Print in the Channel - issue #28

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Issue #28

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NEWS: The latest news and product news from the Channel – pages 6-10 2023 PREVIEW:: Crystal balls at the ready – page 15 INTERVIEW:: Richard Wells embracing 30 years of change – page 26 SCANNING GATEWAYS: Hybrid working is driving the growth of digitising documents – page 46 BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE:: How FX rates affect toner pricing – page 50

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COMMENT

Safety first Cybersecurity continues to make headlines this year, and printer networks can provide an entry point for cyber criminals unless they are properly secured – and resellers have a vital role to play in ensuring they are.

Regular readers of this column (hi to all three of you) may remember that last month I wrote about the importance of security, which has been highlighted by recent high-profile cyberattacks on various well-known retail chains. I try to not repeat myself in successive columns, but in this case, I feel I need to make an exception, given how the threats to business are

some employees are handling confidential documents at home – and this means they need shredders that can render documents unreadable and unable to be put back together. This presents growing opportunities for resellers. Read more on p33. Elsewhere in this issue, various manufacturers have launched new print devices, aimed at various parts of the

Dan Parton

increasing – and the devastating impact a security breach can have. While security is now

sector, from home offices to large format print. All of these provide

opportunities for resellers to expand their range and

something that business managers accept is now needed, some still don’t fully protect their networks, and, especially in smaller businesses, the printer network can be overlooked in cybersecurity plans. This

provide what customers are looking for, from speed to sustainability. Read more from p14. All these new printers have been designed with

security in mind, and this topic should form a part of the conversations resellers have when they are talking to customers about refreshing their printer fleet and taking on new models. As always, I hope you enjoy the issue. Print in the Channel is for all those involved in the print channel, so if you have a topic you would like to see covered in a future issue, please get in touch. Likewise, if you have news to share, or would like to offer an opinion piece for consideration for publication, please drop me a line at dan@newsinthechannel.com n

can mean printers are a weak point in the system and offer a route in for a cybercriminal. This is where resellers have a crucial role to play – they can advise customers on what sort of printer network security they need in place, and what it should comprise. Read more on p54. Of course, it isn’t just about online security. There are still reams of physical documents that businesses use and, once they have reached the end of their usefulness, they need to be disposed of properly. With the rise of home working,

See the 2025 Nominations and Sponsors

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00 05

CONTENTS

News You should know p8 Product Launches Ricoh p14 Konica Minolta p18 Fujifilm p20 Brother p22 Kyocera No CISO? No problem p13 MPS for Retail and Hospitality p25 Stockies 2025 Nominations and Sponsors p29 Confidential Shredding Making the cut p33

MPS for Retail and Hospitality – p25

Confidential Shredding – p33

Hybrid workers can now do everything at home that they could in the office – including handling sensitive documents. This means they must have the facilities to confidentially shred documents too, but this can be overlooked, especially by smaller businesses.

Print is often central to businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors, so managed print services can be vital to help them to achieve efficiency and cost savings – and demand for it is set to grow in the coming years.

Scanners – MFP or Dedicated Device – p42

With businesses increasingly digitalising their operations, scanning is becoming more important. But for office managers, the question is often whether it will be better to get a dedicated scanner or use one that is integrated into an MFP.

Eagle Eye BI Print servers p40

Scanners – MFP or Dedicated Device p42 Document Management in the NHS p46 Electronic Signatures p51 Printer Network Security p54 EKM Accreditation p58 People p59

Product Launches Ricoh – p14

Ricoh has launched its Pro C5400 Series of colour production printers, which have been designed to provide greater speed and usability, while not compromising on quality to meet the needs of commercial and enterprise businesses.

Konica Minolta has unveiled its AccurioPress C7100 ENHANCED Series, which has been designed to provide the faster turnaround times, greater flexibility and increased automation that print businesses are requiring.

Konica Minolta – p18

CONTENTS

As document management increasingly goes digital, the use of electronic signatures is growing in the UK – across a range of sectors – and this creates opportunities for resellers. Electronic Signatures – p51

Publishing Director Justin Penn 07816 573 186 justin@ printinthechannel.com Editorial Dan Parton 07941 979 845 dan@ printinthechannel.com Advertising Sales Martin Jenner-Hall 07824 552 116 martin@ printinthechannel.com Liz Newbury 07756 069297 liz@printinthechannel.com Market Analyst Wickus Bester wickus.bester@ stockinthechannel.com Written permission from the publisher is required before any part of Print in the Channel can be reproduced. © 2025 In the Channel Media Ltd.

TECHNOLOGY & STORAGE 24 NOVEMBER

The first set of STOCKIES 2025 award nominations and sponsors have been announced .

Printer Network Security – p54

In association with

In the wake of recent security breaches, managers are seeking to ensure their businesses are as protected as possible – and printer networks should not be ignored.

Fujifilm – p20

Fujifilm has launched the Revoria XMF PressReady Lite, a lower cost, lower specification workflow solution tailored for smaller print businesses that only use a small number of POD presses.

Published by: In the Channel Media Ltd Company registration number: 14363401 Registered office address 14-18 Heddon Street, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom, W1B 4DA In conjunction with:

Brother UK has entered the inkjet tank market with the launch a line-up of tank models aimed at the small and home businesses market offering speed, accuracy and sustainability.

Brother – p22

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NEWS

Katun wins Customer Service of the Year at 2025 Recycler Awards

Katun Corporation has won the Customer Service of the Year Award at the 2025 Recycler Awards, held in Tallinn, Estonia. The annual event, which celebrates excellence and innovation in the imaging sector, brings together industry leaders and professionals from across Europe. Katun’s recognition as Customer Service of the Year reflects the company’s exceptional performance in customer support across a broad geographic region and exemplifies their ongoing commitment to supporting partners

through reliability and responsiveness. The Recycler Awards stand out in the industry for their voting process, with winners selected by imaging industry professionals and the public. “We are honoured to be recognised for Katun’s outstanding customer support,” said Heidi Boller, Katun’s general manager of Europe, Middle East and Africa. “This award reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire team, who are committed to ensuring a high-quality, responsive, and reliable experience for our partners.” n

Cinzia Gandini, Katun EAME marketing director; Kirsten Martens, Katun EAME OEM purchasing manager; David Connett, “The Recycler” partner

katun.com

Epson partners with Umango to enhance data capture and workflow automation

Epson and Umango have partnered to deliver enhanced data capture and workflow automation on Epson scanners and MFPs. Leveraging Umango’s advanced browser-based document capture solutions users can access powerful Intelligent document processing features including optical character recognition, optical mark recognition, handwriting recognition and AI-powered data extraction tools directly from the device. The partnership makes it easier for users to manage document and data processing, reducing time required to manage document workflows and improving data flow accuracy. “The Umango platform is known for its ease of deployment, flexible integration options and minimal configuration requirements, marking it the ideal fit for Epson devices,” said Patrick Perrot, Epson Europe. “This partnership allows users to access powerful document processing software from the point of

data input – on the device.” Andrew Wade, global channel manager at Umango, added: “This partnership with Epson is a great fit for Umango. Epson’s reliable, innovative hardware combined with our intelligent software creates a compelling, embedded solution for document capture, automation and integration. We’re excited to support Epson resellers and customers across the globe with our technology.” n

Andrew Wade global channel manager

umango.com

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097

NEWS

UK office workers dismiss cybersecurity threat of printers

Printers continue to pose a significant and often overlooked cybersecurity risk to businesses in the UK, as only 14% of employees who have had training on new cyber threats have been specifically trained on printer security, according to a new European survey of 11,000 office employees, including 1,000 in the UK, conducted by Sharp Europe. The survey reveals that despite the growing concern over cyber threats, many businesses are failing to secure critical endpoints like printers and multi- function printers (MFPs) or provide sufficient training to employees, leaving organisations vulnerable to data breaches and cyberattacks. In fact, according to these employees, 29% of UK businesses have no specific IT security measures in place to cover printers. It seems that many office workers, having adapted to remote work, have developed poor printer security habits. As 28% admit to printing files sent via email from home on work printers, while 21% print files downloaded from non-work related websites without considering the associated risks. Worryingly, only 18% of employees are aware that leaving printouts in MFP output

trays can present significant cybersecurity threats that include disclosure of sensitive information to unauthorised individuals, enabling information gathering for social engineering as well as data compliance violations. The research found that only 8% of employees see MFPs as the greatest IT security threat in the office. This highlights that businesses aren’t recognising and addressing the security risks posed by seemingly innocuous office devices, emphasising the urgent need for businesses to rethink their approach to office cybersecurity. “Printers are frequently underestimated in UK businesses by daily users who perceive them as posing no cyber threat, making them an easy target for cybercriminals,” said Matt Riley, director for information security at Sharp in UK and Europe. “Our findings underscore the urgent need for businesses across the UK to secure all office endpoint devices, and to ensure that employees are properly trained to recognise risks and prevent breaches. In the current cyber landscape, securing overlooked endpoints such as printers is vital to ensure a comprehensive IT security strategy.” n

Matt Riley director for information security

sharp.co.uk

Only 14% of employees who have had training on new cyber threats have been specifically trained on printer security.

Fujifilm appoints UK distributor for Acuity Triton

Following the global launch of the Acuity Triton featuring AQUAFUZE ink technology, Fujifilm has appointed Soyang Europe as the official distribution partner for the Acuity Triton in the UK. The deal strengthens the long-standing partnership between the two companies and marks the latest addition to Soyang Europe’s portfolio of Fujifilm technology, as the company has been acting as an official distributor of the Acuity Prime and Acuity Ultra since 2023. “The Acuity Triton represents a true innovation in the wide format sector,”

said Mark Mashiter, managing director, Soyang Europe. “It addresses many of the frustrations customers have had with traditional latex and solvent technologies – offering genuine advantages in flexibility, sustainability and performance. We are excited to bring this solution to the UK and to continue strengthening our partnership with Fujifilm.” Soyang Europe is set to install a demonstration unit at its headquarters and will begin an extensive programme of customer engagement and training to introduce the technology to the market. n

soyang.co.uk

NEWS

Laserfiche releases Smart Fields and Smart Chat

Laserfiche has released a suite of generative AI innovations designed to better automate data processing and enhance knowledge discovery. Smart Fields is an out-of-the-box tool that makes capturing metadata as simple as writing a sentence, and Smart Chat provides a faster way to search for insights among documents using natural language, are now available. For organisations that manage massive amounts of documents, standardising data capture requires significant manual work. Smart Fields replaces legacy capture solutions by extracting data automatically using natural language instructions, no matter the source or format. Users can create powerful custom solutions that scale with Smart Fields that are reusable across documents, reducing maintenance and setup costs. Smart Fields can be applied to any of the documents businesses commonly work with, including financial document, HR

contracts, IT logs, legal documents and sales and marketing. Meanwhile, Smart Chat eliminates slow time-to-insight with an intuitive chat interface that provides instant,

tailored responses to user questions. Users use natural language to

query documents and receive easy- to-understand results, complete with reference links. The tool works out of the box with no training required. With Smart Chat, powered by a large language model, Laserfiche users can engage in conversations with their documents, unlocking new possibilities for uses across industries, including education, financial services, government, healthcare and manufacturing. n

laserfiche.com

Digital Full Colour Production Printer

RICOH Pro TM C7500

Richardson and Son Printers boosts productivity

Printer

Ricoh UK has announced a partnership with Richardson and Son Printers, which has taken delivery of a Ricoh Pro C7500 to increase its efficiency and productivity. Richardson and Son Printers is a family-owned commercial print business specialising in a range of printing and finishing services to the public and trade customers. Having first partnered with Ricoh in 2018, after investing in the Ricoh Pro C9100, Richardson and Son Printers has now transitioned to the Ricoh Pro C7500 with its enhanced technical capabilities in colour cutsheet devices and the new user interface, which saves load time when swapping operators. As a result, the company saw an immediate improvement in productivity by 25%.

“At Richardson and Sons Printers, we take pride in quality, producing both spot colour litho work and full colour digital printing,” said Jamie Richardson, director at Richardson and Son Printers. “By investing in the Ricoh Pro C7500, we were able to transition higher quantities of litho work to digital print. This enabled us to achieve a faster turnaround, improved support for shorter print runs and take on additional work. Ultimately, it boosted our production capacity and earning potential.” This partnership reflects a shared commitment within the print industry to support growth, meet evolving demands and deliver high-quality printing service, all while prioritising efficiency and productivity. n

RICOH Pro C7500*

RICOH Pro C7500

ppm 95

ppm 85

Black & white Full colour

*With Productivity Upgrade option

ricoh.co.uk

richardsonprinters.com

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NEWS IN DEPTH

Cloud print management demand continues to grow

Demand for cloud print management services continues to grow, but prevailing preferences for hybrid cloud infrastructure mean providers must be clear about the capabilities of their on-premise, hybrid, and cloud-native offerings, a new report has found. Quocirca’s 2025 Cloud Print Services Market Landscape also found that cloud remains a top investment priority. While cybersecurity and AI are attracting the most investment (with 66% and 64%, respectively, stating they are top priorities), the cloud remains the third-highest priority for expenditure

“The varying levels of cloud maturity, industry-specific requirements, and organisational priorities across the market mean MPS providers must offer flexible, adaptable solutions that can accommodate these diverse cloud strategies,” says Quocirca CEO Louella Fernandes. OEM and ISV cloud print management services continue to grow in sophistication, offering capabilities that extend beyond basic print management. Market leaders offer robust cloud-based capture and intelligent workflow automation, comprehensive analytics, and reporting tools that deliver actionable insights. ISVs offer diverse services, some designed specifically to support hybrid infrastructure, and others focused on eliminating the need for on-premises print servers. “The prevalence of hybrid cloud reflects a pragmatic approach to IT modernisation that is conscious of requirements for data security and sovereignty,” Louella added. “Providers need to clearly articulate the capabilities and advantages of their solutions and tailor them to customer needs. The hybrid environment and multi-vendor fleets create demand for specialist solutions from ISVs that can seamlessly integrate and manage printing across diverse environments. “Providers in this market need to focus on addressing cloud print awareness gaps and tackling historic barriers to adoption such as security and sovereignty concerns. Organisations are still largely heading in the direction of the cloud. Nevertheless, it is important to meet customers where they are on the cloud print journey, but with flexible options that integrate cloud and on- premise solutions.” n May 2025

Louella Fernandes ceo

quocirca.com

as businesses continue to pursue flexibility and scalability.

Cloud Print Services Landscape, 2025

Cloud Print Services Landscape, 2025 Navigating market fragmentation, hybrid realities, and evolving customer concerns

“

It also found that hybrid

The prevalence of hybrid cloud reflects a pragmatic approach to IT modernisation that is conscious of requirements for data security and sovereignty.

cloud infrastructure will remain the dominant

approach in the near term. While 75% of organisations use hybrid print management now, with 4% fully cloud- based and the remaining 22% on-

1 LICENSED TO LEXMARK

Cloud Print Services Market Landscape, 2025 Excerpt Report: Lexmark May 2025

premise, in two years’ time, 16% will be fully cloud-based, 70% hybrid and 14% on-premise. Another finding is that the provider market is fragmented. Print vendors typically offer proprietary cloud-based MPS or print management solutions that integrate directly within their hardware and software ecosystems, with ISVs offering a range of solutions to support a mixed-fleet print environment. This includes serverless print, cloud, cloud-native and hybrid cloud print infrastructure solutions. Cloud print management expertise is an important MPS supplier selection factor, with 79% saying it is somewhat or very important that their MPS provider offers cloud print-based solutions, and 72% see accelerating their move to the cloud as a key benefit of MPS.

”

KYOCERA

No CISO? No problem

Andrew Smith, Kyocera’s CISO, explains how businesses can secure themselves against external threats and keep their digital assets and data safe

Chief informational security officers (CISOs) have been a staple of C-suite management teams in recent years, with cyber threats and cyber-readiness becoming a dominant theme for many businesses. In a market where cost is critical, some businesses – especially start-ups – decide there is no option but to remove or avoid hiring a CISO, but that doesn’t negate potential cyber-risks that can threaten any business. If a business is going to forgo a dedicated team member for cybersecurity, a business can still be prepared against digital threats. “To ensure risk is managed, and digital assets are protected, businesses should consider their existing frameworks, governance, and control models,” says Andrew. “With proven frameworks and models embedded, there is more chance that the continuation of these controls will provide some level of risk management and stability.” Andrew has a checklist for businesses without a CISO: 1 Understand how the digital strategy fits the overall business strategy and

underline the dependencies and interconnections. 2 Put together a comprehensive database of what market data and insights their digital strategy is based on. This ensures a business is only using relevant and trusted data to inform business strategy. 3 U nderstand the scope for execution beyond the traditional roles of a CISO. For example, do the resources in middle management exist to execute a plan if provided to them by an outgoing CISO or outsourcing company? “If the chosen path is to outsource, companies should strongly consider how they are ensuring governance, control, and best-in-breed advice for their preferred supplier,” says Andrew. “Does the outsource supplier have the transparency to enable these controls to be owned by other C-suite members? “With the path to finding the right talent becoming increasingly complex, there is a space for outsourcing if you believe transparency and control can be achieved alongside true partnership that enables the business to achieve the transformation to remain relevant.” n

Andrew Smith CISO

kyoceradocument solutions.co.uk

If the chosen path is to outsource, companies should strongly consider how they are ensuring governance, control, and best- in-breed advice for their preferred supplier. “ ”

Cryptographic technology obtains certification

Kyocera Document Solutions Inc. has announced that the integrated circuit developed by Kyocera primarily for use in A4 multifunction products and printers has obtained certification under the information security standard ‘FIPS 140-3’, established by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology. FIPS 140-3 specifies advanced information security requirements for the design and implementation of cryptographic modules and is widely adopted

as a standard in groups requiring extremely high levels of information protection, such as government agencies, financial institutions and medical organisations. With this certification, Kyocera demonstrates that its cryptographic technology meets the rigorous, internationally recognised information security standards necessary to appropriately protect highly confidential information. n

printinthechannel.co.uk

PRODUCT LAUNCH RICOH PRO C5400 SERIES

Speed and quality Ricoh has launched its Pro C5400 Series of colour production printers, which have been designed to provide greater speed and usability, while not compromising on quality to meet the needs of commercial and enterprise businesses.

While digitalisation continues apace in many businesses, printed media such as brochures, flyers and direct mail are still very popular. But, of course, with the advent of digital speeding up much of how businesses work, customers also want print jobs turned around quicker – so commercial print businesses are increasingly looking for printers that can turn around jobs faster. But it isn’t just about speed – commercial printers also don’t want to compromise on quality as it is a competitive marketplace and customers have high standards. So it is with this in mind that Ricoh has launched the new Pro C5400 Series of colour production printers.

This latest production printer, which combines enhanced speed of production and operation with greater usability, has been built to ensure it continues to meet the diverse needs of commercial and enterprise operations. Building on the high-speed output and excellent paper handling strengths of its predecessors, the ProTMC5310S/C5300S/ Pro C5300SL systems, the Pro 5400 Series features significant improvements in overall core performance. For commercial printing applications, the high-quality production printers deliver improved image registration accuracy achieved through enhanced paper feeding stability and more precise image adjustment functions.

The new Pro 5400 has been built to ensure it continues to meet the diverse needs

of commercial and enterprise operations

PRODUCT LAUNCH RICOH PRO C5400 SERIES

Enhanced specifications The series supports various types of media, including coated paper, waterproof paper, envelopes, clear files and long sheet printing up to 1,300mm. It

will enable clients to meet a wide range of promotional material

production needs, with improved ease of use and greater operational efficiency while also helping to drive revenue growth. These enhanced core specifications include: ⭕ Warm up time drastically reduced from 120 seconds to 26 seconds for the Pro C5410S and 30 seconds for the Pro C5400S ⭕ Faster scanning speed. Duplex

Feed Large Capacity Input Tray ⭕ Higher precision image alignment with trapezoidal and right-angle correction functions ⭕ Simplified transfer conditions adjustment streamlining setup and minimising preprinting adjustment time. Sustainability and versatility As you would expect, sustainability has been considered in the design and manufacturing of these devices. The use of recycled materials has been increased by more than five times in this series compared to its predecessor, according to Ricoh, which can help to contribute to clients' environmental management initiatives. “Greater production capacity and versatility is enabled by the new Pro C5400 Series that has been designed to help commercial and enterprise operations expand their capabilities,” says Eef de Ridder, vice president, Graphic Communications Group, Ricoh Europe. “Print production environments need to consistently and flexibly meet greater demand for a wider range of short run applications. The comprehensive upgrades are all focused on powering consistent, high-quality print on a range of substrates to ensure operations can confidently and repeatedly achieve that.” The Ricoh Pro C5400 series is commercially available from July in EMEA. n

scanning up to 300 pages per minute. Workflow efficiency is elevated by new AI-powered

orientation detection and support for continuous scans of small format documents such as business cards ⭕ Increased touchscreen capabilities significantly improving usability ⭕ Elevated paper setting user interface, ensuring consistent print quality ⭕ Finisher option featuring an industry- first stapleless binding function that uses water to moisten and press the papers together, enabling stapeless binding up to 16 sheets for corner binding, or up to 12 sheets for two position binding ⭕ New envelope fusing option, with faster envelope printing speed, which boosts productivity ⭕ Space saving compact folding unit reduced to a width of 209mm, less than half of the previous model ⭕ Improved paper transport stability and enhanced image registration accuracy for duplex and long sheet printing with a redesigned Vacuum

Eef de Ridder Vice President, Graphic Communications Group

ricoh-europe.com

“

Print production environments need to consistently and flexibly meet greater demand for a wider range of short run applications.

”

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8 NEW ECOSYS MODELS

The ECOSYS 2600 Colour Series – economically safeguarding your ideas while dancing to an eco-friendly beat with vibrant, natural colour. Colour printers & MFPs to rave about.

PRINT Vivid colour, crisp black, fast 21ppm & 26ppm models.

SAVE Aordable now, and in the long run. REPEAT Exceptionally reliable, with long lasting components and toners.

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Everybody’s raving about Kyocera’s new colour devices. Aordable, simple and sustainable these compact printers and MFPs bring sophistication to the desktop for business quality results every time. Rave on...

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Experience powerful cloud features, mobile print options, and next-level security with the new ECOSYS 2600 Colour Series wherever you work.

Available through our authorised distributors, plus our extensive dealer and online partner network.

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kyoceradocumentsolutions.co.uk/rave-in-colour

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PRODUCT LAUNCH KONICA MINOLTA ACCURIOPRESS C7100 ENHANCED SERIES

The flex you want Konica Minolta has unveiled its AccurioPress C7100 ENHANCED Series, which has been designed to provide the faster turnaround times, greater flexibility and increased automation that print businesses are requiring.

For print businesses, versatility can be key to success. Being able to print media in a variety of sizes and paper types can help to bring in more business in an increasingly competitive market. But for print businesses, they are also looking for ease-of-use and, increasingly, automation to help speed operations and increase efficiency. Manufacturers are responding to these changing needs and are bringing out new products to reflect this. For instance, Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd has recently unveiled the new AccurioPress C7100 ENHANCED Series. The upgraded AccurioPress C7100 and AccurioPress C7090 deliver quick turnaround times and greater media flexibility, along with greater automation and ease-of-use, providing the sort of versatility that print businesses are increasingly seeking.

High quality at speed The new AccurioPress C7100 and

AccurioPress C7090 feature print speeds of up to 100 pages per minute (ppm) and 90ppm respectively, along with greater media flexibility with stocks of up to 400gsm, paper feeding for all formats up to 900mm length, and the flexibility to handle embossed and textured media. Easy to use – even for a single operator – and fast to set up, operators can work smarter with reduced manual adjustments for unattended, uninterrupted printing, and deliver fast but flawless print results. Along with speed, the AccurioPress C7100 ENHANCED Series also delivers high-quality results on fast and long print runs. Utilising the latest Simitri V toner, it features new Intelligent Colour Control technology that utilises a new algorithm to measure colours during production

THE ACCURIOPRESS C7100 ENHANCED SERIES

AMBITION

Download the brochure

PRODUCT LAUNCH KONICA MINOLTA ACCURIOPRESS C7100 ENHANCED SERIES

Malcolm Smith category manger - professional print

konicaminolta.co.uk

and checks 13 colours on the fly for enhanced colour management and colour reliability. Along with ultra-sharp 3,600 x 2,400dpi resolution, this means that print producers will achieve desired quality and consistency every time. More automation For enhanced process automation and fewer touchpoints, the AccurioPress C7100 ENHANCED series is available with the optional IQ-501 Intelligent Quality Care Unit, which ensures perfectly consistent colour quality and front-to-back registration on every print in real time, eliminating the need for recalibrations or inspections during print production and reducing waste. Additionally, the optional in-line TU- 510e 4-edge trimming unit offers a wide selection of enhanced finishing options, including cutting, creasing, and

perforating, to produce full-bleed trimmed book jackets, imposed cards, business cards, coupons and more. Meeting today’s needs Reflecting how print business’ needs have changed, the new print range aims to help users to make an impact on their bottom line. “The new AccurioPress C7100 ENHANCED Series is designed to meet the needs of today’s dynamic print producer,” says Malcolm Smith, category manager – professional print at Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd.

The new AccurioPress C7100 ENHANCED Series is designed to meet the needs of today’s dynamic print producer. “ ”

“Featuring the speed, high print volumes, flexibility and workflow

automation needed to turn jobs around quickly but with the accuracy and high quality needed to impress and retain customers, helping them to outmanoeuvre their competition, win new business and remain profitable.” n

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PRODUCT LAUNCH FUJIFILM REVORIA XMF PRESSREADY LITE

Scaled workflow Fujifilm has launched the Revoria XMF PressReady Lite, a lower cost, lower specification workflow solution tailored for smaller print businesses that only use a small number of POD presses.

John Davies workflow product group manager

For smaller print businesses, perhaps using only one or two print on demand (POD) presses, an often heard complaint is that workflow solutions are often geared towards larger operations and are therefore much more than they require. It appears that Fujifilm has been listening. At its POD partner conference, held in Madrid from 19-21 May, Fujifilm Europe launched The Revoria XMF PressReady Lite. The new solution builds on the success of Fujifilm’s original XMF PressReady workflow solution. Launched back in 2023, it boasts a range of features, including the ability to integrate with MIS and web-to- print systems and more. Able to manage print production to multiple POD presses, whether they are Fujifilm devices or other vendor presses driven by a Fiery DFE,

it’s an ideal solution for large, busy print houses operating multiple presses. But, as mentioned for smaller print companies, it was often much more than they needed. In response, Fujifilm has developed PressReady Lite, a version of the software designed specifically to add value to smaller companies.

www.fujifilm.eu

“

It’s a software add-on to Revoria Flow, and it’s a workflow system carefully targeted at smaller businesses.

Carefully targeted “We see PressReady Lite as a ‘productivity pack’ for our Fujifilm

Revoria Flow DFE,” explains John Davies, workflow product group manager, Fujifilm EMEA. “It’s a software add-on to Revoria Flow, and it’s a workflow system carefully targeted at smaller businesses, providing the ability to check and fix PDF files, and to create automated workflows to intelligently group jobs for printing, a

”

PRODUCT LAUNCH

FUJIFILM REVORIA XMF PRESSREADY LITE

New toners Elsewhere at the POD partner conference, Fujifilm Europe introduced white and silver toners for its Revoria SC285S and Revoria EC2100S models. These mid- range devices were launched in January with three special toners initially available: pink, clear, and toner for textured stock. “Our vision in launching the Revoria mid-range presses was to make special toners, and 5-colour printing, accessible to a larger market than ever before,” said Mark Lawn, head of POD solutions, Fujifilm EMEA. “Four months on from their initial launch, many print businesses in Europe are already experiencing those benefits. Now, the addition of white and silver will provide massive additional benefits, both to those who have already invested, as well as those who invest in one of these devices in the future. “White toner opens up a huge range of exciting possibilities for printing to transparent media, or to darker paper and board. While silver toner, aside from producing eye-catching visual effects, can also be mixed with other colours to produce a stunning range of new colours. n

task that can otherwise be very time consuming. “For instance, jobs that include the use of pink toner, or jobs that all print on the same media, with the same set of toners, can be automatically grouped together for printing to minimise unnecessary changing of toners, or loading and unloading of media.” Automation and time saving features A software only solution, PressReady Lite can be installed on any Revoria Flow server. Available for use with Fujifilm’s Revoria SC285, EC2100 and PC1120 models, it contains automation and time saving features targeted at single press solutions, making it an accessible and easy way to add automation even when one of these presses is the only production device. “We’re committed to helping all our customers, from the largest to the smallest, and in PressReady Lite, we’re proud to be bringing to market a tailored automation solution that allows even the smallest print businesses to benefit from enhanced productivity and reduced human error,” adds John.

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White toner opens up a huge range of exciting possibilities for printing to transparent media, or to darker paper and board.

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Mark Lawn head of POD solutions

www.fujifilm.eu

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PRODUCT LAUNCH BROTHER UK Bring in the tanks

Brother UK has entered the inkjet tank market with the launch a line-up of tank models aimed at the small and home businesses market offering speed, accuracy and sustainability.

analysts forecast the value of the global inkjet tank printer market to double in the next decade, accoridng to a recent report by Dataintelo. The launch of the new range forms part of a wider refresh of Brother’s inkjet portfolio over the next 18 months to help resellers respond to evolving demand for inkjet printing. Speed and accuracy Both models are wireless with duplex print capability and 150 sheet front loading paper input. The DCP-T780DW comes with 15,000 pages of black ink and 5,000 pages of colour ink in-box. The model features market-leading 15.5ipm colour print speeds and 6.2 secs first page out time, as well as 17ipm scan speed, 20-sheet ADF and a 4.5cm LCD touchscreen designed to enhance user operability. The printers are also compatible with the Brother Mobile Connect app, allowing users to set up directly from a mobile device, as well as print and manage supply levels and order from anywhere.

For small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), cost-effectiveness is often one of the biggest considerations when making purchases, especially office equipment such as printers. Young and growing companies may not have much cash to spend, so look for low-cost options that still give them the speed and performance they need. For many businesses, inkjet printing is sought to achieve this. Now, to cater for this growing market Brother UK has launched a new range of compact, refillable inkjet tank printers to help resellers unlock new revenue streams and to support customers looking for cost-effective colour printing. Brother UK’s new ‘tankbenefit’ range comprises two models aimed at small and home businesses – the entry-level DCP- T580DW and the DCP-T780DW – and sees Brother enter the Western European inkjet tank market for the first time, as

Brother UK has launched a new range of compact, refillable inkjet tank printers to help resellers unlock new revenue streams and to support customers looking for cost-effective colour printing.

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PRODUCT LAUNCH BROTHER UK

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The entry-level DCP-T580DW has a mono print speed of 16ipm and colour print speeds of 9ipm. It comes with 7,500 pages of black ink and 5,000 pages of colour ink in-box – making it well suited to users with less substantial print needs, such as those who operate in a home environment. Resellers can also access a comprehensive toolkit and training through BrotherZone, to help maximise the benefits of the new range for customers. Sustainability SMBs are also increasingly looking for their products to be sustainable as well as cost effective, and to this end the new devices will be the first sold in Brother UK’s new fully recyclable, non-polystyrene brown carboard packaging. This innovation will help businesses

to comply with workplace recycling legislation as well as contribute to their sustainability goals. Reacting to evolving needs Greig Millar, chief revenue officer at Brother UK, explained the reason for Brother UK’s entry into the tank market at this point. “Businesses’ print needs are constantly evolving, and we recognise the importance of helping resellers to understand and meet customers’ changing requirements,” he says. “Our tankbenefit range is a sign of intent for our wider inkjet refresh over the next 18 months, and the new devices offer unrivalled quality, speed and connectivity – as well as helping resellers open new revenue streams. “We know that some home and small office users prefer complete ownership and longer intervals between refills, and we wanted to make sure that resellers can trust us on printing and are armed to meet that demand. By offering tank models, as well as our inkjet ranges that are optimised for MPS and EcoPro, we’re ‘At your side’ for a better choice – ensuring resellers and their customers have access to a full suite of devices that slot perfectly into home office set up.” n

Greig Millar chief revenue officer

brother.co.uk

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Our tankbenefit range is a sign of intent for our wider inkjet refresh over the next 18 months, and the new devices offer unrivalled quality, speed and connectivity...

”

MPS FOR RETAIL AND HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES

At your service Print is often central to businesses in the retail and hospitality sectors, so managed print services can be vital to help them to achieve efficiency and cost savings – and demand for it is set to grow in the coming years.

Retail and hospitality are two sectors that still require print for a wide variety of applications – from receipts to food labelling to marketing collateral – but with margins tight many businesses are looking for efficiencies wherever possible, including print – which is where managed print services (MPS) comes in. There are various ways that retail and hospitality businesses can benefit from MPS. “Retail and hospitality customers generally operate multi-site environments,” explains Trevor Maloney, product marketing manager at Kyocera Document Solutions UK. “If there is no centralised protocol from head office regarding print sourcing and expenditure, things can get out of hand quite quickly. MPS policies provide centralised control of print expenditure over multiple sites, rationalise print spend and encourage economies of scale for the purchase of hardware and ongoing service and consumables costs. “Additionally, a centralised MPS provides ongoing monitoring and support to ensure print usage is optimised with regular reviews – this reduces issues with inventory management, enables workflow optimisation and adequate network security planning for device allocation and load balancing.” Peter Shackleton, head of end user sales & MPS lead at Brother UK, agrees that MPS can help with print costs. “Margins in retail and hospitality are under constant pressure, with rising costs and shifting customer expectations challenging businesses to do more with less,” he says. “MPS are becoming an increasingly

valuable way to help them operate more efficiently and stay competitive.”

Addressing operational needs Deyon Antoine, product marketing

manager at Toshiba Tec, adds that MPS can offer distinct advantages to the retail and hospitality sectors by addressing their unique operational needs. For instance, with retail businesses: “Centralised print management allows for consistent branding and document handling across stores and can reduce downtime with just-in-time automated supplies replenishment,” he says. “It can also help to reduce printing costs by reducing waste from unnecessary printing and improves market agility, so retailers can dynamically change in-store signage, price tags, and promotional materials with consistent quality on demand.” Meanwhile for hospitality businesses it can improve the guest experiences with self-service printing for guests and conferencing events, Deyon adds. “It can also be integrated with back-office systems and automating document workflows in HR and finance departments. “It also helps with brand consistency for all printed materials, from welcome letters to restaurant menus.” There are also general advantages, Deyon adds. “MPS ensures a secure print environment encrypting print data, offering secure print release and iron clad device security, adhering to principles of cyber essentials and zero trust policies, supporting businesses to comply with

Trevor Maloney product marketing manager

kyoceradocument solutions.co.uk

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a centralised MPS provides ongoing monitoring and support to ensure print usage is optimised with regular reviews.

”

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