Training Duplicator Competition Suzanne Farley November 2007

About the Players - Taken from it. Chat Training • RISO – RISO is currently the Number One manufacturer of digital duplicator products in the U. S. The company has achieved that position by targeting its core business – the educational and religious market – and creating solutions specifically designed around those needs. – RISO is also targeting the religious market with a series of agreements and rebate plans designed specifically for religious institutions, counting some large organizations such as Life. Way among its customer base. • Ricoh – While Ricoh’s digital duplicator product line covers virtually every type of digital duplicator, from ultra-affordable entry-level models to devices suited to professional and commercial print shops, the manufacturer’s current focus is on the higher end of the market. – Ricoh is targeting in-house CRDs as well as commercial printers with a modular digital duplicator system that uses several components to create true four-color output in resolution up to 600 dpi. • Duplo – Unlike Ricoh and RISO, Duplo’s primary selling point is the number and type of finishers that it offers. In conjunction with two other divisions of the company, Graphic Products and Office Equipment, Duplo delivers extensive finishing options such as collators, binders, bookletmakers, etc. – Duplo noted it has no immediate plans to join Ricoh and Riso in offering two color digital duplicating solutions. Stating that they are not convinced that it’s a broad enough market. With Duplo’s stated goal of developing technologies that support educational institutions, expect to see future new products aimed at the lower end of the digital duplicator market.

Ricoh Training • RICOH models: – HQ 9000 – DX 4640 PD – HQ 7000 – DX 4542 – DX 3340

Ricoh HQ 9000 Training • Priport HQ 9000 – Ledger size, 600 x 600 dpi – Introduced April 2006 – Also sold as: Gestetner CP 6346; Lanier LDD 280; Savin 3590 DNP; Standard SD 700 – SPR $19, 005 (with stand platen cover) – Targets Production environments (print-forpay or CRD)

Ricoh HQ 9000 general specs Training • 600 x 600 dpi • First copy time: 19 seconds • Print speed: 135 ppm letter/ 120 ppm ledger • Std Paper capacity: 1, 000 sheets • Std Embedded controller / Optional Post. Script

Ricoh HQ 9000 comments Training • During our testing of the HQ 9000 we noticed that it lays down very little ink giving solids more of a gray image, which is why the ink yield may look favorable. • In evaluating the output from the HQ 9000 we noticed that contrast ratios (highlights, mid-tones, and shadows) do not seem accurate.

Ricoh HQ 9000 comments Training • The HQ 9000 produces light screens and watermarks poorly, practically dropping them out. • BLI cited the same thing during their evaluation. As stated in the lab test report of the HQ 9000, “The halftone range in print mode was barely visible at the low end of the range. ”

Ricoh HQ 9000 comments Training • Ricoh promotes, "Coupled with its Seri. Printer Model 25 print system and its variable data VDPH 1 software, this total product can be deployed at the data center level for high-volume printing of envelopes or marketing flyers. " • Taken from ITChat. com, "Requires large, spaceconsuming accessories to create two color output in one pass. No finishing options. Seri. Printer 25 option requires its own special inks. Start and Control buttons can be mixed up, meaning users mistakenly dump master. "

Ricoh DX 4640 PD Training • Priport DX 4640 PD – Automatic Duplex duplicator • Auto duplex letter-size only – Ledger size, 400 x 400 dpi – Introduced June 2007 – Also sold as: Gestetner CP 6340 D, Lanier LDD 350 d, Savin 3585 DNP 2, Standard SD 462 – SPR $17, 900 (with stand platen cover) – Targets educational organizations, healthcare providers, and organizations with two-sided forms.

Ricoh DX 4640 PD general specs Training • 400 x 400 dpi • First copy time: 12 seconds • Print speed: – Simplex: 135 ppm letter/ 120 ppm ledger – Duplex: 240 ipm (letter only) • Std Paper capacity: 1, 000 sheets • Std Embedded controller / Optional Post. Script

Ricoh DX 4640 PD comments Training • Can automatically duplex up to lettersize only. • This model is basically an HQ 7000 with a duplex function. • Where does this fit? – Too expensive for the education market. – Print quality not sufficient for the print market.

Ricoh HQ 7000 Training • Priport HQ 7000 – Ledger size, 400 x 400 dpi – Introduced August 2006 – Also sold as: Gestetner CP 6334; Lanier LDD 250; Savin 3580 DNP; Standard SD 460 – SPR $15, 400 (with stand platen cover) – Targets budget-conscious businesses with high-volume print runs

Ricoh HQ 7000 general specs Training • 400 x 400 dpi • First copy time: 19 seconds • Print speed: 135 ppm letter / 120 ppm ledger • Std Paper capacity: 1, 000 sheets • Std Embedded controller / Optional Post. Script

Ricoh DX 4542 Training • Priport DX 4542 – 400 x 400 dpi – Introduced October 2006 – Also sold as: Gestetner CP 6244+; Lanier LDD 245; Savin 3270 DNP; Standard SD 430 – SPR $9, 142 (with stand platen cover) – Targets religious, educational and nonprofit organizations with short-to-medium run lengths

Ricoh DX 4542 general specs Training • • • 400 x 400 dpi First copy time: 24 seconds Print speed: 120 ppm Std Paper capacity: 1, 000 sheets Optional controller

Ricoh DX 4542 comments Training • BLI ink yield results were rated fair and below the average. • The VC-20 PC Controller interface is limited. Does not monitor paper or consumable levels. • Halftones in print mode are grainy.

Ricoh DX 3340 Training • Priport DX 3340 – Legal size, 300 x 300 dpi – Introduced August 2006 – Also sold as: Gestetner CP 6143 L; Lanier LDD 120; Savin 3180 DNP – SPR $5, 803 (with stand platen cover) – Targets educators and administrators

Ricoh DX 3340 general specs Training • • • 300 x 300 dpi First copy time: 33 seconds Print speed: 130 ppm Std Paper capacity: 1, 000 sheets Optional controller

Ricoh DX 3340 comments Training • BLI ink yield results were rated fair and below the average. • The VC-20 PC Controller interface is limited. Does not monitor paper or consumable levels. • Halftones in print mode are grainy.

Duplo Training • DUPLO models: – DP-460 H – DP-S 850 – DP-S 510 – DP-220 le – DP-210 Le – DP-C 115

Duplo DP-460 H Training • Duplo DP-460 H – Ledger size, 600 x 600 dpi – Introduced 3 rd quarter 2004 – SPR $19, 995 – Targets quick and commercial print market

Duplo DP-460 H general specs Training • • • 600 x 600 dpi First copy time: 22 seconds Print speed: 130 ppm Std Paper capacity: 3, 000 sheets Std Embedded controller / Optional Post. Script

Duplo DP-460 H comments Training • Vacuum / Air-fed duplicator versus the traditional roll-feed system which Duplo claims aids registration and eliminates marks caused by friction-based feedrollers.

Duplo DP-S 850 Training • Duplo DP-S 850 – Ledger size, 600 x 600 dpi – Introduced April 2007 – SPR $16, 995 – Targets commercial firms and in-plants with photographic work

Duplo DP-S 850 general specs Training • • • 600 x 600 dpi First copy time: 16. 5 seconds Print speed: 150 ppm (letter only) Std Paper capacity: 1, 200 sheets Std Embedded controller / Optional Post. Script

Duplo DP-S 850 comments Training • BLI cited the weaknesses of the DP-S 850 as priced higher than average for its overall value, and below average ink yield. • If the machine runs out of paper during a print job, the user must reloaded the paper, press Start on the control panel, and then go to the PC and click on Retry on the pop-up message on the screen or the next print job in the queue will not start.

Duplo DP-S 550 Training • Duplo DP-S 550 – Ledger size, 300 x 600 dpi – Introduced April 2007 – SPR $13, 995 – Targets traditional print market for text-heavy documents

Duplo DP-S 550 general specs Training • • • 300 x 600 dpi First copy time: 16. 5 seconds Print speed: 150 ppm (letter only) Std Paper capacity: 1, 200 sheets Std Embedded controller / Optional Post. Script

Duplo DP-S 550 general specs Training • Marketed by Duplo as an ideal fit for heavy text work, however BLI rated its text in both print and copy modes as below average for darkness, sharpness, full character formation, and the smoothness of characters. • Scored the lowest rating for its printer driver, image quality, and ink yield. – The print driver does not offer the ability to adjust speed and density. – Line art and text was of poor quality with evident break up.

Duplo DP-S 510 Training • Duplo DP-S 510 – Legal size, 300 x 600 dpi – Introduced April 2007 – SPR $7, 995

Duplo DP-S 510 general specs Training • • • 300 x 600 dpi First copy time: 16. 5 seconds Print speed: 150 ppm (letter only) Std Paper capacity: 1, 200 sheets Std Embedded controller / Optional Post. Script

Duplo DP-S 510 general specs Training • Marketed by Duplo as an ideal fit for heavy text work, however BLI rated its text in both print and copy modes as below average for darkness, sharpness, full character formation, and the smoothness of characters. • Scored the lowest rating for its printer driver, image quality, and ink yield. – The print driver does not offer the ability to adjust speed and density. – Line art and text was of poor quality with evident break up.

Duplo DP-220 Le Training • Duplo DP-220 Le – Legal size, 300 x 600 dpi – Introduced August 2007 – SPR $6, 995 – Targets Education and Institutional buyers

Duplo DP-220 Le general specs Training • • • 300 x 600 dpi First copy time: 21 seconds Print speed: 130 ppm Std Paper capacity: 1, 100 sheets Optional computer connectivity

Duplo DP-220 Le comments Training • Same unit as DP-210, but with a glass platen. • No Energy Save Mode. • While ledger paper is supported, image size is restricted to 8. 2" x 13. 8", just smaller than legal size.

Duplo DP-210 Le Training • Duplo DP-210 Le – Legal size, 300 x 600 dpi – Introduced August 2007 – SPR $5, 995 – Targets Education and Institutional buyers

Duplo DP-210 Le general specs Training • • • 300 x 600 dpi First copy time: 24 seconds Print speed: 130 ppm Std Paper capacity: 1, 100 sheets Optional computer connectivity

Duplo DP-210 Le comments Training • Same unit as DP-220, but ADF only. No platen. • No Energy Save Mode. • While ledger paper is supported, image size is restricted to 8. 2" x 13. 8", just smaller than legal size.

NEW! Duplo DP-C 115 Training • Duplo DP-C 115 – Legal size, 300 x 300 dpi – Introduced September 2007 – No pricing yet – Targets organizations with tight budget constraints.

Duplo DP-C 115 general specs Training • • 300 x 300 dpi Print speed: 130 ppm Std Paper capacity: 500 sheets Optional controller

Duplo DP-C 115 comments Training • Duplo’s desktop duplicator is similar to RISO’s legacy CR 1610 in that it prints at 130 ppm with a resolution of 300 x 300 dpi; however the DP-C 115 sheet feeder capacity is only 500 sheets. • Standard features include LCD panel, computer interface, and built-in ADF. • No glass platen.