most universities.

The M500 station is EFI’s latest addition to a line of more than 4,000 self-serve copy and print devices installed across the United States handling over 100,000 transactions per day. A flexible and scalable system for colleges and libraries, the M500 station addresses student demands for printing from any mobile device, as well as from popular cloud storage services. It features a large 10-inch color touchscreen, provides secure encrypted communications, integrates with campus card and billing systems, and works with any PostScript printer or multifunction printer. The station supports 1D/2D barcode scanning for mobile devices and discount cards. A simple user interface with support for multiple languages speeds transactions.

EFI has a full line of products that meet the needs of the college and library market, including: cash card vending kiosks, register software and card readers for staff sales of cash cards, and backend management and reporting software.

DocuWare Enterprise Server 5-Star Certified BLI Certifies DocuWare’s Latest Version with Top Ranking

August 14, 2012 – DocuWare Corporation has announced that Buyers Laboratory Inc. (BLI) has just issued a new Solution Report certifying version 5.1c SP1 and SP2 for their Enterprise Server 5. This certification follows the 2010 Document Management Software Assessment testing of DocuWare ENTERPRISE Server in 12 categories. The categories included were: Feature Set, Ease of Use, Security, Software Integration, Training, Upgrade Path and Global Business Readiness. Overall, the highest rating of 5 stars was awarded to DocuWare.

Greg Schloemer, president of DocuWare Corporation, recognizes the importance of this comprehensive performance review and the value it adds to the company’s document management products: “The Service Pack updates introduced several new features, including CONNECT to Outlook which offers direct email storage into DocuWare with immediate access to the stored email. Dealers in our reselling network continue to benefit as they offer a document management solution that meets the highest standards in our industry. And these easy-to-use features add further value to their customers’ automated business workflows.”

Sd|University to Hold Business Planning and Operational Excellence Workshop in October 

August 14, 2012 – Sd|University, the advanced training division of Strategy Development, is conducting their comprehensive Business Planning and Operational Excellence Workshop on October 16-17, 2012 in Chicago, IL. Developed by the team at Strategy Development, this two-day educational workshop’s sole purpose is to set the framework for your team to develop an operational business plan. “This workshop is designed as a ‘mini MBA’ in running an imaging company for senior management and takes the industry model deep into the 21st Century,” states Tom Callinan.

“With clearly defined goals and a methodic approach learned in this workshop, dealerships will be able to form a solid business plan that they can effectively execute, and in the process, form a more cohesive team approach to managing their business,” continues Callinan. “As part of the comprehensive training, we will also get into details of how to launch an effective MPS and/or managed services initiative.”

Using the case study approach, attendees of the Business Planning and Operational Excellence Workshop will learn how to use the Strategy Development Scorecard, industry statistics, and a company’s SWOT analysis as the foundation of the planning process. Some of the other topics covered include a review of the three major financial statements, cash management, and developing commitment action documents. The program will include a specific focus to launching or improving a managed print services (MPS) / managed services (MS) strategy. The final step in the training will be how to put in place a monthly operational process to ensure attainment of the goals, or where necessary, mid-course adjustments.

Callinan adds that “this is the only comprehensive program offered in the industry that dives deep into the operational processes necessary to run a successful and profitable MPS/MS business. In today’s fluctuating economic times it is critical to have a concrete business plan.”

All sd|University classes can also be held at a dealer’s location for larger groups. For more information on sd|University and how the tuition program works and how it stacks up against the competition visit us at www.sd-university.com. Dealers can still register for individual classes as well. For a list of all classes currently scheduled for sd|University visit www.strategydevelopment.com/events. 

For more information or to register for the SD Business Planning and Operational Excellence Workshop, visit www.strategydevelopment.com/businessplanning or contact Tom Callinan at callinan@strategydevelopment.com or at (610) 527-3317.

Formax Rolls Out the ColorMax 7 Digital Color Printer

Aug. 12, 2012—Formax has announced the ColorMax 7 Digital Color Printer, expandingits Digital Print & Finishing Solutions offerings. The ColorMax 7 is a high-speed inkjet printer powered by Memjet technology making color printing fast and affordable without sacrificing quality, according to a company news release. It’s designed for full-bleed color printing of envelopes, marketing materials and more.

The ColorMax 7 produces full-color CMYK images up to 1600 x 1600 dpi at 6 inches per second in up to 16.8 million colors. Its Memjet fixed print head makes this possible with five ink channels flowing through 70,400 nozzles and no moving parts. This reportedly offers higher speeds, more precise printing using less ink, less noise and lower maintenance costs than standard print heads. What would take a color shuttle head printer 10 hours to produce at 600 dpi, the ColorMax 7 can print in a little more than 20 minutes at 1600 dpi, according to Formax.

Compared with toner-based printers, the ColorMax 7 can process up to 7,500 pieces per hour versus 3,000 per hour, more than double the speed. With its thermal inkjet technology, the ColorMax 7 doesn’t require heat or contact with the page to create an image, so it can safely be used with pre-printed and windowed envelopes without damaging the window or marring the original image.

It can print on a variety of paper stocks and sizes up to 9.5 x 17-inches with full-bleed capability on media up to 8.5-inches wide. Typical applications include letterhead, return addresses, invitations and greeting cards, bar-coding and addressing, prepaid postage, invoices, pre-printed envelopes and shipping labels.

Options include a 3-foot conveyor stacker, a 1,000-watt infrared dryer, and an adjustable-height cabinet. For more information visit www.formax.com.

 

Formax Rolls Out the ColorMax 7 Digital Color Printer

Aug. 12, 2012—Formax has announced the ColorMax 7 Digital Color Printer, expandingits Digital Print & Finishing Solutions offerings. The ColorMax 7 is a high-speed inkjet printer powered by Memjet technology making color printing fast and affordable without sacrificing quality, according to a company news release. It’s designed for full-bleed color printing of envelopes, marketing materials and more.

The ColorMax 7 produces full-color CMYK images up to 1600 x 1600 dpi at 6 inches per second in up to 16.8 million colors. Its Memjet fixed print head makes this possible with five ink channels flowing through 70,400 nozzles and no moving parts. This reportedly offers higher speeds, more precise printing using less ink, less noise and lower maintenance costs than standard print heads. What would take a color shuttle head printer 10 hours to produce at 600 dpi, the ColorMax 7 can print in a little more than 20 minutes at 1600 dpi, according to Formax.

Compared with toner-based printers, the ColorMax 7 can process up to 7,500 pieces per hour versus 3,000 per hour, more than double the speed. With its thermal inkjet technology, the ColorMax 7 doesn’t require heat or contact with the page to create an image, so it can safely be used with pre-printed and windowed envelopes without damaging the window or marring the original image.

It can print on a variety of paper stocks and sizes up to 9.5 x 17-inches with full-bleed capability on media up to 8.5-inches wide. Typical applications include letterhead, return addresses, invitations and greeting cards, bar-coding and addressing, prepaid postage, invoices, pre-printed envelopes and shipping labels.

Options include a 3-foot conveyor stacker, a 1,000-watt infrared dryer, and an adjustable-height cabinet. For more information visit www.formax.com.

Formax Presents 6204 Series Inserters

Aug. 12, 2012—Formax has introduced the 6204 Series Inserters, which replace the 6202 Series. The new models have a large, color touchscreen control panel with a wizard feature that guides users through setup and operation. AutoSet capability allows for one-touch setup of new jobs by automatically measuring paper lengths, envelope sizes, and fold lengths. Recurring and frequent jobs run in AutoSet can be stored as one of 15 programmable jobs, accessed with the touch of a button. Up to five sheets of paper can be folded at the same time.

Four configurations are available including the 6204-Basic 1, which offers one automatic sheet feeder; the 6204-Basic 2, which is equipped with two automatic sheet feeders; the 6204-Advanced 1, whcih has one sheet feeder and one insert/BRE feeder; aAnd the 6204-Advanced 2, whcih comes with two sheet feeders and one insert/BRE feeder.

The 6204 Series provides mailing security with both its electro-mechanical double document detection system, which is not susceptible to paper color or dust, and by its tip-to-tip envelope sealing capability. Optical Mark Recognition is an option available on the 6204-Advanced 2 which increases document security by ensuring the correct documents are inserted for each recipient.

Additional features include cascade mode to maximize production, daily mail for processing stapled and non-stapled sets, a convenient drop-in feed system, and the ability to process documents up to 14-inches in length.

For more information visit www.formax.com.

DocuWare Expands North American Headquarters 

August 9, 2012 – DocuWare is moving to a new, larger, state-of-the-art office space located at Stewart International Airport in Orange County, New York. DocuWare has experienced an average growth rate of about 20 percent year over year for the past several years. This recent move to larger and improved facilities supports the increased staffing for improved service to the growing customer base in the North, South and Central American market, served by this New York office. Located in the New York International Plaza just above the Orange County Industrial Development Agency’s Business Accelerator, DocuWare’s U.S. headquarters is only 55 miles from New York City and is adjacent to the Stewart International Airport. With access to both I-87 and I-84 and its proximity to mass transit, the new location is a perfect fit for their guests both domestic and international, according to the company. 

Des Plaines Office Equipment to Build Network Operation Center (NOC) for IT Services

August 7, 2012 – Des Plaines Office Equipment (DPOE), www.dpoe.com, a Chicago-area provider of office equipment solutions, including managed print services and managed network services (IT), has begun construction of a new, state-of-the-art network operation center (NOC) at its Elk Grove Village headquarters.

Chip Miceli, President of DPOE, saysd that the design and construction of the center is part of his firm’s plan to expand its managed network services beyond the immediate Chicago market. The room will measure 40’ x 20’ in size, with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, and will house three 60-inch monitors. The Center will be staffed by a director and three IT personnel, and will serve as a showroom and operations center for the company’s expanded IT services. The NOC will have the technology to monitor an entire network’s power consumption, hard drive space, and software that is installed on each device. DPOE has developed proprietary software that allows the firm to remotely monitor its clients’ IT networks throughout the region.

DPOE offers advanced remote monitoring of networks and servers of their clients, and through their software, they can anticipate and correct problems before they result in down time. Currently, DPOE provides remote IT monitoring/Managed Network Services for non-profits, manufacturing companies, medical organizations and corporations in the Chicago area. The enhanced facility, combined with the affiliation with Agiliant, now positions DPOE to expand its services nationally.

One of DPOE’s other core competencies, managed print services, is now national in scope, and Miceli expects to do the same with managed network services. They will officially unveil their NOC at their Second Annual Technology Fair held September 26, from 3 to 7 p.m. at their corporate headquarters, 1020 Bonaventure Drive, Elk Grove Village. The expo will provide tours of the new facility plus will showcase some of the latest document generation equipment available. Anyone interested in attending the expo can register at www.dpoe.com and follow the link or go directly to the registration page.

Nevill Business Machines Acquired by Kyocera

Aug. 5, 2012 – Nevill Business Machines, Inc., headquartered in Carrollton, Texas has announced that it has been acquired by Kyocera Document Solutions America. Nevill will now become Nevill Document Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyocera Document Solutions America. Nevill will be relocating in January 2013 to Kyocera’s Irving, Texas regional office from the current Nevill Headquarters, enabling the company to expand its operations for future growth across the state of Texas.

Reed Allan Melnick, president and general manager of Nevill says, “We are proud to join the Kyocera family and help Kyocera Document Solutions grow.” Through many years, Kyocera and Nevill have become great partners and have shared similar business and management philosophies. Our combined mission is to provide the best solutions and customer service to all clients. Kyocera financial power and technological strength will enhance our customer’s satisfaction.”

Bay Copy names Martha Gentile as Document Management Specialist 

Aug. 2, 2012 – Ray Belanger, President/CEO of Rockland-based Bay Copy, has announced that Martha “Marti” Gentile of Whitman has joined the company as a document management specialist. In this role, Gentile assists clients in creating cost control strategies in regards to their document solutions needs.

Prior to Bay Copy, Gentile, who has 13 years of sales experience in the advertising industry, worked for the Clipper Magazine, a Gannett publication; previously she was with Mail Coups Direct in Taunton, where she was the recipient of numerous sales awards.

Prosperity Plus Unveils Master Closer Sales Course

Aug. 2, 2012 – Prosperity Plus Management Consulting, Inc. has developed a new sales training program that can put more success and greater revenue in the hands of the business systems dealers after just two days worth of instruction, according to the company. It’s called The Master Closer Course and it is a workshop that provides specific sales tools that will help sales teams close more sales.

“Too many sales reps have lost touch with the basics of closing,” says Jim Kahrs, president, Prosperity Plus. “Without a good understanding of the sales cycle and exactly how to handle each step, we see sales reps ‘losing’ far too many deals. The Master Closer Course is designed to handle that. It is a very interactive and intensive course filled with real-world examples, drills and exercises built around the situations reps face on a daily basis.The workshop is designed for owners, sales managers, and sales reps who truly want to hone their skills and skyrocket their sales.”

Reps, managers and dealership owners attending the course will learn how to

• Create real buying interest
• Properly use questions to engage and sell prospects
• Effectively communicate benefits and features of a dealer’s products and services
• Spot when a prospect is ready to be closed
• Skillfully close a deal
• Resurrect a “dead” sale
• Manage time more effectively

The course is administered by Kahrs, a 25-year industry veteran in business systems and services. It is available to dealerships directly or in conjunction with trade associations and industry conferences. Prosperity Plus will provide the course as a front runner to the Business Technology Association East District Grand Slam Event in October in Rye Brook , NY.

For a schedule of upcoming workshops and more information about the Master Closer Course contact Leah Marshall at Prosperity Plus at (631) 382-7762 or email lmarshall@prosperityplus.com.

ECi Software Solutions Announces Dates for Connect Conference 2013 

Aug. 2, 2012 – ECi Software Solutions (www.ECiSolutions.com) has announced the dates of the Connect Conference 2013, the national users meeting for its software customers and strategic partners. The conference will be held September 24-26, 2013, at the Hyatt Regency Dallas in Dallas, Texas.

“The feedback from our last Connect national users’ conference in 2011 was phenomenal,” said Ron Books, president and CEO of ECi Software Solutions. “Connect Conference provides a chance for anyone who uses an ECi business solution to receive training on their software from our team of experts. They will also have access to our valued partners to learn about the ever-expanding technology to run their businesses more efficiently, grow revenue and increase profitability.”

Connect Conference 2013 will allow all ECi customers, business units, representative industries and preferred partners to come together again. The value participants receive from the conference extends beyond training. Everyone enjoys the chance to share ideas and best practices with other business leaders facing the same daily challenges.

Registration for Connect Conference 2013 will begin after the first of the year. More information on the conference will be announced over the coming months. To learn more, go to www.ecisolutions.com.

Clover Acquires K+U Printware and Collecture

August 1, 2012 –Clover Holdings, Inc., a provider of vertically integrated, closed-loop environmental solutions, has announced the acquisition of K+U Printware GmbH and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Collecture. K+U. Printware GmbH was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Ettenheim, Germany. Along with Collecture, its business is focused on the collection and remanufacturing of high quality toner cartridges in the DACH region of Europe.

K+U’s expertise in the European corporate and public sector markets working closely with distribution partners will help Clover Europe expand its customer portfolio while enabling diversification into other channels.

Collecture was founded in the year 2000, as a subsidiary of K+U Printware, and is focused on the collection of printers, cartridges, mobile phones and small electronics. Collecture’s collection and processing activities are diverse and a natural evolution of Clover’s global development of environmental solutions for its customers increasing range of valuable used assets.

Clover Technologies Group in Europe, K+U and Collecture will continue to operate independently in their respective markets but will work together to leverage potential synergies. The addition of K+U and Collecture to the Clover Holdings Group further strengthens the European business and extends Clover’s capability to service a wider range of customers and countries according to a Clover news release.

Bill Glos Joins Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A.

August 1, 2012 – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. has announced Bill Glos has joined the company as vice president, Konica Minolta Premier Finance. Glos will be responsible for managing operating agreements with leasing partners, working with sales channels to enhance financing options, and working with partners to develop new leasing programs as part of Konica Minolta’s solutions and services business. Glos will report directly to Kevin Kern, Senior Vice President Marketing, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.

Glos is a veteran in the office equipment financial services business and began his career with Konica.  He most recently worked as a consultant to Konica Minolta. Prior to that time, Glos was on the sales force for U.S. Bancorp in their Office Equipment Finance Services sector.

OfficeWare Changes Name to Konica Minolta Business Solutions 

August 1, 2012 – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. has announced that all business operations for Kentucky-based OfficeWare have been integrated into Konica Minolta Business Solutions. OfficeWare, a regional full-service business equipment dealership, was acquired in October 2011 and with the integration completed will change its name to Konica Minolta.

OfficeWare’s Louisville, Lexington and Bowling Green, Kentucky; Evansville, Indiana; and Marion, Illinois offices now serve the newly created Kentucky/Indiana market for Konica Minolta Business Solutions. Craig Miller, formerly the OfficeWare vice president of sales, is now the market vice president and is responsible for all Konica Minolta operations within the marketplace. In addition, all of the local market sales and service managers will remain in place as Konica Minolta employees.

“For the past 18 months, we have embarked on an aggressive growth strategy designed to increase our customer base and market share through organic growth, partnerships and acquisitions where there is clear value for our customers and the company,” says Rick Taylor, president and COO, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. “Integrating OfficeWare into the Konica Minolta family ensures that we have a strong presence across the Midwest and talented people who understand the needs of local customers.  As we continue to grow, customers can count on Konica Minolta to provide them with innovative office technology, solutions and managed services.”

OfficeWare was founded in Evansville, Indiana and has been providing office technologies to a broad range of companies since 1957.

Print Audit Updates Print Audit Secure

July 31, 2012 – Print Audit has released a significant update to its print management service, Print Audit Secure, which helps organizations eliminate stacks of unclaimed print jobs and increase their document security, without any modifications to their print environment, according to the company. Print Audit Secure 1.1 features enhanced support for embedded MFP and mobile device browsers as well as numerous interface improvements.

With the enhanced support for web browsers built in to most OEM’s multi-function devices, users can now release their jobs directly from the touch screen of modern MFPs. This can reportedly save organizations a considerable amount of money by eliminating the need to purchase external release terminals.

The improvements that have been made to Secure’s interface include the ability to select, release or cancel multiple print jobs at once.  Furthermore, users can now release all of their print jobs with the touch of a button. These Secure Web interface changes are available on desktop browsers such as Internet Explorer, Safari, Chrome and Firefox and mobile browsers included with recent versions of Blackberry, Android, and iPhone devices.

Secure 1.1 also contains several other new configuration and authentication features.  Visit the following URL to upgrade or to learn more about what is new in this release: http://www.printaudit.com/software-updates.asp?id=12                                                          

 

Electronic Office Systems Plants Trees to Help Keep the Communities They Serve Green

July 31, 2012 – Although Electronic Office Systems (EOS) is in the business of selling and leasing commercial grade office equipment and printing technologies, they continuously work toward being environmentally responsible.  Perhaps it’s because of the amount of potential paper used for these products that Electronic Office Systems has implemented a tree donation program.

While EOS is a company that devotes its knowledge and resources to providing print and print- related products and services to more than 4,000 companies in New Jersey and the New York metro area, Andrew Ritschel, owner and president, focuses on supporting the local communities where these products are sold by donating a shade tree to a local park, for every two palettes of paper sold (approximately three per month).

To learn more about this program or the products and services that Electronic Office Systems provides, visit www.EOSNJ.com or call them at (973) 808-0100.

NSI Named Premier Partner by Ricoh

July 26, 2012 – Notable Solutions, Inc. (NSi), a developer of transactional capture and workflow solutions, announced that it has been named a Premier Partner by Ricoh Americas Corporation. The designation was recently announced by Ricoh as part of their new Ricoh Solutions Partner Program. NSi’s AutoStore 6 was identified as a key product designed to help Ricoh customers more effectively manage their business information. NSi AutoStore, which just earned a five out of five stars rating in a review from Buyers Laboratory, Inc., enables users to capture and deliver scanned documents directly into line-of-business applications as well as more than 30 content management systems.