Toshiba financial issues update
– While the company announced it has agreed to sell its NAND memory chip manufacturing division to a group led by Bain Capital for $18 billion, the deal is being held up, because Apple (proposed partner of Bain) has not yet agreed to terms of the sale, as reported by Reuters News Service
o This has forced Toshiba to ask lenders to roll over $6.1 billion in credit lines
o Credit lines were set to expire on 9/30/17
o Lenders have demanded Toshiba sign a definitive deal to sell chip unit as condition of the funding
o Other members of the Bain-led consortium besides Apple Corp. include:
§ Dell, Seagate Technology, and Kingston Technology
o Western Digital became part owner of the NAND chip division when it acquired SanDisk for $16 billion
Ricoh financial issues update
– Company announced it is permanently discontinuing their warehouse and shipping functions in Lawrenceville, Georgia to reduce costs
o Affecting 50 workers
– The Nikkei Asian News is reporting that Ricoh is planning on selling a semiconductor division to Nisshinbo Holdings for $88.7 million to raise cash
o Division employs 500 workers
Xerox wins PPS contracts
– Award from CJ Graphics of Toronto, Canada
o Installed a new iGen5 production color laser system
o Includes the 5th toner option (green, orange, blue, white or clear)
o Also included option to handle stocks up to 24pt.
o Will be used to produce sales brochures, posters, photobooks, packaging and variable data direct mail pieces
o Acquisition included Epic CTi-635 UV coating system
– Award from MidAmerican Printing Systems of Chicago, Illinois
o Installed a new iGen5 production color laser system
Xerox discusses MFP security at event
– Xerox will have presence at upcoming McAfee MPOWER Cybersecurity Summit in Las Vegas, Oct. 17-19.
– Alissa Johnson, Xerox’s CISO (chief information security officer) will participate in a speaking session, “Securing IoT is Not a Mission Impossible.”
– Presentation on how those responsible for cybersecurity must consider threats to the IoT landscape as mission-critical components to their security strategy.
– Will demonstrate the McAfee’s whitelisting technology (monitors and automatically protects against malware attacks) that is built-in to new Xerox ConnectKey AltaLink printers and MFPs
– “The modern printer is a far different creature from the monoliths of the past or even the devices of last year. Smart printers have become high-value targets for attackers looking for network-connected devices to compromise,” said Eric Vanderburg, a security industry expert, consultant and author of Security Thinking Cap
– “Printers and smart multifunction devices have the potential to introduce threats to the network and security must be addressed proactively.”
Canon holds PPS event in Poing, Germany
– Held at legacy Oce’ office and showroom
– Demonstrations and presentations given, including launch of the new VarioPrint 6000 Titan production b/w LED system
– Canon Oce’ chief marketing officer, Christian Unterberger, announced:
o Has placed 100 each of the VarioPrint i300 production color inkjet system since launch
o Has placed 1000 each of the ColorStream 6000 Chroma production color inkjet systems
o Has placed 6,000 each of the Arizona flatbed color inkjet wide format systems
Canon wins awards from BLI
– Buyers Labs Inc. gave out BLI PRO production print awards to:
o Canon Oce’ varioPRINT 140 series of production b/w system
o imageRUNNER ADVANCE C7580e production color system
Canon wins awards from SGIA
– the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association
– wide format awards given to:
o Oce’ Arizona 365GT UV flatbed
o Oce’ Arizona 6160XTS UV flatbed
o Oce’ Arizona 6170XTS UV flatbed
o Oce’ Colorado 1640 hybrid flatbed
Canon wins production print contract
– award from Alliance Graphics and Printing of Houston, Texas
– installed an Oce’ ColorStream 3700 production color inkjet system and two imagePRESS C10000VP production color laser systems
– will be used to produce transpromo, direct mail, books and manuals
Heidelberg wins production print contract
– award from Simpsons Printing of Rapid City, South Dakota
– installed a Versafire VP and Versafire CV production color laser systems
– (these are relabeled Ricoh Pro C7100X and Pro C9100 series devices)
– Connected with Prinect print servers
Dealer to build new larger, headquarters
– Braden Business Systems of Indiana, announced it is building a new headquarters in the city of Fishers, Indiana
– Plans include adding 120 new employees by 2020
– The $5.6 million facility will be 4 stories and 40,000 square feet in size
– Expansion also includes a 10,000 square foot warehouse nearby
Epson launches PPS color inkjet system
– Now shipping the new SurePress L-4533AW, a production color inkjet label press
– Uses 7 different colors of water-based resin inks
– Advertised as offering up to 8 hours of unattended printing
– Handles materials from 3.15” to 13” wide
– Media handling as thin as 0.00314”
– Uses piezo crystal printhead technology
– Purchase price and running costs not published
HP wins production print contracts
– Award from Haney Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio
o Company provides package prototyping and commercial print
o Installed a new HP Indigo 20000 production color system
o Has a 30” web width
– Award from Teckwah Value Chain of Singapore
o Installed a new Indigo 30000 production color system
o Provider of supply chain services
o Used to produce custom packaging
HP announces new option for PPS system
– Launched the HP Indigo GEM option for its Indigo WS6800 production color system
– The option, made by JetFX, is a UV coating system that adds embellishing effects to the output, including foil, screen, tactile and varnish
– Also announced ElectroInk Silver is in beta testing, as another color choice for select Indigo systems
Large dealer makes another acquisition
– Marco, headquartered in St. Cloud, Minnesota, announced it has acquired Koestner Office Products Inc. (KOPI)
– KOPI is a Ricoh dealer with 4 locations in Missouri, with former owners, Harley Koestner and Sherri Wilbers
– This is 17th acquisition for Marco in past 3 years
– Now has 50+ locations across 8 states
More arrested making fake $ with color MFP
– Atoka, Oklahoma police arrested Brandon Berker, Michelle Carson & Ashley Urbach
o After pulling over their car for a cracked windshield, discovered the fake currency, and a color MFP used to create the counterfeit money
– Dickson, Tennessee police arrested Jason Turner, for allegedly making fake $5, $10 and $20 bills using a color MFP inside a motel room
– The U.S. Secret Service estimates there are $9 million in counterfeit bills circulating in the U.S.
Samsung leader tries to avoid prison time
– Reuters News Service reported details on upcoming appeal to attempt to repeal the 5 year sentence for Samsung defacto leader, Jay Y. Lee
o South Korea’s disgraced ex-president Park Geun-hye to be called as witness in Samsung heir’s appeal when appeal arguments begin Oct. 12
– Lee, 49, was sentenced to a five-year jail term after being found guilty last month of bribing Park to help him strengthen control over Samsung
Brother launches new scanners
– 2 new models, the Brother ADS-2200 ($329.99) and ADS-2700W ($399.99)
– Base MSRPs of $329.99 and $399.99 respectively
– both with wireless connectivity.
– Top speed of 35opm (originals per minute)
– ADS-2200 features Hi-Speed USB 2.0
o Scans both sides of original at same time
o Scans in b/w or color
o 50-sheet automatic document feeder
o TWAIN, WIA for PC, ICA for Mac, and SANE scan drivers. Other features include:
o Scans up to 600 x 600 dpi optical resolution, 1,200 x ,1200 dpi interpolated
o handles documents, photos, receipts, business and plastic cards, from business-card size up to 8.5"(W) x 34"(L)
o includes background removal, blank-page removal, deskew
o scan to email, OCR, file, USB memory drives and smartphones and tablets
– The ADS-2700W has all of the above plus:
o wireless connectivity
o 2.8" LCD touchscreen
o Ethernet, and high-speed USB 2.0 ports
o Security features include; settings lock; secure network protocols including SSL, TLS, SFTP
o Scan to: file, image, OCR‡, email, network, FTP, mobile devices, and USB memory drive
