Kyocera Document Solutions America Launches Four New ECOSYS Color Printers
Feb. 5, 2014 – KYOCERA Document Solutions America has announced the launch of four new ECOSYS color printers: the P7035cdn, P6030cdn, P6026cdn, and P6021cdn. The newly designed devices promise to meet the demands of today’s businesses by employing many ECOSYS hallmarks—they generate high quality images, fit seamlessly into a wide range of environments, and offer a low total cost of ownership, according to a Kyocera press announcement. Plus, as part of Kyocera’s environmentally friendly ECOSYS line, they use long-life consumables and are Energy Star certified for power efficiency.
The ECOSYS P7035cdn prints at 37 pages per minute (ppm), the ECOSYS P6030cdn at 32 ppm, the ECOSYS P6026cdn at 28 ppm, and the ECOSYS P6021cdn at 23 ppm. All printers feature standard duplex printing and accommodate multiple media options.
ECOSYS printers come complete with a range of features, including maximum paper capacities up to 2,650 sheets for the ECOSYS P7035cdn, 2,150 sheets for the ECOSYS P6030cdn, 2,050 sheets for the ECOSYS P6026cdn and 1,300 sheets for the ECOSYS P6021cdn. The four printers offer customers monthly duty cycles of up to 150,000 prints for the ECOSYS P7035cdn, 140,000 prints for the ECOSYS P6030cdn, 65,000 prints for the P6026cdn and 50,000 prints for the ECOSYS P6021cdn.
To maximize productivity, these four desktop network printers come with 512MB of memory (upgradeable to 1,536 MB), high-speed USB 2.0 connectivity, PDF and Microsoft XPS file-printing capabilities, and a departmental tracking feature that accommodates up to 100 account codes. Supported file formats include PDF, XPS, TIFF and JPG.
Businesses looking to reduce costs, safeguard documents, or integrate ECOSYS printers with an existing network can add various Kyocera solutions, such as KX Driver, KYOCERA Net Admin and KYOCERA Net Viewer. The printers use PRESCRIBE, Kyocera’s exclusive printer-control language, to customize their printers to fit specific requirements.
Pricing and Availability
ECOSYS printers are available through authorized Kyocera dealers at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price:
- ECOSYS P7035cdn: $2,593
- ECOSYS P6030cdn: $1,983
- ECOSYS P6026cdn: $1,569
- ECOSYS P6021cdn: $959
For more information on these new Kyocera ECOSYS printers visit KYOCERA Document Solutions America at: www.kyoceradocumentsolutions.com/us.
Sharp Corporation Announces Third Quarter Results
Feb. 4, 2014 – Sharp Corporation has reported its 3rd Quarter results and they continue to show the continued improvement in the business. The highlight of this report is that Sharp Corporation has reported a sales growth of 21 percent for the three quarters of this year versus the same period last year. During the same period, Sharp Corporation has reported a Net Income of 17 billion Yen, ($17 million at 1 Yen = .0099 dollar conversion) versus a 424 billion Yen loss for the same period last year. This is a very significant improvement in the company’s performance.
Also highlighted for the Business Solutions Group:
- Net Sales improved 10.7% Year over Year for the 3rd Quarter
- Net Profit rate was 8% on sales
- Forecasting a Full Year Sales increase of 4.4%
- Forecasting a Full Year profit Ratio of 9%
Highlighted in the release of the financials of the 3rd Quarter results were mentions of the Business Solutions Groups results. Sales of Business Solutions were up 235.5 Billion Yen (2.32 Billion $), up 13% compared to the previous year. This was due mainly to robust sales of color MFP’s in Japan and overseas as well as information displays in the US.”
Canon Solutions America Announces User Group Steering Committee and Digital Print Advisory Council
Feb. 4, 2014 – Canon Solutions America, Inc., a subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., has announced it has established the first Canon Solutions America User Group Steering Committee and has launched a second advisory group – the Digital Print Advisory Council (DPAC). Both initiatives are aimed at continuing its commitment to customers. Through knowledge sharing events and advisory programs, Canon Solutions America and its customers are helping to shape the future of the industry, while ensuring continued growth and opportunity in digital print.
Canon Solutions America has taken the first step toward establishing a User Group for the printing community. A steering committee, comprised of 10 Canon Solutions America customers and representing leaders across markets, has been assembled to determine the path forward.
The committee will begin meeting in April with the goal of a 2015 launch of the User Group and an inaugural event. Its focus will be on delivering world-class education that accommodates the widest portfolio in the industry – from cut-sheet monochrome to continuous-feed color and everywhere in between.
As part of its ongoing efforts to integrate the voice of the customer into current and future product offerings, Canon Solutions America will launch a second advisory council. The Digital Print Advisory Council (DPAC) will kick off in March with 13 senior executives representing some of the largest companies in the world in financial services, book printing, direct mail and commercial print. Members will meet annually to discuss current industry trends, market changes and business conditions – and provide valuable feedback to help guide Canon Solutions America’s ongoing solutions and service development.
The idea for DPAC was conceived at the conclusion of Canon Solutions America’s first advisory council. The Transactional Printers Advisory Council (TPAC) included 13 digital print executives who met six times over two years. In those two years, TPAC was instrumental in the development of new premium pigment ink technology and a media program, as well as providing meaningful guidance that is driving Canon Solutions America business and product strategy.
Based on the success of the first advisory council, members recommended not only continuing the council, but also expanding it to include book and commercial printers who face similar challenges.
Canon Solutions America Unveils Media Lab and Inkjet Media Catalog
Feb. 4, 2014 – Canon Solutions America, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc., has announced major advances in the company’s media and ink capabilities, including the opening of a new media lab in Boca Raton, Florida; the availability of a new product for the educational book market; and a comprehensive inkjet media catalog.
On March 1st, Canon Solutions America will open a new media lab in Boca Raton, Florida. Designed for live testing across inkjet and toner-based products, the lab is the first of its kind in North America and complements the company’s existing labs in Poing, Germany and Venlo, Netherlands.
The lab provides Canons Solutions America the capacity to work with more mills to test more sheets with more inks, much more quickly. Product teams can now simultaneously test several different types of ink and media, optimizing product performance and helping media partners bring products to market faster.
Canon Solutions America’s international paper program has generated tremendous success in recent years, expanding its portfolio to include nearly 1,000 qualified media. The newest addition is a 45 lb. coated sheet for the educational book publishing market. A Crown Van Gelder (CVG) product called LetsGo Silk was formerly only available in Europe. Through its media lab in Poing, Germany, Canon Solutions America worked closely with CVG to optimize their product for Océ inkjet platforms equipment. The sheet is now available to North American customers through Gould Paper Corporation.
Canon Solutions America recently invited its media partners to participate in an industry-first effort to develop a global, vendor-neutral inkjet media catalog. Each participating mill submitted media that best represent their capability with inkjet platforms, and each were given a section of the catalog in which to promote its company’s offering. The result is a best-in-class tool that allows the user to examine all of the paper products qualified for Océ inkjet platforms.
The new catalog will be available to both customers and mills in February. To allow for one-to-one comparison, each printed sample uses the same artwork – a collage of images that demonstrates print quality across shadow, facial tones, logo color, text, reverse print and more – which highlight the performance and unique value proposition of each sheet.
The catalog demonstrates Canon Solutions America’s commitment to not just growing its approved media portfolio but to ensuring each product is backed by a strong relationship with its manufacturer.
Epson and PrintFleet Partner to Enable MPS Solutions on Epson Business Printers
Feb. 4, 2014 –Epson America has partnered with PrintFleet to optimize the data collection process for Epson business printers. PrintFleet software is now able to accurately and rapidly collect, analyze and deliver data from Epson’s line of business printing products to streamline MPS deployments. The Epson and PrintFleet collaboration makes it optimal for IT network professionals and dealers working in managed business environments to remotely monitor and manage productivity, performance and costs of their printing and imaging environments, according to an Epson press release.
Epson and PrintFleet’s new partnership enables both companies to offer PrintFleet’s software and Epson’s line of imaging devices to their respective distribution partners. Epson’s portfolio of business-class printers, available through the Epson ImageWay Partner Program, offers color printing solutions for small-to medium-size enterprise businesses.
For more information about Epson’s ImageWay Program, visit http://imageway.goepson.com or contact an Epson sales representative at 800-947-8247.
Konica Minolta Launches bizhub PRESS C1070/C1070P/C1060 and bizhub PRO C1060L
Feb. 3, 2014 – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. has announced the launch of the bizhub PRESS C1070/C1070P/C1060 series and bizhub PRO C1060L color digital presses.
Designed for production and commercial environments, as well as customers across a broad range of industries including legal, healthcare and education, the bizhub PRESS C1070/C1070P/C1060 series and bizhub PRO C1060L reportedly improve upon the successful bizhub PRESS C6500 series and bizhub PRESS C7000 series. With the ability to handle a broad range of substrates and various inline finishing options, this new bizhub PRESS series can handle complex print specifications without compromising speed or quality, according to a Konica Minolta press release. Featuring the fourth generation of Konica Minolta’s Simitri HDE toner, as well as Screen-Enhancing Active Digital (SEAD IV) processing, the new series delivers superior quality and enhanced electro-photographic in both color and B&W.
The bizhub PRESS C1070/C1070P/C1060 series and bizhub PRO C1060L include advanced paper handling technologies for smooth, problem-free print runs. Air-assisted paper feeder options (PF-602, LU-202) have two variable-speed blowers on front and back of their trays to eliminate paper jams. In addition, an optional air-suction Paper Feed Unit (PF-707) offers additional paper-handling power previously available only on higher-output devices. The new digital presses also feature the Adobe PDF Print Engine 3, the next-generation rendering platform, optimized for end-to-end PDF workflows.
Click here for more information on the bizhub PRESS C1070/C1070P/C1060 series and bizhub PRO C1060L.
GreatAmerica Managed IT Training and Webinar Dates Announced
Jan. 30, 2014 – GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation and Collabrance LLC have announced that their Managed Information Technology (IT) Navigator business planning seminar will be held April 22-23, 2014 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The event targets office equipment and telecommunication dealerships, independent VARs, and Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and helps them build profitable Managed IT businesses. A free 1-hour introductory Webinar will be held on February 17.
The events will be facilitated by Milton Bartley, President and CEO, ImageQuest Managed Services, Nashville, TN. MSPmentor 250 honored Bartley in December 2013 as one of the world’s top MSP experts, entrepreneurs and executives. Bartley brings his experience and knowledge to help guide executive teams through the step-by-step development of building a profitable managed IT services business model and operational structure.
New data will be presented on increasing managed IT services revenue and profit when selling standardized service and hardware. Businesses starting a managed IT offering–or scaling and enhancing a current one–will gain insight in sales force compensation, pricing strategies, and various operational considerations.
Free Navigator Webinar: Managed IT: Build It, Run It, & Explain It to Your Clients Monday, February 17, 3:00PM Central https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/806586928
Navigator Business Planning Session: Tuesday/Wednesday, April 22-23 GreatAmerica & Collabrance Headquarters in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Interested solution providers must register by Monday, April 14, 2014. Participants are not required to be existing GreatAmerica or Collabrance customers to take part in the Managed IT Navigator programs. For additional information or registration, contact Collabrance at (877) 715.8485 or visit www.greatamerica.com/ManagedITNavigator.
FlexPrint Recognizes Sixty Employees at Annual Kickoff Meeting Inside Herberger Theater
Jan. 30, 2014 –Last week, FlexPrint, Inc. hosted their 2014 Kick-Off Meeting inside the magnificent Center Stage at Herberger Theater in Phoenix, Arizona to celebrate their outstanding achievements for 2013. Eric Schurenberg, Editor-in-Chief of Inc.com and Inc. Magazine commenced the meeting with an enthusiastic and congratulatory message to the crowd of FlexPrint employees. “We wanted to congratulate FlexPrint on their four-peat on the Inc. 500|5000 list in 2013, and winning the Hire Power Awards two years in a row! That is quite an accomplishment, and I’m sure we will see you there in 2014”, states Eric Schurenberg from Inc.com and Inc. Magazine.
The meeting concluded with 60 FlexPrint employees being recognized by their peers for going above and beyond throughout the entire year, and 12 Grand Prize Awards of Choice Dream Vacations were selected and announced.
“The theme of our Kick-Off Meeting was Our People. Every employee on our team contributed to our outstanding achievements by their hard work, dedication, and consistent superior service to our VIP clients,” states Frank Gaspari, CEO of FlexPrint, Inc. “Each of the 60 who were recognized are among the most respected and talented professionals within our organization. They are trusted partners and advocates for our clients, and we are proud to recognize their contributions.”
ECi FMAudit and West Point Products Develop Program for Toner Resellers
Jan. 30, 2014 – ECi Software Solutions and West Point Products have developed a program specifically for West Point Product’s dealers and channel partners to leverage ECi’s FMAudit suite of products. This new relationship between ECi and West Point Products will allow customers in the West Point Products network to expand beyond the traditional toner-only approach and focus on the increasingly competitive Managed Print Services market.
The pairing of FMAudit and West Point Products will provide dealers with the ability to synchronize meter, service and supply information with their ERP systems. Both West Point and dealer-hosted solutions allow the dealer to track vital information such as meter and device reporting while also monitoring service and supplies at the end-user’s site.
To learn more about the FMAudit suite of managed services products, visit fmaudit.ecisolutions.com.
Grimshaw Promoted to President and CEO of Ervin Equipment Finance
Jan. 29, 2014 – Tim Marshall, President and CEO of Bank of Ann Arbor, the parent company of Ervin Equipment Finance, has announced the promotion of R.J. Grimshaw to President and CEO of Ervin Equipment Finance. Grimshaw will assume full responsibility for all activities of Ervin in a well-defined transition plan with Bruce Gaffney. Gaffney, who joined Ervin Leasing in 1978, recently announced that he will retire on March 31, 2014.
Grimshaw joined Ervin Leasing on August 15, 2013 as Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Officer and assumed the leadership position for rebuilding the sales platform. Under his leadership, important milestones have been achieved. Monthly originations more than doubled since Grimshaw came on board and originations were at a four year high in December, 2013. Also in that time frame, Ervin attracted high caliber regional sales managers to support our strategy of serving partners in specific verticals. In addition to his strength in managing the sales side of the business, “R.J. has exhibited a strong skill set in underwriting, systems, operations, and the strategic planning process. He has worked closely with the entire front and back end operational areas to ensure all clients receive an “exceeds expectation” experience as the company grows”, said Marshall.
Grimshaw spent seven and a half years at Key Corp and held positions as the Senior Regional Leasing Portfolio Manager in Syracuse, Vice President and Small Business Banking Team Leader, and Vice President and Director of Leasing Sales for the Technology Finance unit, based in Houston, Texas. Prior to joining Bank of Ann Arbor, he spent five years at EverBank Commercial Finance serving as Vice President of Sales.
Sharp Launches New Line of Mid-High Volume Monochrome Workgroup Document Systems
Jan. 27, 2014 – Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America (SIICA), a division of Sharp Electronics Corporation, has launched a new family of six mid-high volume monochrome MFPs offered in two distinct varieties, the Advanced Series and Essentials Series.
The new Advanced Series document systems represent Sharp’s newest technology and are designed for customers with demanding workflow environments that need superior performance. The MX-M365N, MX-M465N and MX-M565N models offer speeds of 36-ppm, 46-ppm and 56-ppm, respectively. They include a 10-inch tablet-style touch-screen and other innovative features such as an integrated retractable keyboard, wireless networking, true Adobe PostScript 3, and high capacity paper handling for longer uptime. The Advanced Series also provides access to Sharp Cloud Portal Office, a new cloud storage service enabling businesses to collaborate seamlessly with Sharp document systems and other collaborative devices such as Sharp’s AQUOS BOARD Interactive Display Systems as well as with the latest smartphones and tablets.
The new Essentials Series document systems are designed for cost conscious customers, offering features common to competitive models in this class. The MX-M364N, MX-M464N and MX-M564N provide full multifunction capability (copying, network printing and network scanning) at speeds of 36-ppm, 46-ppm and 56-ppm, respectively.
Sharp’s built-in wireless networking on the Sharp Advanced Series, in conjunction with the free Sharpdesk Mobile app, offers convenient printing and scanning for guest users, without having to access the company’s corporate network. The “Point-to-Point” mode establishes a direct wireless connection to mobile devices, which is isolated from the wired LAN.
Both the Sharp Advanced Series and Essentials Series offer a range of paper handling and finishing options to accommodate virtually any size office environment. Sharp’s standard End-of-Lease feature can overwrite all document and user data, which helps protect business and personal information at time of trade in.
The new MX-M365N, MX-M465N and MX-M565N Advanced Series and the MX-M364N, MX-M464N and MX-M564N Essentials Series monochrome document systems are available immediately for purchase via authorized Sharp dealers and direct sales.
BTA MPS Survival Guide Workshop Set for March 11
Jan. 28, 2014 – On March 11 in Las Vegas, the Business Technology Association will present the BTA MPS Survival Guide Workshop, taught by Doug Johnson, senior vice president of Supplies Network. The workshop will be held prior to ITEX 2014 at the Rio All-Suite Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. This interactive, hands-on workshop will cover the various MPS program options available in the market today, explore the resource and skill requirements for each, and highlight the financial impacts of an MPS business model on your current business. Created for dealership owners, principals and executive-level management, attendees will leave the workshop with a personalized business plan outline, a tailored sales compensation plan, and a clear understanding of the assets and competencies needed to be successful.
Whether you are just entering the MPS space or want to improve your existing MPS business model, this workshop is for you. This workshop and its interactive exercises are based on years of proven success in the MPS space and have helped many other dealers to sell and manage best-in-class MPS programs in the United States and Europe.
This course is objective, focused on the instructor’s expertise, and does not include content that is intended to promote specific, related Supplies Network products or services. If you are not 100-percent satisfied, BTA will apply your tuition fee to a future course or give you a full refund.
BTA member tuition for the BTA MPS Survival Guide Workshop is only $599, and an additional attendee from the same dealership is $420. BTA members may also apply their $150 or $250 discount coupon received with their membership toward this workshop. For more information or to register, visit www.bta.org/MPSSurvivalGuide or call (800) 843-5059.
Kyocera Document Solutions America Awarded Green Business Certification
Jan. 28, 2014–KYOCERA Document Solutions America has announced it has been awarded a “Green Business Certification” by the Institute for Green Business Certification (IGBC), the oldest organization of its kind to certify business environmental practices.
Recognizing the burden that business activities can place on the environment, KYOCERA dedicates itself to balancing economic development with environmental preservation. Its green approach to manufacturing and design can be seen throughout its entire line of document imaging devices. One such example, the company’s ECOSYS® multifunctional printers (MFPs) and printers, boast a remarkably low total cost of ownership, has little or no impact on the environment, and comes complete with Kyocera’s patented long-life drum technology. Plus, the devices feature an eco-friendly drum design that allows users to replenish toner without replacing the drum—thus reducing consumable costs and landfill waste.
To be certified as a “green business” by the IGBC, Kyocera had to:
- Comply with all environmental regulations applicable to its business;
- Implement a variety of measures to save energy, water and other materials, and reduce waste;
- Host a site visit to verify that Kyocera meets all requirements;
- Pledge to continue its efforts to prevent pollution and conserve resources.
The IGBC is a third-party accrediting organization serving the United States, Canada, and South / Central America. It recognizes environmentally conscious businesses by inspecting such critical areas as the reduction of solid waste, office waste, and chemicals; the recycling of materials and content; the conservation of water; and the prevention of pollutants. For more information on IGBC go to www.gbcertified.com
To learn more about Kyocera’s environmental initiatives, visit www.kyoceradocumentsolutions.com
Bay Copy CEO Ray Belanger Elected Chairman of South Shore Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
Jan. 27, 2014 – Ray Belanger, CEO of Bay Copy (www.baycopy.com), has been elected Chair of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. In this capacity, he will work closely with CEO Peter Forman and past Chair Robert Rivers (President of Eastern Bank) to help lead the Chamber’s 1300 members and its strategic plan at an important time in the organization’s history, as the chamber embarks upon a regional development plan while continuing to be the voice of business on the South Shore. In his capacity as Chair, he will also lead the monthly meetings of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. The South Shore Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest Chambers in the nation, and is second largest in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is additionally a source of relationship building, education and advocacy.
The Norwell, MA resident is an active member of the South Shore Chamber and has served the Chamber in a number of capacities during his time as a member, most recently as First Vice Chair, and as a supporting Partner. Belanger, who has been president of Bay Copy since 1992, is also a founding member and Past President of Select Dealer Group, a national trade association of office products dealerships. He is a past President of the Konica National Advisory Board, a current member of the Lexmark Advisory Board and has been a featured speaker/panelist at industry events.
Digital Gateway’s Flagship ERP System to be Rebranded as ECi e-automate Software
Jan. 27, 2014 – Digital Gateway, Inc., a subsidiary of ECi Software Solutions (www.ECiSolutions.com), a provider of industry-specific information technology solutions, has announced its plans to start branding its flagship ERP system for the office equipment industry as ECi e-automate software, complete with new logos for the software and its suite of add-on products. The new product name and logos more closely reflect the growing identity of e-automate software as part of the ECi group of office equipment ERP solutions.
Digital Gateway will continue to operate as a separate company within the ECi Software Solutions family. ECi acquired Digital Gateway in September 2011, making it the newest member of ECi’s Office Equipment Division. In the 2+ years following the acquisition, Digital Gateway has made some important changes that have benefited both staff and customers.
“We’ve invested heavily in the e-automate software over the past year,” says Laryssa Alexander, president of ECi’s Office Equipment Division. “Our development team has poured countless hours into evolving the software to tackle both technological and strategic changes that have arisen in the industry. We’ve also actively recruited and cross-trained personnel across our Office Equipment Division to provide more flexible implementation and support resources. These additions will ensure that e-automate users will have access to similar resources as the rest of the ECi customer base.”
The brand transition will take place over the next few months with no noticeable impact to Digital Gateway’s current operations. Users of e-automate software and the public will experience this transition as a change in aesthetics represented through the various ways Digital Gateway communicates with the industry (advertisement, e-mails, Websites, etc.).
