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InfoPrint Solutions Company, a joint venture between IBM and Ricoh, announced July 26 four new high-performance workgroup color laser printers and MFPs (multi-function printers), that it designed to be more productive by incorporating document management solutions in the printers.
The new devices are the InfoPrint Color 1767, 1764, 1764 MFP, and 1754 Express.
According to InfoPrint, all four devices feature fast print speeds—the 1767 can print up to 45 letter/A3 size monochrome pages per minute—plus front-loading for consumables, InfoPrints Color Care Technology, and enterprise security features.
“Combining with a company like IBM is probably one of the few ways that companies like Ricoh can compete with HP, who owns the enterprise printer market,” said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.
Color printers are enabling even small companies, workgroups, and departments to save money and turnaround time, by doing jobs on-site versus sending color jobs like proposals and marketing collateral to outside printing companies. The benefits of workgroup multifunction devices include reduced footprint and more cost-effective consumables compared to having separate single-function devices.
Digital MFPs offer benefits to enterprise IT, according to Kristin Reischel, Worldwide Product Manager, InfoPrint Solutions Company, because they can become part of the IT environment. “A company can load applications onto the MFP. For example, Kofax has written programs so that a branch office staff could feed financial application forms in, and the program would check fields in the document.”
The Color 1767 has high print speeds, and professional finishing options. “This is our highest-end color laser printer,” Reischel said. “Its a good office workhorse. And it can also handle A3 format.”
The Color 1764 is little slower and has a lower duty cycle than the Color 1767, but, Reischel said, it can be upgraded to a multi-function device by adding the M40 MFP option. “This turns the printer into an office productivity center, it can also scan, copy, fax, and email documents.” According to InfoPrint, the Color 1764 also offers “copy-center level finishing options” such as a media banner tray and StapleSmart finisher.
InfoPrints Color 1754 Express, according to the company, is “a high performance printer that makes it easy to achieve a professional look and feel at an affordable price.”
Security features include PIN codes which users must enter at the machine. “Because of the cost of color, its helpful t be able to control who has access,” said Reischel.
Available now, the new printers/MFPs are available through channel partners and also directly. Prices begin at $958.
Daniel P. Dern is an independent technology writer.