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April 22, 2010 -  While traditionally a "big iron" show, this year's On Demand Conference & Exposition focused on workflow, with cut-sheet digital production systems dominating the floor.  The show, which targets commercial printers and print-service providers, many of which have been hard-hit by the recession, was held again at the Philadelphia Convention Center, and was predictably smaller in size than in previous years--a far cry from the huge exhibitions in New York and at other venues in the past, where it seemed the booths stretched on for miles.  We did note however that foot traffic seemed to be up compared to last year's show. 

Hardware announcements came from Konica Minolta (which introduced its new bizhub Press brand and flagship bizhub Press 8000), Canon (imageRUNNER ADVANCE 6000 and 8000), and Xerox (Color 800 and 1000 Presses).  On the software end, Nuance Communications announced that it's expanded its eCopy SDK, and also announced new capabilities for eCopy ShareScan.  Other hardware vendors exhibiting were Ricoh, Hewlett-Packard with its Indigo systems, and Oki Data, which was showing two recently introduced light-production systems.

New Konica Minolta bizhub Press Family

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. announced a new production-printing brand, "bizhub Press," as its seeks to broaden its presence in the digital production-printing market.  It previewed the first member of the new line, the flagship bizhub PRESS C8000, a full-color digital-imaging system powered by an EFI Fiery IC-306 controller.  At 80 ppm in B/W and color, the bizhub PRESS C8000 is the fastest color production-print system from the firm to date.  According to Kevin Kern, senior vice president of marketing, there was at first a bit of internal strife over the product name, but the company eventually kept the "bizhub" in the product name in order to leverage the bizhub's brand equity; all future production systems from Konica Minolta will also carry the "bizhub PRESS" name. 

Designed to replace color offset presses and for commercial and high-volume office environments, the new bizhub PRESS prints at 1,200 dpi, with 8-bit resolution data processing.  The system employs dual fusing units that enable it to handle heavier stock (up to 350 gsm in simplex mode, and 300 gsm in duplex mode) with no loss of print speed.  It's equipped with an on-board densitometer that periodically monitors density (the darkness of colors and black) in order to maintain consistent image quality.  It's also equipped with an an air-suction belt-feeding mechanism for more reliable paper feeding, a de-curling mechanism that reduces paper curl, and a system that continuously monitors internal and external atmospheric conditions and adjusts image quality accordingly. 

The bizhub PRESS C8000 uses the firm's next-generation Simitri HD+ color polymerized toner, which as Konica Minolta's Kern explained, consists of toner particles with a hard shell with wax inside, which he says effectively produces 3,600x3,600 dpi output.  This toner fuses at lower temperatures (for less power consumption), and is more heat-resistant on paper.  A plus is that consumables such as toner will be user-replaceable, helping to minimize calls to service and downtime. 

Various optional in-line post-processing document finishing options will be available, including in-line perfect binding (produce trimmed perfect-bound books up to 600 pages), saddle-stitch stapling, stapling, etc.

The bizhub Press 8000's Fiery IC-306 controller provides EFI's Fiery Command Workstation 5 solution for job management and device-management of all Fiery-controller equipped systems on the network.  Embedded JDF workflows technology resides on the Fiery controller, and provides integration with third-party prepress, other workflow applications, and EFI Web-to-print and MIS solutions.  EFI's also included variable data printing capability (VDP), with compatibility with PPML.  Options include Color Profiler Suite (CPS) color-management and matching software, Fiery SeeQuence Suite software for job workflow, and a Graphic Arts Package (Premium Edition) for color management and profiling, as well as workflow. 

Also available for the bizhub Press 8000 will be an IC-307 Print Controller developed by partner CREO.  Konica Minolta says the new controller is in the late stages of development and will be released later this year with the upcoming release of the bizhub PRESS C8000.  The IC-307 controller will also provided JDF and VDP, as well as the ability to integrate a variety of professional workflows solutions with open connectivity using JDF standards.  These include Kodak Prinergy Workflow System, Agfa:Apogee System, etc.  Additionally, print-service providers will be able to manage both their digital and offset workflows from one central control point from the IC-307 controller using the IC-307's user interface.

The IC-307 controller's color-management tools include default color settings, color calibration, last-minute color correction features, spot-color editing, and the ability to correct gradation without re-RIPing (processing) files.  The IC-307 controller also supports document finishing, including the ability to print variable information on book spines.

Pricing is not yet available for the bizhub Press 8000, which Konica Minolta will begin shipping in a few months, at which time the company will also release cost per page, the latter of Konica Minolta's Kern promises "will be very competitive."

Will Market Kip Production Systems

Konica Minolta also announced it will be marketing the next-generation of wide-format production print systems from KIP America (KIP), a manufacturer of wide-format printing and imaging technology. The firm will market the KIP 9900 ($53,995), KIP 7900 ($24,995)/7700 ($18,995), and KIP 23200 ($14,000) via its North American direct-sales and authorized dealers. 

New Digital Color Press From Xerox

Xerox had one of the largest booths at the show, strategically located at the convention-hall entrance, and hosted an elaborate "cocktail hour" with music by rhythm-and-blues band Tower of Power (right), all designed to showcase its new digital color laser production systems, the Color 800 and 1000 Presses.  Rated at up to 80 and 100 ppm respectively, the two systems are geared for producing full-color output such as sales collateral, direct-marketing pieces, etc. 

Both systems employ Xerox's new Clear EA toner, a transparent dry ink that's a new formulation of Xerox’s EA (Emulsion Aggregation) toner that fuses at low temperatures.  Clear EA toner uses no fuser oil and gives images a smooth offset-like finish.  Images and text can be highlighted to appear to “pop off” the page and even sparkle.  Also new with the Color 800 and 1000 Press 8000 is:

• A long-life photoreceptor that coated with a protective coating for longer life.  Xerox says the new photoreceptor is good for up to 800,000 pages. 
• A new Intermediate Belt Transfer System (IBT) that makes it easier for operators to set jobs up using different-size media, and which also enables users to add a fifth station for clear toner.
• A new fuser incorporates a set of heated rollers that heat both sides of the paper simultaneously for fusing toner toner into the paper.  The company says the new fuser lasts twice as long as previous fusers.
• A new belt coating lowers the temperature of paper passing through the system.  This addresses the problem of toner not being able to adhere to paper (after it's heat-fused to the paper) because the paper is moving too fast through the system. 

Xerox also demonstrated its new ProfitQuick Direct Marketing ROI Planner software, which calculates the return on investment (ROI) of a direct-mail marketing campaign.  The user enters the cost of producing the marketing pieces and the value dollar of the products shown, with the software indicating return-on-investment for the printed pieces. 

Nuance Expands eCopy Software Development Kit; eCopy ShareScan Gets New Capabilities

Moving from the hardware side of imaging to the software side, Wirth Consulting enjoyed an interesting presentation from Nuance, the Burlington, MA, company that made news with its purchase of eCopy about six months ago.  eCopy is the developer of ShareScan, the industry's best-selling paper-to-digital scanning system for MFPs; it streamlines the process of scanning and routing documents.  Currently eCopy ShareScan solutions are marketed by Canon, Hewlett-Packard, Konica Minolta, Océ, Ricoh/IKON, Toshiba and Xerox.  Interestingly, representatives from Xerox were co-presenters, touting Xerox's strong and ongoing relationship with Nuance and its marketing of Nuance software with its imaging systems.

Since its acquisition of eCopy, Nuance has sought to broaden its own customer and third-party developer base with eCopy's bases and other valuable assets (eCopy connectors).  Nuance itself is a developer of speech-to-text recognition software and its ubiquitous OmniPage optical character recognition (OCR) software for converting scanned documents into editable texts files. 

At On Demand, Nuance announced that it's expanded the eCopy software development kit (SDK) to include development tools (an API set) for third-party developers.  This makes Nuance with its eCopy ShareScan the only scanning-solution vendor to provide a complete OCR and document processing SDK to its third-party developer community.  Authorized eCopy third-party developers will now will have access to the expanded eCopy SDK, including the OmniPage SDK, for developing solutions that are deployed within the eCopy ShareScan system.  OmniPage capabilities such as advanced image processing and 3D-capture for book scanning, OCR and document conversion, forms processing, zonal OCR and exporting to over 100 formats (including eBook and audio books) can now be added to eCopy Application Connectors, and can be used to create new eCopy Processing Extenders. 

For example, developers can use the OmniPage extensions to add scan-to-redaction capabilities to their eCopy Connector or eCopy solution.  This would enables users, employing keywords or phrases, to automatically remove undesired information (such as Social Security numbers) from documents.  The document can then be printed with redaction, or sent to the user as a redacted Adobe PDF file.  The expanded eCopy SDK with OmniPage APIs also supports scan-to-highlight.  Scan-to-highlight is a paper-search feature--the software finds and highlights information hidden within stacks of paper, with the highlighted document either printed or sent as a PDF.

Another Nuance goal is to expand use of Nuance and eCopy solutions, from large enterprises to smaller ones, with the idea being that virtually any organization can benefit from turning paper processes into digital ones.  Noted Nuance's Robert Weideman, general manager for the company's Document Imaging Division, "You don't need to be a large company...you just need to want to process documents more efficiently."

New ShareScan Capabilities

Nuance also introduced new capabilities for ShareScan at On Demand:

• A new Document Conversion Extender enables users to convert scanned paper documents into fully formatted Microsoft Word, Excel and RTF formats.  Nuance says it's also approved OCR-accuracy levels by up to 50 percent versus its previous OCR software.  The company maintains that ShareScan's OCR accuracy is now up to 30-percent more accurate than alternative solutions--it calculates that this accuracy can save users 15 minutes per page of manual re-typing of documents and spreadsheets, and that it also ensures searchable PDF documents can't be retrieved because keywords have been lost due to OCR errors.
• With a new eCopy Forms Processing Extender, users can scan the document, extract data from it, automatically route the document, and even perform automated database lookups. 

New imageRUNNER ADVANCE Systems From Canon

Right across the aisle from Xerox's expansive booth at On Demand was an equally large booth manned by Canon U.S.A., which launched its first monochrome imaging systems that are based on its imageRUNNER ADVANCE platform, the imageRUNNER ADVANCE 6000 and 8000 (right).  The systems are designed for light-production as well as for the (high-volume) office, and are based on Canon's Advanced imageCHIP system architecture.  Canon's positioning the two not as simply hardware systems, but as "advanced document-management systems." 

New design features includes a more compact device footprint, and new color touch screen that has a customizable user interface--for instance, users can consolidate a workflow consisting of multiple settings into a single menu key.  imageRUNNER ADVANCE Essentials software provides device and fleet management, as well as the ability to control document workflow.  The new systems also support Canon's MEAP open-development platform for creating custom applications and workflows accessible at the system. 

These days it seems every imaging devices uses a unique and special toner, and the new Canon systems are no different--they both use what Canon calls "pO" toner.  The virtues of this toner, according to Canon, are better reproduction of fine detail, smoother gradations, with toner more evenly distributed across the page throughout the entire print run (resolution is rated at 1,200 dpi).

imageRUNNER ADVANCE 8000 Series
The imageRUNNER ADVANCE 8105, 8095 and 8085 are rated at 105, 95 and 85 ppm respectively.

Scanning is at up to 200 originals per minute (opm) and the systems are equipped with single-pass document feeders with automatic duplex scanning of two-sided originals.  Maximum paper capacity is 7,700 sheets, and the system can handle up to 80 lb. cover stock and up to 13"x 19.25" media size.  Optional document finishing includes multiple folding options, document hole-punching, post-process document insertion, and face-trimming of booklets--when fully equipped with finishing options, the system seemingly stretched across the entire width of Canon's large booth.   Of note is a lower 120-volt power requirement for more versatile deployment.  

imageRUNNER ADVANCE 6000 Series
The imageRUNNER ADVANCE 6075, 6065, 6055  are rated at 75, 65 and 55 ppm respectively, and incorporate monochrome print and copy, color scan, and a single-pass duplexing automatic document feeder.  Media-handling capabilities are the same as with the 8000, except that maximum media size is smaller at 11"x17".  Optional document finishing includes multi-position stapling, booklet-making, post-process document insertion, and C/Z- folding capabilities.

Canon will begin shipping in the second quarter via its authorized dealers and Canon Business Solutions.  Retail pricing is as follows: 

 Microsoft Demonstrates Beta Version Of SharePoint 2010

Microsoft showed its beta version of SharePoint 2010, its far-reaching document content-management system for document storage, collaboration and sharing, and which can be deployed both inside the enterprise (via intranets), and outside of the firewall (via Extranets, Internet-facing sites). 

Some new enhancements to SharePoint include:

• Office Web Apps - SharePoint 2010 features Web versions of Microsoft Office applications such as Word and Excel, so that users can access documents, spreadsheets, presentations and notes without worrying about whether the latest Office Client is installed.  To learn more about the Office Web Apps, visit http://www.microsoft.com/office/2010/.  
• Support for XHTML - SharePoint now supports industry Web-development standards (XHTML), which provide a more accessible interface (WCAG 2.0 AA conformant) for handicapped users.
• Easy Web Editing - Microsoft says it's improved the control users have over sites by changing SharePoint sites to be more page-focused rather than collection lists.  Sites in SharePoint 2010 still contain the same lists and libraries as previous versions of SharePoint, but the site is now a collection of pages.  Authenticated users can modify pages using the Ribbon UI menus.  Users can also create new pages within the site, and get a live preview of the changes they’ve made prior to publishing their changes. 
• Multilingual support. 
• More precise audience targeting - By using audience targeting, content can be targeted in a site for viewing by one or more specific audiences. SharePoint 2010 supports targeting using rules-based audiences, SharePoint groups, and distribution-list memberships.  These audiences can span one or more sites in a given deployment.  SharePoint 2010 also provides the ability to target any list item, not just the lists.  This means that virtually any individual item within the site--documents, events, custom list items, and even entire sites--may now be targeted to specific audiences.

For a white paper on Sharepoint 2010, see here.

OKI Shows New Systems For Commercial Printing

OKI Data Americas showed its newly launched pro930 Digital Color Printer and pro510DW Digital Color Web Press in the WalkerWide booth; WalkerWide is a subsidiary of Walker Supply Company, which provides supplies, service and document-finishing for commercial print providers, and is OKI's first partner that will distribute OKI's proColor Series. 

Both the pro510DW and pro930 are built on OKI’s LED-array, toner-based color-imaging technology. 

• The pro510DW is OKI's first entry into the production-printing market, and was introduced in February 2010.  It provides continuous web (non-cut-sheet) printing at up to 30 feet per minute (5.1" per second slew rate), handling a 2,500-foot roll of stock.  Device footprint is a compact 46.3" (height) x 25.7" (width) x 24.9" (depth).  It prints on plain paper, labels and various tag stocks, and automatic cut-and-reload between print jobs is provided for reduced operator intervention.  List price is $36,200.
• The pro 390 is a tabloid (12"x18") color printer for graphic arts and short-run color printing.  It incorporates an embedded Electronics for Imaging Fiery controller, and provides Pantone color-matching and variable variable data printing.  List price for the Pro930 is $10,230.

Pitney Bowes To Market Riso Color Ink-Jet Production Systems

Also of note at On Demand was an announcement by Pitney Bowes that it would expanded its alliance with RISO to market RISO's ComColor color ink-jet production printers in the United States.  Pitney Bowes says the ComColor systems will help it provide a complete "print-to-mail" solution. 

The ComColor systems are designed for mid- and high-volume direct-mail printing, as well as transactional and promotional documents (invoices, promotional flyers, postcards, direct mail, etc.).  They're rated at 90-150 ppm, and consist of five models (the 9050, 7050, 7010, 3050, and 3010) that are configured with different print speeds, media capacities, print image areas, and option compatibility.  The systems are designed to handle up to 500,000 pages per month using ink-jet technology's no-heat imaging technology.  The systems complement Pitney Bowes' suite of mail-management software, and can be equipped with optional scan and copy.  Pitney Bowes also markets Riso's previously introduced HC5500 ink-jet printing system. 

Next year's On Demand Conference will be held in Washington, DC, March 22-24.