Xerox names new executive
– hired Joanne Collins Smee as chief commercial officer and a member of the company’s Executive Committee
– responsible for sales excellence, channel strategy, order to cash and technology, services, software, and future solutions offerings
– previously worked for fed agency in Technology Transformation Services
– also worked at IBM (current Xerox CEO is also from IBM)
Xerox wins production print contract
– award from Minuteman Press of North Palm Beach, Florida
– installed new Iridesse production color laser system
– “The ability to add high-end features such as gold and silver metallics along with iridescent gradients and clear spot embellishments to any digital print project is a big differentiator for our print shop,” said Dennis Beck, Owner
– Will be used to produce business cards, brochures, invitations and presentation folders.
Xerox signs up more dealers
– Claims that it signed up more than 50 dealers in 2017 to be authorized to sell and service Xerox MFPs in the U.S.
– Claims it is on track to add another 50 dealers by 2018
o One of its new dealers, Automated Business Products, owned by Paul Archer, recently won a $1 million RFP for 40 devices, including PPS
– Xerox dealers have option of using their own technicians and/or Xerox branch technicians to service MFPs and PPS in the field
HP previews new 3D metal printer
– in 2020 will it begin to sell the MetalJet, at a price just under $400,000.
– will use binder-jetting technology
– a total of 60,000 nozzles in each machine
– “will be the lowest operating cost in the industry”
– The first two customers, GKN and Parmatech, have begun testing parts for their customers at HP Labs’ facilities in Silicon Valley and Barcelona. GKN
Computer server sales update
– IDC reported that in the second quarter, worldwide sales of servers experienced an astonishing 43.7% growth rate, to $22.53 billion dollars
– largest quarter for server sales in the history of information technology
– Server shipments rose by 20.5% to 2.94 million units, also a record number.
Toshiba opens new branch in Mexico
– opened new 38,000 square-foot building in Guadalajara Mexico
– invested $2-million
– will employ 164 people
Toshiba to resell Brother devices
– In addition to HP and Lexmark products, Toshiba dealers and branches now will carry Brother A4 products
– will resell the Brother Value Print Program (VPP) which includes extended warranties
– portfolio includes document security, workflow solutions, mobile and cloud applications
– supported by the Brother Special Solutions Team (SST), a team of field service solutions engineers
– will also have access to the Brother Knowledge Center, a partner portal designed to train and provide resellers with information
Toshiba annual national dealer meeting
– held their dealer conference in Las Vegas NV Sept. 4 – 7 at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada
– attended by 1,700 employees, dealers, partners and end-user customers
– Reported that its MFP unit sales are up 8% worldwide
o e-STUDIO color MFP sales up 6%
o A4 up 70% (due to RPF win from 7 Eleven convenience stores)
o (sales totals include HP and Lexmark product)
– Announced large contract wins in past year including:
o FEDEX
o Home Depot
o The Staples Center
o Buffalo Bills
o The StubHub Center
– 26 newly announced copiers and printers
– Demonstrated new Elevate user interface on its new MFPs
o allows for customization
o customers can do everything from run ads on the screen to set up apps that run with specific vertical and horizontal workflows
Toshiba to launch new A4 MFPs
– will ship in October, 2018
– the sSTUDIO 389Cx and eSTUDIO 479c are color laser A4 MFPs
– top speeds of 40ppm and 50ppm respectively
– The eSTUDIO 478s is a new b/w laser MFP with top speed of 50ppm
– Apparently, the above models will be sourced from Lexmark (aka Ninestar)
Brother launches new TV ad campaign
– tagline for new ads is “Make Your Business Hum”
– “Businesses continue to expect more from less – more security, convenience, efficiency, but with less cost and hassle,” said Bill Henderson, VP of Brother
o “As we’ve grown this business over the past few years, we’ve been investing more than ever in awesome people and superior device technologies, solutions and programs. These investments not only better position Brother as a document solutions leader, but also make choosing Brother easier for business and IT decision makers.”
– Hopes to expand awareness of Brother document imaging technology to both existing and prospective channel partners and end-user customers
Ricoh executive speaks at Climate Week
– Ricoh’s CEO Jake Yamashita named a featured keynote speaker with leaders from Bloomberg, Microsoft, ZipCar at Climate Week in New York City
– shared insights into ways in which Ricoh is taking action against climate change
– company has committed to eight of the outlined goals including affordable and clean energy, responsible consumption and production, and climate action
Canon to partner with Hitachi
– Hitachi Consulting and Canon announced will form an alliance to “Advance Digital Innovation”
– Hitachi Consulting USA, headquartered in Dallas, TX, is a provider of digital and IoT business solutions
– “will leverage their respective strengths to integrate imaging into digital solutions that will help clients reduce costs, accelerate innovation and create new revenue streams.
– collaborating on AP Invoice Automation solution, which enables digital imaging capture of travel and expense receipts for improved and automated expense reporting and processing
– Hitachi Consulting will also become a part of Canon’s AP Automation solution
Canon launches new color wide format
– announced the launch of the new Océ ColorWave 3000 series of large-format color printing systems
– the Océ ColorWave 3500 and 3700 systems offer
o media capacity of two to six rolls
o Océ Print Assistant automatically suggests the right print mode for the job based on the file content, detects media requirements and the printer automatically switches to the right roll
o Océ Image Logic technology scans through advanced image enhancement
o multi-pass color printing technology
o uses Océ CrystalPoint melted wax printing technology
o Océ PAINT technology provides nozzle failure compensation on the fly
Nuance authorizes Staples to sell solutions
– offering Nuance Document Imaging solutions to customers of Staples Technology Solutions, a division of Staples, Inc., whose services include managed print services
– Staples will be selling Equitrac, AutoStore and Output Manager
– Nuance is providing all post-sales support, installation and professional services.
Staples to acquire competitor
– Staples’ determination to sweep Essendant away from S.P. Richards seems to have borne fruit.
– Staples offered to buy Essendant to $12.80 per share in cash.
– Essendant announced that it has determined that the offer from Staples is superior and intends to terminate the proposed merger with S.P. Richards
Papercut wins university contract
– Award from Bowling Green State University of Kentucky
– “It’s basically the replacement for Pharos Remote Print. It allows students to print from their personal devices to University print stations,” stated Joel Arakaki, the director of client services for ITS.
– replacing some printers that were nearly a decade old.
– Gone are the old desktop printer release stations; now the printers simply have a touchscreen built in with a card reader attached
– The older Pharos system did not support printing from mobile devices
– ability for printers set to color to automatically detect a black and white document being printed from it and switch to black and white mode
– equipment provided by ComDoc, a Global Xerox company
Lexmark launches new solution
– introduced a new version of Lexmark Print and Digital Signage
– automates printing of signs and labels for stores, allowing retailers to print and publish on-demand signs, labels, and tags
– features enhanced mobile capabilities that allow store associates to make signage without leaving the sales floor.
– from AccessVia, uses one system to print paper signs with laser printers in the store; produce volumes of press-ready output for high-speed printing at a central location; and print electronic shelf labels, allowing brand consistency across all signs, and reducing IT costs.
Epson opens new showroom
– The Epson Technology Center in Carson, CA will showcase MFPs, printing solutions and applications
– includes wide-format printing portfolio, including dye-sublimation, signage, photography, and direct-to-garment printing solutions
– will be working with dealers to launch Epson Certified Solution Centers in key metropolitan areas later this year
Lexmark’s parent earnings details
– The Chinese company has published its financial results for the first half of the current financial year, ending June the 30th
– net profit for the period was 31.5 million yen ($4.6 million), up 130.78%
– 6.32% drop in operating income to 10.4 billion yen ($1.52 billion)
– net cash flow from operating activities rose to 555.2 million yen ($81.2)
– operating income from general printing supplies was up 61% to 1.53 billion yen ($224 million)
o gross profit up 35% to 382 million yen ($55.9 million)
o toner cartridge business saw a sales increase of 25%
– Lexmark division operating income 11%
o gross profit up 64%
o total number of MFPs/printers sold fell by 6.7% to 668,100 units
Sharp launches new A3 MFPs
– now shipping the MX-M6570 and M7570, both b/w laser A3 MFPs
– base MSRPs of $22,500 and $27,650 respectively
– top speed of 65ppm and 75ppm respectively
– 10.1” color LCD touchscreen control panel
o Optional keyboard
– 27 second warmup time
– 3.5 second first copy out time
– 1200x1200dpi (advertised as offering 9600dpi with interpolation)
– Document feeder scans up to 100opm
o Scans both sides of original at same time for 200ipm
o Holds up to 150 originals
– Toner yield of 83,000 pages based on 5% coverage per page
– Comes standard with 2100 sheet letter size drawer, two 500 sheet drawers and 100 sheet stack bypass
o Optional 3500 sheet LCT
o Drawers hold up to 220gsm
o Bypass holds up to 300gsm
– Optional fax board
– Built-print controller
o Actual maker unknown
o 5GB RAM
o 500GB hard drive
o Scan to email, desktop, FTP, SMB, USB, HDD
o USB & 10/100/1000BaseT ports
o PCL and PS print drivers standard
o OCR board standard
– Finishing options:
o Booklet making
▪ Face trim option
o Curl correction
o Cover insertion
o Hole punch
o Multi position stapling
Dealer acquisitions
– PrintRX of San Antonio, Texas completed its acquisition of Copy Products, a Lanier dealer in San Antonio
– Elizabethtown’s Kerr Office Group (Canon dealer) of Elizabethtown, Kentucky announced it has acquired Office Environment Company of Louisville, KY
– Centric Business Systems bought out Richmond, Virginia’s Webster Integrated Technologies, combining a managed print services provider with an office equipment dealer.
– Donnellon McCarthy Enterprises (DME) has announced the acquisition of Tri State Business Equipment of Harrisburg, IL
o Tri State Business Equipment is Toshiba and Lexmark Dealer
Feds declare a “No Fax” holiday for hospitals
– The Department of Health & Human Services Office of National Coordinator held its annual Interop Forum in Washington D.C.
– During the event, ONC’s Steve Posnack, the emcee, stated that 10/12/2018 should be “No Fax Friday” for the health sector
– Center for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) head, Seema Verma, stated that”
o Wants to have all provider organizations fax-free by 2020
o CMS plans to encourage healthcare facilities to eliminate fax by using Direct exchange platforms (like Konica Minolta’s Kno2)
Two PPS option suppliers to combine
– Plockmatic Group, maker of optional finishing equipment, has acquired Watkiss Automation Ltd. based in England
– extends the Plockmatic booklet making range into the high-end market segment where digital prints are created using both toner and advanced high-speed inkjet technology.
– Watkiss booklet making machines are sold under the PowerSquare brand
– . The newly acquired company also sells offline booklet making systems through a worldwide network of dealers, plus a range of selected finishing products through a direct sales team in the UK.
– Plockmatic Group of companies is part of Grimaldi Industri Group of Switzerland
