eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.
Ricoh Americas, a provider of digital office equipment, introduced the Aficio GX e5550N, the latest installment in its GelSprinter line of color inkjet printers. Designed for business environments, the GX e5550N replaces the previous Aficio GX 5050N to provide an alternative to laser printing where speed and duplexing are required to meet high-volume demands.
With Ricoh’s GelSprinter technology, the GX e5550N utilizes an enhanced viscous gel ink formula for improved performance in dry environments. With fast-drying, waterproof properties, Ricoh said this improved ink meets the realization of published yields while eliminating smudging, bleed-through and page curling.
The network-ready GX e5550N supports workgroups with 30-page-per-minute print speeds in both full-color and black-and-white modes, a fast 40-second warm-up time, and first print speeds of 5 seconds or less with the ability to print up to 999 sets per job. Print jobs flow through a standard 250-sheet paper supply that can be expanded by up to two 500-sheet paper feed units. Standard automatic duplexing further enhances productivity while saving paper as users can print double-sided at high speed on plain paper.
An improved Economy Color Mode produces text and graphics that increase the longevity of supplies and is Energy Star Version 1.1-compliant. The GX e5550N does not require heat to operate, using just 38 watts during normal printing and roughly 3.5 watts in Energy Saver Mode. Additionally, the system is manufactured free of hazardous materials and produces zero ozone emissions, resulting in a low carbon footprint with minimal impact on the environment.
A key enhancement of the GX e5550N over the previous model is the use of bidirectional, motorized ink pumps, offering improved reliability and ink yields. Other features of the GX e5550N include a tilting LCD control panel for improved operability, the ability to capture counter data remotely with the option of Ricoh’s intelligent remote management solution @Remote, and support for the latest networking standards including Macintosh, host-based and PCL 5c/6 printing support.
“Most businesses rely on laser printers to handle a lot of their document output needs,” said Matt Sakauchi, vice president of Ricoh Americas’ office printer business group. “The GX e5550N with GelSprinter technology offers the speed and versatility of a laser printer in an affordable and reliable inkjet printing solution that not only produces outstanding color documents, but further demonstrates Ricoh’s commitment to helping our customers become more environmentally friendly in their business practices.”