Daily Copier & MFP Industry Notes from around the World

Fuji Xerox (Kanagawa / Japan; http://www.fujixerox.com/) has developed a biomass plastic containing more than 50% by weight of plant-derived materials for use in mechanical components in interior moving sections of its printing and copying machines. The company began introducing...need to read more?

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announces the launch of SchoolFlow®, EducationFlow®, HealthFlow® and LegalFlow®, customized electronic document management suites developed in conjunction with Prism Software to address workflow demands across key vertical markets. Fully integrated with Konica Minolta’s...what to know more?


One of the questions I hear frequently is about the potential impact of memjet – the inkjet print head technology – on the wide format digital print market. This question is likely to become even more common following the announcements at Graph Expo and LabelExpo that two companies have become the first to integrate the memjet print head technology into wide format digital print solutions...read more

UDOCX will be at the SharePoint Conference next week in Anaheim. My collegue and UDOCX Product Manager Fabien van 't Woudt will be attending the conference next week monday and tuesday (3rd and 4th of October 2011). Please let me know if you need any additional information...read more

Redwood City, Calif. and Ramsey, N.J. - All Covered, a division of Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. (Konica Minolta) focused on delivering high-performance Managed IT Services to small- and medium-sized businesses, is pleased to announce that Vertical IT Solutions, a Managed IT outsourcing company based in Tampa, Florida, has joined All Covered...read more

-=Good Selling=-
You know the story, it is not free.

You built a TV or a stereo into your cost and gave it away at N/C to the Decision Maker. I heard of one DM who get a free Recreational Trailer ($15k) if he signed on the dotted line.... and he did. ($10k copier + $15k trailer = $25k lease). I let how the DM handles these gifts up to themselves. If they object, no problem but the price remains the same. Is this ethical business practice?...want to read the rest?

ITEX 2011 Announces New Power Packed Feature: The Technology Innovation Forum

The upcoming ITEX National Expo & Conference, to be held March 22-23 in Washington, DC, just announced the addition of the power-packed “Technology Innovation Forum” to take place on March 23, from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm.

This Technology Innovation Forum gives attendees direct access to exclusive technology companies and leaders who have a direct and indirect impact to our business and the industry at large. Attendees will be provided an opportunity to personally interact with each of the companies directly; see this new technology in action, ask questions, and learn how these innovations can be applied to their day-to-day business, and ultimately, what value they can add for their end users.

Key Technology Innovators Participating Include (but not limited to):

• Intel – Global Technology Innovators That Affect Multiple Devices

• Green Hills – Device Software Optimization/ Security

• SafeCom – MPS Environment Control and Optimization

• Compass Solutions– Salesforce MPS Automation and Management

• Newfield IT – MPS Facilitators and Environment Mapping and Impact

• ESP – Leader in Channel Power Filters

• Global Graphics – Mobile Printing and Electronic Document Management

• RIM – Pioneer in B2B Mobile Communication

• MWAi – Integrated M2M and M2P Solutions and Services

Important topics covered at the Technology Innovation Forum include how and why the industry is changing; who the major players are in the industry, and what opportunities exist for today and tomorrow.

Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to Participate. The Technology Innovation Forum is open to all ITEX registered conference attendees. To secure your spot for the show, register today at https://web1.accureg.com/ITEX11_prod/webmain/RegLookup.asp.*

The Forum is presented as a partnership between MWA Intelligence, Inc. (MWAi), a leader in enterprise-class M2M (machine to machine) and M2P (machine to people) solutions and services and Intel, world leader in silicon innovation, that develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live.

PRODUCED AND MANAGED BY:

ITEX 2011 National Expo & Conference, the largest North American trade show in the imaging channel, will be held Monday, March 21 through Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. ITEX National Expo & Conference is produced and managed by Questex Media Group LLC, a global, diversified business-to-business integrated media and information provider, headquartered in Newton, MA. For information on attending, visit www.itexshow.com or call 800-981-2741.

-=Good Selling=-

ITEX 2011 to Deliver Real VALUE for All Who Attends!

ITEX 2011 to Deliver Real VALUE for All Who Attends!

In its 11th year and true to form, ITEX is geared to deliver real VALUE – from instructive education tracks on critical topics needing to be addressed (and are) by experts in their fields, to a huge exhibit floor with the newest technologies and professional services offered, to concurrent events, special workshops and forums for attendees to network at and learn from. ITEX, once again, is ideal to find viable and actionable solutions in the channel - and in a short period of time.

Power Hour EducationWithin the ITEX Power Hour education tracks you will find the most current information to translate to tactical strategies and methods to adopt. From comprehensive to essential solutions, these tracks provide the ammunition that’s needed today to effectively compete in the marketplace. Each session is presented by an industry leader who is an expert in their field and has taken significant measures to develop and deliver the most credible information available to change the course of your business. Review the education tracks online at http://www.itexshow.com./

Learn how to reposition your company’s operations and why your offerings need to become “tactical” to compete in today’s marketplace. Find software programs that offer innovative document management and processes for enhanced workflow solutions, the technologies and products that support them, the latest growth available with managed services, MPS, outsourcing and more. Learn how social networking will ramp up your marketing efforts, and what the next generation is in MNS. Do you really know what to do differently to demonstrate the value of your offerings and services? Today, it lies with how you strategically supercharge your company’s services in order to retain customers or lead prospects to your business. The type of business you promote and the components you offer in a revised business model all form the process you will ultimately implement and profit from.

The Nation’s Largest Imaging Channel Event That Captures It All:
• Over 35 Top-Grade Power Hour Sessions in 5 Essential Tracks
• MPS Strategy Forum
• In-Depth Pre-Conference Workshops
• Opening Keynote Session - back for 2011!
• Expo Floor with Hundreds of Exhibitors
• Flexible registration options to fit your time and budget
• Great ITEX Giveaway
• Presentation of the PIA Awards
• Concurrent Events
• Stay Connected the Internet Zone

ITEX 2011 Expo & Conference
March 22-23, 2011 - Washington, DC
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
*Special Pre-Conference Workshops March 21, 2011

There are a variety of conference packages to meet your time and budget. Click here to see all conference prices and packages!

Register Today for Advanced Rates & Save at http://www.itexshow.com/!

-=Good Selling=-

ITEX 2011 Addresses the Future of Office Solutions

By Sand Sinclair, ITEX Conference Director

In its 11th year, the ITEX National Expo & Conference, the largest North American trade show in the imaging channel, is getting set to deliver real solutions, real opportunities, and real value to the thousands of dealers and providers who look to ITEX for trendsetting information to advance their business.

From education tracks with critical topics needing to be addressed (and are) by experts in their fields, to a huge exhibit floor with the newest technologies and professional services offered, ITEX has become the ideal venue to find the most credible solutions in the channel. Innovative technologies, mission-critical information, and collaborative business intelligence are strategically in place for ITEX 2011 attendees. A line up of state of the art office products and methodologies will soon showcase the ways, means and future of office solutions in order to thrive – right now, right methods, right road for beyond.

Each year the mega tradeshow addresses the current state of the industry – and economy – by providing a “power menu of information tools” at their annual expo, this year held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington DC, on March 22-23.

Power Hours and More

In a matter of two days, the all-encompassing ITEX Expo synergistically connects a vast exhibit floor with 35 strategically developed Power Hour classes within five education tracks. Presented by experienced industry experts and confident dealers with hands-on experience to share, valuable information is also found in mini-forums for more in depth focus, including the MPS Strategy Forum held simultaneously at the show, and two pre-conference workshops held one day prior to the official show opening. The latter addresses both Managed Services and Service Operations in half day workshops. All ITEX education is developed, reviewed and implemented from use of ongoing research and collaborative consulting resources then collectively assembled as salient topics within trendsetting track categories. All sessions address the current needs of office dealers and business providers.



Without question, as companies face the challenge of maintaining profit levels, it takes commitment to providing a broad menu of services to secure market share, while retaining existing customer business. By adopting modern strategies and implementing new methods, by adjusting dealer portfolios to meet market demand, by achieving new service benchmark levels, and readily getting trained where needed, providers can get ahead of the competition. Getting beside or beyond the hybrid dealer mind set today in order to grow your business takes commitment. It means sidestepping today’s economic uncertainty in favor of learning new means that will alter the course of your business. Ideally, ITEX provides the best opportunity for providers to both learn and network, finding good partnerships to advance company growth.

From solid education and product to special forums and Perfect Image Awards, from visionaries kicking off keynotes (MWAi / Intel) to current events for association members who network at the show – the tangible tools ITEX delivers will affect your company today – along with its future tomorrow. For detailed information visit www.itexshow.com.

Note from Art:  See you all at the show, it should be the premier event of the year!

-= Good Selling=-

ComCOLOR Where are You!

It's been over a year since I've seen Riso's ComCOLOR devices. At first I was skeptical of the quality and thought with that type of quality and the MSRP there’s no way this system can make a dent in the office equipment industry.


In late November of 2009 I was shown samples of the output from the ComCOLOR; basically it was Riso’s test sample file field kit. The images were awesome and I was blown away. With the quality I saw and the MSRP I figured there was a place for this system.

Thus out with my sample packs I went, I picked up a few accounts that were highly interested and two actually came in for a demo. I almost sold a ComCOLOR in December of 2009, however it never got delivered (that’s another story to tell, thanx RISO), and I’m kind of glad it didn’t. I had secured another demo prior to the Print On Demand Show in Phili of 2010. My client loved the speed and the output was acceptable for the end product he needed to produce except for one tiny thing…….. bleed thru of the image on two sided documents were not acceptable. Well, back to the drawing board, off to the Print On-Demand Show to look for the Holy Grail, I was sure I’d find the right paper at one of the largest shows on the East Coast. As I went from paper vendor to paper vendor, all had nothing to offer, ohhhh bother…….., this was not good. I then went to the small booth where Riso was showing the ComCOLOR and they sighed and exclaimed as of right now there was no paper that would limit the bleed through, however we have this awesome inkjet paper (11x17) but….it’s a little high with a cost per sheet of .12 cents (this is from memory now and at my age it’s a little tougher and tougher every day), ooohhh bother, .12 cents won’t cut it either.

So as the hours turned to days, the show was over and the days turned to weeks and the weeks went to months there was no Holy Grail for the paper. What I did realize after the show is that all of the print samples that I was showing was printed on premium ink jet paper that had a cost of .12 cents a page, don’t ya think there should have been a label or something, maybe a disclaimer??? Ooohhh bother, I should have been more diligent in asking about the media.

We’re now almost a year later and I have to tell you, I haven’t sold a ComCOLOR and haven’t seen one in the field, your guess is as good as mine to where they are hiding. I’m still trying to pitch the quality and speed however the MSRP price of these units are way over priced and probably the reason why you don’t seem em in every CRD or Print Shop. Now with Memjet heads finally coming to market in various systems like the Astro1, I think we can count the days of the demise of the ComCOLOR and possibly RISO.

Since August 9th there's been seven blogs on their www.risoprinter.com site, last year at this time before Murphy left they had a few blogs posting every week, plus they were tweeting the heck out of the product. It seems the ComCOLOR is grasping at straws; one blog based on MPS, another for single pass promo and secure MICR. In their latest blog they tout that Imaging Channel (not sure who they are, will research) had taken a  “fresh look” at Riso’s Youtube video, if you ask me, maybe Imaging Channel should have tried one of these and then asked themselves if they would fork out 40K-70K for so so color.

Riso, I’d love to sell your product, however maybe it’s not ready for me or I’m not ready for it, or maybe we’ll never understand each other.

-=Good Selling=-

Print4Pay Hotels AIIM/On Demand Show Coverage Part II

Today was the last day of the AIIM/On Demand Show in Phili, while I could only commit to one day, I still have more to blog on for everyone. Can't wait until next year when the show moves to Washington, DC. There will be three shows in one! AIIM, OnDemand and ITEX, this should be a killer and I'll be saving my money for a P4P Hotel Booth!

On my second leg of the event I wanted find out more about Aqueous/UV coatings, how its done, the speed, the cost of the machines and the cost of the consumables. I stoped at KOMPAC, didn't even know they were located around the corner from me. On the low end they had a device where you could hand feed sheets for a UV coating, they use a liquid that comes in one gallon containers, you hand feed the documents in the liquid is dispered onto the paper and then the document/printer piece is subjet to a UV light thus turning the liquid into a solid. Producing a varnished/high gloss document. Cost is estimated at .01 to .02 cents per square foot.

I looked at this technology because of the ComColors, since they can't print on gloss and the print is a dull/matt finish. Lowend price for the one system was 18K and then you could add a sheet feeder to it, didn't bother to price out the sheet feeder. I've heard there are less expensive systems however I did not have the time to vist all of the manufacturers that were there, seems like there are many players in this market from the low end to the high end.

From there I went to look at envelope presses, what's and envelope press you might ask. Well it's nothing more than a glorified laser printer with some enhancements. The boot I visited was from Xante, there they had two oki 9850's. Cost per image per envelope is estimated at .02, I;m thing more like .025-.030

The first was outfitted with a top down envelope feeder and exit conveyor feeder, this system was had a variable resistor to control heat and another for ..............uh, I don't remember,,,I'll get to my notes in a moment. The first Illumia as Xante calls $15,995 and had a speed of 60 envelopes per minute. The other was another 9850 however this was equipment with a fieryor some color matching software and that device was around $20k. How many envelopes do you have to print to get back your investment?? One printer I spoke to the other day told me that he would resell the envelopes for .15 cents each!!! That's alot of money for branding huh!! So, basically you'd have to sell 133,000 envelopes and or have a minimum volume of 2,700 envelopes a month just to turn a small profit! Alas, this product is HOT! Mark my words, every print will have one of these in the next 5 years, whether it's laser or inkjet, this is the last part of a shop going digital!! Oki, took my advise and finally came out with thier own envelope printer a few months ago, Ricoh did not take my advise and it seems to me that right now, Oki is capturing ALL of the consumables in this lucrative market.

Bad things I've heard about these presses, light creasing with corners, really not a big deal, some printers have gone to side flaps. Other is the cost of consumables, especially if you buy from Xante! Again, I mentioned to RISO that they need to take thier technology a step further and develop and inexpensive inkjet envelope press, Riso could do this for a penny and produce evenlopes at a speed of 180-300 per minute!!!

Thats's it for now, more to come when I have the time, end of the month for me!

-=Good Selling=-

OnDemand/AIIM Show 2010

Just arrived at the Phili Convention Center, a little over 2 hours from my home near Sandy Hook. Weather is excellent, the show floor opens at 10AM, however Press can go in an hour early!! Thats me!

If you need to reach out to me or want me to eval a certain product, my cell is 732.977.1211 or email me at art@p4photel.com and I'll get the message on my phone, you can also text me at the number above.

-=Good Selling=-

On Demand Show 2010 in Phili

I'll be attending the On Demand/AIIM show in Phili next month.

I was just looking over the Exhibitor List and read that Ricoh, Ikon and Kodak will not be there this year. I know Ricoh  has their Dealer event this spring, however has the economy and the Ikon buyout taken it's toll? Plus, where the heck is Kodak? Also, I was counting on seeing the Oki proColor series from Okidata there, recently they released some really neat products desgined for the print production market, alas they won't be there either. One of the stops I'll be making is at Riso's booth to see the ComColor with all of the cool options. I counted up the exhibitors and it seems that there are a little over 100 for the On Demand side of the show.

Xerox and Canon will anchor the show with the largest booths, following up with somewhat smaller booths is KonicaMinolta and Oce. Infoprint will also be there, and probably with some of the Ricoh gear, however they a six of the space that Canon or Xerox is showing.

I'm really looking forward to next year in DC, we'll have ITEX, On Demand and AIIM all in one location and possibly one of the biggest events in a long time!

If you're in or around Phili from the 19th to the 22nd, I strongly recommend attending this awesome show!

-=Good Selling=-

Selling Multifunctional Solutions "Quarter Update"

It's been awhile since I posted.....hah, ya'll probably thought I was on vacation or something. No, no vacations for me yet, just trying to catch up on some business.

Our quarter and month just closed, seems I made the cut and had my monthly numbers along with quarterly. I'm beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel, but if you keep listening to the news it's still pretty much doom and gloom for the economy.

When I'm in existing accounts one of the talk tracks we start with is "how's business?". My response is that I've had more activity and more opportunies in the last four months than I had for the last year, just can't seem to put back to back great months together. From what I hear frm my customers and Print4Pay Hotel members the same is also true. All of us agree that we've got to come out of this soon or else!

Is everyone else seeing that? Would like to hear from others on this.

Moving forward to the new quarter, I need to stay more focused on higher end systems, multiple placements and hunt for MFP solutions that will help the end user improve the way they do business. I'm seeing more attention being paid to solutions like NSI, PPDM and MS Sharepoint. I'm thinking once the economy rebounds all those stalled talk tracks on these solutions will come to fruition.

I'll be at the On Demand/AIIM show in Phili this month and will be scouting around for "cool" items and will be looking to learn more about production printing, variable data and taking an in depth look at different types of media and niche machines.

BTW, the three D's of slling are: Desire, Dedication and Determination!

-=Good Selling=-

Traffic at AIIM/On Demand Show

I've been reading some reports from various press people and manufacturers that stated whow attendance was good and some even better than expected. If you've been to these show in past years, you would know that you could get lost in the sea of people. Take a look at this video clip and look at the traffic in the aisles, tell me what you think. I thought attendance was way off.



-=Good Selling=-