Ricoh Unveils Laser Printers and MFPs with Standard Wi-Fi
April 17, 2014 – Ricoh Americas Corporation has unveiled the SP C250DN/SP C252DN Color Laser Printer Series and SP C250SF/SP C252SF Multifunction Product (MFP) Series with standard Wi-Fi connectivity, mobile printing capabilities, and reduced energy consumption. The new models produce 21 pages ppm from a compact platform that, combined with the wireless support, expands placement options in small offices, home offices, school offices, law firms or on retail store counters.
The new models are equipped with a range of settings for economy or high resolution printing up to 2,400 x 600 dpi. The RICOH SP C250DN/SP C252DN and SP C250SF/SP C252SF support the mobile workforce with Ricoh’s RICOH Smart Device Print&Scan app, which enables smartphones and tablets (iOS and Android) to seamlessly interoperate with MFPs and printers through the cloud. The devices extend Ricoh’s commitment to the environment with aggressive typical electricity consumption (TEC) values, with the printer-only versions consuming 1.37 kWh/week and the multifunction versions, which print, copy, scan and fax, consuming 1.48 kWh/week. TEC is a method of comparing product energy performance via an evaluation of typical electricity consumption (measured in kilowatt-hour) during normal operation over a specified period of time, as specified in the ENERGY STAR Imaging Equipment Test Method.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the printer-only RICOH SP C250DN is $360, and the printer-only RICOH SP C252DN sells for $550. The RICOH SP C250SF MFP costs $599 and the RICOH SP C252SF MFP costs $899.
NER Data Corporation Chosen a Top 10 Enterprise Print Management Solution Provider
April 16, 2014 – NER Data Corporation (NER), a provider of Managed Print Services (MPS) and Data Center Infrastructure Optimization Solutions has announced that it has been named one of the “Top 10 Most Promising Enterprise Print Management Solution Providers” by CIO Review magazine.
According to CIO Review, “In the last few months we have looked at hundreds of solution providers who primarily serve the Enterprise Print Management sector, and shortlisted the ones that are at the forefront of tackling challenges faced by this sector. In our selection we have looked at the vendors’ skills and capabilities towards various print management solutions and technologies that support core business processes including innovation areas related to cloud, mobile, Saas, PaaS and ERP, Big Data and analytics, mobility, and social media in the specific context of the Enterprise Print Management sector.”
Print4 MPS offers over 20 different MPS programs, a cloud-based document technology suite, predictive analytics for supplies with automated fulfillment, a comprehensive support structure, and a world-class printer service business. The CIO Review article can be found at www.nerdata.com/news.htm
Konica Minolta Acquires Pitney Bowes Canada’s Document Imaging Solutions Business
April 16, 2014 — Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. has announced that Konica Minolta Business Solutions (Canada) has acquired Pitney Bowes Canada’s Document Imaging Solutions (DIS) business, consisting of the hardware and document management software solutions segment, which generated approximately CAN$82 million in revenue in 2013.
As part of the transaction, Konica Minolta and Pitney Bowes also announced a strategic alliance whereby Konica Minolta Business Solutions (Canada) will represent Pitney Bowes Canada’s mailing business in the provinces of Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and other select geographies across Canada.
The acquisition supports Konica Minolta’s North American growth strategy by allowing Konica Minolta to significantly expand its existing Document Imaging Solutions business to commercial and corporate accounts in Canada, thus increasing the company’s market share within the Canadian marketplace.
ESP/SurgeX Acquires SurgeX International
April 16, 2014 – ESP/SurgeX, a provider of energy intelligence and power protection, has announced the acquisition of SurgeX International, which had been operating as its own entity since Electronic Systems Protection, Inc (ESP) acquired SurgeX North America in 2008. The move unifies all SurgeX operations under a single management team located in Knightdale, NC, and enables the company to streamline international expansion. Uniting worldwide operations and management of SurgeX assets in the Knightdale, NC headquarters will also increase product development and result in more consistent service for customers, distributors and dealers. “We are living in an increasingly developed and powered world. Reliance on IT infrastructure and other electrical systems is higher than ever so safeguards are needed against the various anomalies that can affect equipment and systems,” said Stephen F. Galloway, CEO and president ESP/SurgeX. “We have existing residential and commercial product lines, development capabilities, and manufacturing capacity to serve the evolving needs of our growing international market. Furthermore, the move will increase sales opportunities for our U.S. based dealers, consultants and design integrators who handle installations all over the world.”
OKI Data Americas Announces Availability of Drivve Image and Drivve Print Document Management Solutions Embedded within OKI smart Multifunction Printers
April 16, 2014 — As part of a recently-executed global distribution agreement between OKI Data Corporation and Drivve, Inc., OKI Data Americas has announced the sale and support of embedded versions of the Drivve | Image image capture and Drivve | Print print tracking solutions for OKI Multifunction Printers (MFPs) which feature the smart Extendable Platform. Together, OKI smart MFPs and embedded Drivve® solutions meet the print tracking and image capture needs of the most demanding and document-intensive environments, delivering enhanced workflow and document lifecycle management to the workplace.
Drivve solutions bring a wealth of tracking and reporting, secure authentication and cost recovery features to OKI MFP users. Additionally, Drivve solutions facilitate image capture and processing plus print and output management, allowing instant access to scanned documents – all with full security. Drivve solutions are robust enough to handle thousands of printers and MFPs, and are ideal for large workgroups.
The Drivve suite of software modules and services simplifies, streamlines and improves business processes. At their core, Drivve solutions convert hard copy documents and route the resulting electronic files to an Enterprise Content Management or document management system. The process is automated to ensure accuracy and consistency of scanned documents, the security of these documents, and the effectiveness of business process workflows. By integrating Drivve solutions with OKI MFPs, customers will realize greater efficiencies and enjoy the ability to customize these solutions to fit their specific needs.
Des Plaines Office Equipment names Marissa Bertolini as Technology Consultant
April 15, 2014 – Des Plaines Office Equipment (DPOE), a Chicago area provider of office and technology solutions 1955, has named Marissa Bertolini of Arlington Heights, IL as a Technology Consultant. In this role, she will consult with client companies to implement the advanced technology solutions offered by DPOE; as such client companies will benefit from a customized program designed to revamp their workflow, increase productivity and effectiveness in addition to enjoying lower overhead cost.
Prior to joining DPOE Bertolini was an Architecture and Design Representative with Siok Contract Reps. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from DePaul University and is a member of the DePaul University Alumni Association. For the past nine years, she has been the Co-Event Planner and Coordinator for the Mary S. Bertolini Hope Fund, a chapter of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.
Konica Minolta Acquires AMS Imaging
April 14, 2014 – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. has announced that it has acquired AMS Imaging, New England’s premier enterprise content management solution provider, to support and further expand the company’s Enterprise Content Management (ECM) business practice growth strategy. As part of the acquisition agreement, AMS Imaging will become part of Konica Minolta’s ECM business practice and market under the name Konica Minolta. The primary office location in Warwick, RI will continue to support the New England, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut markets, as well as house the company’s management and administrative staff.
AMS Imaging was established in 1971, and offers end-to-end ECM solutions including consulting services, software, digital scanning equipment, and production scanning services to help companies of all sizes reduce costs and improve efficiency. The organization prides itself on exceeding customer expectations by providing technical and business expertise that continually delivers value for their clients.
Konica Minolta’s commitment to the development of a national ECM practice, vertical market expertise, Managed IT Services, application development, and more than 120 branch office locations across the country are some of the reasons that AMS Imaging has joined the organization.
Bay Copy Achieves Platinum Award from GE Capital
April 14, 2014 – Bay Copy (www.baycopy.com), a provider of document imaging solutions to businesses since 1972, has received the Platinum Award from GE Capital, has been named to serve on an Advisory Board for GE Capital, a commercial finance provider providing loans and leasing solutions to mid-market businesses across many industries.
Glen Clark, Vice President/General Manager and Jeff McGaughey, Vice President, General Manager, Office Leasing Program, commended Bay Copy and its CEO Ray Belanger for “achieving a level of excellence and success that goes above and beyond expectations.” In presenting Bay Copy with the Platinum Award, they said, “Thank you for the effort you put into succeeding and allowing us to share in your success as a business partner.”
In addition to utilizing GE Capital as a key leasing and financing option for its clients, Bay Copy CEO Ray Belanger also serves on the GE Capital Office Imaging Dealer Council, whose mission is to bring different industry leaders together to share information and best practices. The Council is comprised of business leaders from across the United States. GE Capital, Americas works closely with customers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico to meet a wide variety of financing requirements.
OKI Data Americas Expands its Point-of-Sale Product Line
April 10, 2014 — OKI Data Americas has announced the introduction of the PT340/PT341 Series desktop Point-of-Sale (POS) thermal receipt printers to the company’s broad and award-winning portfolio. These new POS printers are designed to optimize performance within demanding work environments including retail, healthcare and hospitality. OKI’s new PT340/PT341 printers are fast, versatile, compact, robust and competitively priced. Offering many advanced features and functionality, OKI’s new POS printers all are backed by OKI’s two-year Advanced Overnight Exchange warranty.
The PT340/PT341 Series are stationary desktop POS thermal receipt printers that are highly adaptable where space is at a premium. Not only do these printers have a small footprint, but they can be positioned either horizontally or vertically, and the PT340 can even be wall-mounted. Both models have a recess under the case to neatly conceal interface connectors, and the PT341 has its own built-in power supply.
Built for demanding environments, the PT340/PT341 series meets critical POS printing needs for receipts, coupons and tickets, incorporating 2D barcode and logo images. With a print speed of up to 300mm/sec, these printers are among the fastest in their class, providing increased productivity and operational efficiency.
The PT340/PT341 Series join OKI’s impressive line of POS printers – products designed with features to improve business performance including fast, high-resolution, and easy-to-read output. The printers in OKI’s POS Series are equipped with an impressive array of features and functionality including triple onboard interface and Microsoft Windows compatibility.
OKI Data provides live1, toll-free technical support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, with agents based in North America. In addition, OKI Data live chat feature is available to customers within the US and Canada seeking online support on weekdays during normal business hours within the Eastern time zone.
BTA Mid-America to Host Cruise to Success May 15-16 in Chicago
April 9, 2014 — On May 15-16, 2014, the Business Technology Association’s Mid-America district will host its annual Cruise to Success event at the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile in Chicago. 2014’s Cruise to Success, open to BTA member and non-member dealers from across the country, is all about providing dealers the framework to change — to transform — their dealerships in order to reap the rewards of today’s opportunities.
The event will feature a keynote presentation by Michael George, CEO of Continuum Managed Services LLC. There will also be five additional educational sessions presented by industry leaders that will collectively provide the “Five Critical Steps to Transformation,” as well as a panel discussion with several BTA dealers sharing how they are working to transform their dealerships.
Dealers will be able to participate in networking events that will allow them to connect with their peers, including a welcoming reception on May 15, and a scenic dinner cruise aboard the Spirit of Chicago on May 16. In addition, there will be time to visit with 39 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 one of five $100 American Express gift cards from BTA Mid-America and enter the BTA District Event Sweepstakes.
Cruise to Success begins at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, with an opportunity for dealers to meet in groups of three with exhibiting sponsors until 3 p.m. (and earn up to $120 cash back). At 3 p.m., the educational program will get underway with George’s keynote presentation, “Sea Change: How the Cloud is Reshaping the Convergence of Office Equipment & Managed IT Services.”
The dealer panel, “Driving Your Dealership’s Transformation,” moderated by Jon Reardon of InfoTrends, will follow the keynote presentation. The confirmed panelists: Jeff Gau, CEO, Marco Inc., St. Cloud, Minn.; Douglas Horne, vice president, Center for Business Innovation (CBI), Lansing, Mich.; and Steve Klatt, president, Advanced Imaging Solutions Inc., South Bend, Ind. Following the dealer panel, the 2014 BTA Channel’s Choice awards will be presented, just prior to the Cruise to Success welcoming reception.
Breakfast will begin at 7 a.m. on Friday, May 16, followed by opening comments, educational sessions and lunch. After lunch, the final educational sessions will be held, followed by closing comments and prize drawings. Several extended breaks will take place during the day to give attendees time to network with peers and exhibiting sponsors. From 6:30 to 10 p.m., the event will wrap up with the dinner cruise.
In addition to the keynote presentation and dealer panel, the Cruise to Success educational sessions, “The Five Critical Steps to Transformation,” will be: “Step One: Understanding Market Dynamics,” with Reardon; “Step Two: Embracing Change in a Changing World,” a three-part session with Lindsay Dick of Collabrance LLC focusing on managed IT services, Bryan Dancer of Allegiant Technology focusing on telecom services and Harry Kaminsky of DirectCloud WebTop focusing on cloud services; “Step Three: Developing Your Business Plan,” with Jim Heffernan of Insights53 LLC; “Step Four: Transitioning Your Image,” with Darrell Amy of Dealer Marketing; and “Step Five: Selling to Today’s Buyer,” with Mitch Morgan of Growth Achievement Partners.
The BTA Managed Services Workshop, to be held May 14, will be the front-runner workshop to the Cruise to Success event. Attendees to the workshop will receive free registration to Cruise to Success. For more information, visit www.bta.org/MS.
BTA members receive 2-for-1 registration to Cruise to Success. BTA member dealer registration (with cruise ticket) is $199, which includes the keynote session, educational sessions and dealer panel, Thursday welcoming reception, and Friday breakfast and lunch. BTA member registration without a cruise ticket is $169, and also includes a second registration free. Non-member registration with a cruise ticket is $249. Non-member registration without a cruise ticket is $219.
For more information, including full session descriptions and the registration form for the event, visit www.bta.org/BTAMidAmericaEvent.
Toshiba’s Latest Color Multifunction Products Brighten Offices Large and Small
April 7, 2014 —To allow businesses to create dynamic color documents in a secure and ecological manner, Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc. has introduced its e-STUDIO 5560C/6560C/6570C series MFPs.
By producing vibrant images and text at up to 1,200 x 1,200 dots per inch resolution and delivering up to 65 pages-per-minute while in color mode, the company’s new product line is ideal for businesses large and small, according to a Toshiba press announcement. For users seeking high-speed performance, the e-STUDIO6570C series produces as many as 75 monochrome ppm.
To adhere to and maintain brand integrity for marketing materials such as advertisements and brochures, users may take advantage of Toshiba’s e-BRIDGE Color Profiler Version 2.0 software. This tool enables users to accurately match and support the widest array of recognized Pantone color palettes possible. To further complement users within graphics-intensive environments, the new print fleet includes a Fiery controller option.
For greater color accuracy during lengthy print tasks, Toshiba’s e-STUDIO6570C series also includes its Auto-Calibration feature, which runs periodic checks to ensure that hues remain consistent throughout the printing process.
By integrating a 10.4-inch tiltable touch screen panel – incorporating the company’s next generation e-BRIDGE controller – within the new e-STUDIO6570C series’ product design, users may more easily manage, capture and deliver documents.
Toshiba’s e-BRIDGE controller further allows all of the benefits associated with cloud and mobile printing for Appleand Androidsmartphones and tablets while seamlessly allowing users to access and utilize third-party software for added printing efficiency.
To more securely store documents, the new MFPs include a robust 320 GB Self-Encrypting Drive (SED), which have attained validation to the stringent U.S. Federal Information Processing Standard 140-2. By incorporating Toshiba’s unique wipe technology, the data residing on the drive automatically erases when accessed by an unregistered system. As a result of achieving this validation, Toshiba’s e-STUDIO6570C series products are available for use in highly regulated environments such as government facilities. For added information security, Toshiba’s latest e-STUDIO models include a Hard Copy Security feature to prevent the copying of sensitive documents.
Conforming to Toshiba’s mandate to reduce environmental impact, the company’s new printing products meet the stringent Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive – or RoHS – compliance. Coupling a low-temperature fusing toner and Super Sleep Mode feature – reducing power consumption to a mere 1.5 watts while in this mode – the MFPs limit electricity use. To further reduce its carbon footprint, Toshiba’s e-STUDIO6570C series integrate recycled plastics throughout its chassis.
Toshiba Mobile Print App Enhances Office Productivity for Apple Users
April 7, 2014 —To bolster productivity for today’s ever-increasing BYOD – or bring your own device – audience of mobile Apple users, Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc. has unveiled the iOS version of its e-BRIDGE™ Print & Capture mobile software app.
The new mobile app enables iPhone (starting with the iPhone 3GS), iPad® (supporting all versions available since March 2011) and iPod touch (beginning with devices available on September 2010) users to wirelessly scan from and print to Toshiba’s e-STUDIO multifunction products (MFPs). Users may also attach scanned files to e-mail, share documents with other Apple applications or upload files to a cloud storage support service such as Box.com, Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive).
The free e-BRIDGE Print & Capture app supports most cloud-based data storage locations to upload information into the cloud and retrieve it from the mobile device or by printing the content on a Toshiba e-STUDIO. The new software additionally allows users to find and locate all e-STUDIO MFPs residing on a network or identify a specific device by scanning a Quick Response (QR) code from their mobile Apple device. By recognizing user authentication and department codes, Toshiba’s mobile app may also monitor and track print and scan use.
Toshiba’s latest e-BRIDGE offering also integrates the company’s Re-Rite optical character recognition software, which converts paper documents into an editable format then distributes those files to a user-preferred cloud storage portal. The app further permits users to scan documents to the latest Adobeprotocol, including PDF/A (archive) and Slim PDF (high compression) as well as JPEG and TIFF formats. To assist in lessening an organization’s eco footprint, Toshiba’s mobile print software incorporates the company’s Toner Save mode and Omit Blank Page option.
e-BRIDGE Print & Capture is also compatible with all Android smartphone and tablet devices supporting version 2.3.3 (released in February 2011) or later. A download of Toshiba’s iOS version of its e-BRIDGE Print & Capture mobile software is available on iTunes: http://bit.ly/1p3UpT8.
Print Audit Releases Information Collection Engine (ICE) Version 1.16
April 7, 2014 – Print Audit has released an update for the Information Collection Engine (ICE), the scanning engine that powers its remote meter reading solution, Facilities Manager. ICE 1.16 includes greater scanning accuracy with numerous manufacturers’ devices as well as fixes for issues found in the previous releases of the software.
ICE gathers information for Facilities Manager by tracking and scanning print devices from all major manufacturers, using standard SNMP protocols. With the incorporation of Print Audit 6, ICE can accurately report local device information to Facilities Manager as well. ICE 1.16 enhances the scanning accuracy of Samsung, Riso, Konica Minolta and Dell devices.
Print Audit ICE’s automatic update function will periodically check for new versions and will automatically download and install the update. A complete list of changes made in the release, as well as a link that can be used to manually update ICE, can be found here.
OKI Data Americas Promotes Mark Hansinger to Vice President, U.S. Channel Sales
April 7, 2014 – OKI Data Americas has announced the appointment of Mark Hansinger to Vice President of U.S. Channel Sales. In his new role, Hansinger is responsible for developing the sales strategies required to achieve the U.S. Channel Sales hardware and consumables revenue goals. He will lead the OKI Data U.S. Distribution Channel Account Managers, DMR/Etail Channel Account Managers and the National Sales Director for Solution Provider Sales to this end. With this appointment, OKI Data Americas underscores its commitment to channel development and success.
Most recently, Hansinger served as the Director of U.S. Channels Sales for OKI Data Americas where he demonstrated thorough knowledge of the distribution channel sales process, as well as OKI Data products, technologies and programs. Previously, Hansinger served as Director of U.S. Distribution, Senior Marketing Manager, Senior Account Executive, Regional Sales Director and Director of U.S. Channel Sales for OKI Data Americas. Hansinger was twice named a “Channel Chief” by CRN for being directly responsible for driving channel sales growth and advocating the importance of the channel throughout the entire IT industry.
FlexPrint, Inc. Expands With New Regional Corporate Headquarters
April 4, 2014 – FlexPrint, Inc., an independent managed print solutions provider, has announced the opening of the company’s new eastern regional headquarters to 200 S. Wacker Drive in Chicago, IL. FlexPrint’s new state of the art riverside facility will house the company’s growing Chicago employee base. As FlexPrint expands its national footprint with its award winning business model for managed print solutions, employment is expected to double by the end of the year.
“Chicago’s thriving economy continues to attract businesses of all kinds to our great city,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “I’m pleased to welcome FlexPrint to its new regional headquarters here in Chicago as they expand their local workforce and contribute to the city’s economic growth.”
