This Week in Canon "TWIC Notes"

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- Canon unveiled new technologies at a show in Paris:
o Showed a prototype of new production color system
 had code-name of imagePRESS Z
 used engine from current imagePRESS C7010VP
 had a fifth toner hopper with clear toner in it for gloss applications
 unit ran at 70ppm while applying all 5 toners
o also showed an Apple iPhone application that allowed imagePRESS to accept print jobs
o launched a consultancy business in collaboration with Accenture
o New feature for its optional UniFLOW 5 software:
 Prevents user from attempting to print, scan, copy or fax a document containing prohibited keywords, such as client name, project codenames, or foul language
 Will email admin a PDF copy of the document in question
 Will inform offending user via email of the transgression
 OCR feature (relabled software from IRIS of Belgium)(

- The shrinking value of U.S. dollar hurts Japanese companies. Canon’s CEO, Fujio Mitarai, stated that its operating profit will shrink by 4.7 billion yen for every 1 yen the currency strengthens beyond 90 against the U.S. dollar.

- Canon launched several desktop A4 laser printers:
o Color imageCLASS LBP7200C offering 21ppm color, with base MSRP of $699
o imageCLASS LBP6650 offering 35ppm b/w, with base MSRP of $599
o imageCLASS LBP6300 offering 30ppm b/w, with base MSRP of $499
o imageCLASS LBP6000 offering 19ppm b/w, with base MSRP of $249

- Canon announced that its Toray, Japan plant will make plastic parts partially made of plant materials that will be used in some of its imageRUNNER ADVANCE MFPs.

- Canon announced it will launch a 50ppm A4 b/w laser MFP, with optional hanging finisher, in early 2011.

-=Good Selling=-

TWIC Notes "This Week in Canon"

Gathered from Print4Pay Hotel Members from around the world and a few moles in very good places!

Canon announced is has authorized Docutrend Imaging Solutions as a full line dealer.

Details:
o Approved by Mark J. Chisamore, Canon U.S.A. channel sales manager
o Docutrend President is Aaron Rubin
o In 2009, Docutrend ranked as the 10th fastest growing solutions provider on CMP Media's annual Fast Growth 100 list.
o Earlier this year Docutrend opened a state-of-the art facility in Totowa, NJ, bringing warehousing and back office operations under one roof.
o Founded in 2002
o Already a dealer for Sharp and Savin

- Canon finally moving copier factory to China? According to Shanghai Daily newspaper, Canon’s managing director, Katsuichi Shimizu, Canon is considering opening up a plant on Chinese mainland to lower manufacturing costs. Besides Japan, Canon currently has factories in Thailand and Vietnam.

- Canon announced the grand opening of new office in Rhode Island:
o Located at 117 Metro Center Boulevard in Warwick (in metro Providence)
o 15 sales and service employees, with plans for growth
o 4,400-square-foot facility includes a state-of-the-art showroom
o Will report to Jeff Fernandez
o Part of a major national expansion which has resulted in the opening of offices in 15 metropolitan areas in the last year

-=Good Selling=-

This Week in Canon "TWIC Notes"

Gathered from Print4Pay Hotel Members from around the world and a few moles in very good places!

- Canon announced it is shipping a new line of calculators that are “anti-bacteria” equipped to help prevent the spread of H1N1. The new calculators apparently have a germ fighting agent embedded in the plastic casing.

- According to some industry analysts, Canon will be launching a program to authorize copier dealers in the U.S. to sell its products with the Hewlett Packard name on them. In theory, this would allow the company to create another wholesale distribution channel, and open up more distribution in cities where it already has Canon branches and Canon dealers.

- In an interview with Charles Holliday, chairman of DuPont, he related a story about his visit to Canon’s headquarters in Japan. He took a team to visit Canon’s CEO, Fujio Mitarai, and at end of visit, he noticed that someone had put a brand new Canon digital camera on each of his employee’s chairs. Mr. Holliday and his staff wondered what to do, as their company has an ethics policy which prevents them from accepting such a gift. They wondered if they would offend Mr. Mitarai if they returned the gifts. When they returned the gifts to Canon and explained why, Mr. Mitarai said; “you are a step above everybody else we deal with…what other company would have returned the cameras for such a good reason?” Canon has since adopted a similar policy.

-=Good Selling=-

This Week in Canon "TWIC Notes"

Gathered from Print4Pay Hotel Members from around the world and a few moles in very good places!

Canon announced it has purchased Document House, a $6.7 million Xerox/HP dealer in Scandinavia. It will now offer Canon and HP products only.

- Canon announced a change for the generic print controllers it sells for its printers and MFPs. Instead of offering standard a PostScript print driver from Zoran, it will now charge end users $1400 for a PostScript driver from Adobe. (or a customer can buy an EFI Fiery if offered)

- Canon stated that since Ricoh bought IKON, it has signed up only 23 new dealers in the U.S.

- When Canon launched the new imageRUNNER ADVANCE series, Canon highlighted its copier history:
- 1970 – first copier, the NP-1100
- 1984 – first digital copier, the NP-9030, a 30ppm b/w device, but did not connect
- 1987 – first digital color copier, the CLC-1, did not initially connect
- 1989 – launched the CLC-500, became the best selling color copier of its day
- 1992 – launched the GP55, offering digital b/w unit with fax/copy/print/scan

- Canon announced it will spend $220 million to launch its own managed print services effort, with goal of gaining $1.1 billion in annual revenue by 2012.

- Canon announced another partner for its MEAP embedded solutions, this time GBCblue which it offering the COPYblue solution:
- converts Canon imageRUNNER MFP into a self-service kiosk
- MFP acts as an interface to access a back-end transaction server managed by GBCblue
- Developed for public environments such as convention centers, libraries, hotels and airports
- User is prompted through the touch screen LCD on copier
- Accepts all major credit cards

-=Good Selling=-

This Week in Canon "TWIC Notes"

Gathered from Print4Pay Hotel Members from around the world and a few moles in very good places!

Another Canon attempt to diversify from copiers and cameras has failed? Apparently, Canon attempted to enter the high end lithography business for use in LCD and computer chip production. The company installed a $90 million 193nm immersion tool in 2007, and is reported to be having technical problems with the machine. It is trying to enter a market dominated by Nikon of Japan, and ASML of the Netherlands.

More details emerge about the new Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE MFPs:
- apparently end users can change the wallpaper of the MFP’s touch screen LCD display
- can personalize their printing workflows
- new Advanced imageCHIP system means that copiers have two processors inside, one for image processing and one for information processing
- full color 8.4” SVGA TFT LCD touch screen control panel on some models and 10.4” on others
- support up to 300gsm on some models
- Advanced Box allows jobs to be stored on hard drive
- Software options that are part of the imageRUNNER ADVANCE Essentials package:
- “Desktop” is a client based device dashboard application to manage print operations
- “Tracker” is a cost recovery tool
- “Composer” allows customizing multi-step workflow functions into a single button
- integration with Microsoft SharePoint
- “Remote” allows for auto submission of meter reads and service call submission
- “Enterprise Management Console” to monitor activity of fleet
- 1200x1200dpi
- use “pQ” toner without need of fuser oil
- PostScript will be an option for the built-in generic controllers, and offer Fiery as alternative
- C9075 has base MSRP of $50,000
- C9065 has base MSRP of $40,000
- C7065 has base MSRP of $35,000
- C7055 has base MSRP of $28,000
- C5051 has base MSRP of $18,500
- C5045 has base MSRP of $17,000
- C5035 has base MSRP of $12,400
- C5030 has base MSRP of $11,400

Canon launched imageWARE Document Server offering:- Check In/Check Out
- Version Control
- Full Text Search
- Audit Trail
- User Index Search
- Developed using Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services

Canon launched uniFLOW 4.0 Output Manager featuring:- Universal print driver
- Interactive rule based print job routing
- Authorization workflow
- eCopy Secure Print Client
- web job submission/ticketing
- comprehensive queue management
- prepress make ready
- document security options

Canon announced it will spend $270 million to steamline design and product data systems throughout the company in 2010, by consolidating its two 3D CAD systems and standardize those for managing product data.

Note from Art: This is reposted from the P4P Hotel, sometimes it dead on and sometimes not. If you see something thats not correct shoot a comment to me, otherwise as always my mother always told "believe nothing of what you read and only half of what you see" LOL


-=Good Selling=-

This Week in Xerox "TWIC"

Two former members of the famed Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) were honored guests recently at the University of Texas (UT) in Austin, TX. UT alumnus, Bob Taylor, spoke to students about his work at PARC and how his team developed computer networking in 1970. UT President Bill Powers announced that one of Bob’s former employees had created a $100,000 graduate scholarship in his honor. The former employee, Charles Simonyi, took his work at PARC, and left to help Microsoft develop MS Word & Excel.


When Xerox launched the ColorQube color wax copier, it engaged 30 employees to visit blogs to drive interest in the product. They also monitor negative comments about the device, and respond back on the web to counter the negative info.

In an effort to cut costs, Xerox announced it is switching its auto fleet from 6 cylinder to 4 cylinder company cars for its technicians. It also will be giving them all GPS, as it found that using GPS resulted in another service call per day, and up to 30% increase in work volume, due to the knowledge that they were being monitored.

-=Good Selling=-

TWIC "This Week in Canon"

Special thanx to Print4Pay Hotel members from around the world and a few moles!

Canon releases more information on its upcoming new production color systems, called the imageRUNNER ADVANCE C9065 & C9075:
- All models still use the off-white plastic design
- None apparently offer true 8 bits per pixel imaging
- both advertised as light production color systems
- Designed to compete against the Konica Minolta bizhub PRO C5501 & C6501
- Base MSRP for C9065 will be $40,000
- Small engine footprint (appears to be designed on a workgroup engine format)
- Tandem 4 drum OPC design
- uses pulverized toner infused with wax
- Console design with two large letter size drawers and two 11”x17” drawers
- Optional side mount paper decks for a total paper capacity of 9,300 sheets
- Up to 13”x19” paper handling
- maximum paper weight handling of 300gsm
- will support coated stock and tab stocks
- Uses 200v/15 amp circuit
- 60ppm color and 65ppm b/w for C9065
- 70ppm color and 75ppm b/w for C9075
- Document feeder can scan both sides at same time
- scans b/w originals at 100opm top speed (at 200dpi)
- scan color originals at 70opm top speed
- 10.4” touch screen color LCD panel on an armature
- can be customized by end user
- Comes standard with generic PCL controller with optional PostScript
- Optional embedded or external Fiery controllers
- Optional external Creo controller
- actual copy resolution of 600x600dpi and 1200x1200dpi print resolution
- advertised as offering up to 9600dpi with interpolation

Canon bought a stake in an Austrian document management software company named ADOS, and changed its name to Therefore Inc.

According to the Riverhead News Review newspaper of Riverhead, NY, Canon could get up to a $50 million tax break for building a new U.S. headquarters on Long Island.

-=Good Selling=-

TWIC "This Week in Canon" 8/25/09

Gathered from media sources from around the world, and a few moles!

More details on the new Canon production b/w models, the imagePRESS 7000 series:

- Apparently has issue with mixplexing, in that it has to clear every sheet in the engine before it can switch to either/or single of double sided printing
- Will supposedly run as slow as 14ppm depending on the job and paper stock used, even though unit is advertised with top speed of 70ppm(This came from another source and I can't verify this, only repeated what was given to me, and it should be treated as educational only and not GOD's word)

In an article in the Japanese newspaper, The Nikkei, had following info on Canon plans:
- Will increase the number of its factory direct branches 40% to 80 total by end of 2010
- Is targeting IT service related revenue of $2.1 billion in 2012
- The new line of copiers it is launching, the imageRUNNER ADVANCE series, has goal of 12,000 per month worldwide

Canon now shipping the new desktop color MFP, the imageCLASS MF8350Cdn offering:
- Base MSRP of $699
- 21ppm top speed
- 4 tandem OPC drum design
- 600x600dpi actual for printing/copying/scanning
- Advertised as offering 2400dpi for printing with interpolation
- 300 sheet paper supply standard (maximum with options is 550 sheets)
- Is A4, or handles letter/legal size only
- Auto duplex standard
- No finishing/stapling option
- Built-in print controller
- USB & 10/100BaseT ports
- 300MHz processor
- 128MB RAM (no upgrade option)
- Host based printing only (no PCL or PostScript print drivers)
- Fax/scan/print/copy standard
- Black toner yield of 3400 pages for $80, color toners have yield of 2900 pages for $75 each,
all based on 5% coverage
- Maximum duty cycle of 40,000 pages

Canon announced that New York state governor, David Paterson, agreed to spend $8 million in road improvements, so that Canon could begin building its new headquarters in Melville, NY. (originally, Canon would have had to make this investment)

Keep in mind that some of what is posted here is "heard on the street" and should be treated as such.

TWIC "This Week in Canon"

Gathered from media sources from around the world, and a few moles!

In an effort to increase slow sales of the Canon imagePRESS C1 color copier, Canon is advertising the unit as a way for hospitals and doctors to print out radiology images. Canon announced that the system is compatible with Virtual Imaging’s Cypher DICOM software. However, the press release stated “prints are not intended for diagnostic purposes”.

Canon announced that its “Green Calculator” program is a success, and will launch more models. The calculators are made from parts and plastic claimed from trade-in copiers.

Canon told its shareholders last week, that it expects it revenue to drop 22% due to slow demand for its copiers.

Competing against production b/w systems from Canon? If you are competing against the imageRUNNER 7000 series (7095, 7105, etc.), make sure to run samples on coated/glossy thick stocks, and ask your customer to demand the same when they get a demo on the Canon.

Canon announced that its factory direct branch in Denver sold an imagePRESS C6000VP to an Alphagraphics printshop ownded by Edward Rothschild as announced by Canon’s Senior Director of Production Print, Dennis Griff.

-=Good Selling=-

TWIC Notes "This Week in Canon"

- Canon’s CEO says he sees signs of business bottoming out. Mr. Fujio Mitarai said; “performance has been considerably better than originally anticipated in March and April.”

- Canon announced is finishing construction on a 700,000 square foot building in Virginia. The building will be used to refurbish imageRUNNER 5000 and 3300 b/w digital copiers.

- What is it like to work for Canon in Japan? In an article in Gizmodo magazine, Canon plant manager, Hisashi Samaki is the author of a book proposing some of the same measures he instituted at his own company. He has removed all the chairs, as that he believes that forcing employees to stand not only saves money, but increases productivity and enhances employee relationships. In the hallways, if an employee walks slower than 5 meters every 3.6 seconds, an alarm and flashing lights are set off, reminding the poor worker that he is operating inefficiently. He also installed a sign on the floor that reads; “Let’s rush: If we don’t, the company and world will perish.” Mr. Sakamai, however, has a nice relaxing chair.

-=Good Selling=-

TWIC "This Week in Canon"

- In a survey of copier technicians, conducted by Industry Analysts, the Canon imageRUNNER 3035, 5055 & 7095 were chosen as favorite units to service. (future survey may be impacted as IKON’s Canon technicians will be switching to Ricoh)

- Canon reported a drop of 88% drop in profit last quarter, and a 32% drop in sales. It will take steps to cut costs:
- “Nothing is sacred for us now when it comes to cost cuts. Market conditions are still tougher than we had originally expected” said Masahiro Osawa, the senior managing director of accounting.
- cuts will total 172 billion yen, which is 60 billion more than originally planned
- R&D will be reduced to 320 billion yen

-=Good Selling=-

TWIC Notes "This Week in Canon" 4/5/09

- Canon won a “Best of Show” award in the b/w production print category during the OnDemand show last week in Philadelphia for its new imagePRESS 1110, 1125 and 1135 products.

- Canon announced it has acquired Virtual Imaging Inc., of Deerfield Beach, FL. The company specializes in providing diagnostic imaging solutions and a medical systems integrator.

- Xerox and Canon both successfully defended themselves in court against Kirsch Technologies, who had sued them over alleged illegal use of a fax technology patent that the company owns.

- Canon launched a new website to promote its office equipment products, called “Let Your Business Run” featuring the following topics:
- Color
- Document Management
- Document Distribution
- Productivity
- Security
- Cost Recovery
- Device Management
- Usability
- Accessibility
- Environment

- Canon announced that it will offer the Creo print controllers as an option for its imagePRESS production color devices.

- Canon launched UniFLOW solution offering:
- follow me secure printing, where end user prints job, and then walks up to any Canon MEAP enabled device on the network to retrieve their print job
- access to MFPs via Proximity Card, Swipe Card or a Pin Code that is associated with a Windows Active Directory (AD) login

TWIC "This Week in Canon"

Gartner announced that in 2008, Canon had 21% marketshare of the copier market, making it the leading vendor. (This data was recorded before impact of Ricoh’s acquisition of IKON, which was Canon’s largest distributor)

Canon announced that it has sold an imagePRESS C6000 production color system to a Century 21 Real Estate office in Chicago, where it will be used to produce marketing materials and color postcards.

Canon announced it has authorized Agfa Graphics to resell its imagePRESS production color systems to increase sales to graphic arts markets.

Canon announced it has authorized Heritage Business Systems as a full line Canon MFP dealer in Morristown, NJ.

The information above is a quick review of copier/MFP industry news from various trade publications.

-=Good Selling-=

"TWIC" This Week in Canon

Canon announced it has replaced two Xerox iGen3 production color systems. Go To Digital, a printshop in Laurel, MD, replaced the two Xerox units with two new Canon imagePRESS C7000VP systems.

- Canon announced that it is lowering its profit target for 2009 by 75% due to declining demand for its products, and the loss of DANKA and IKON distribution. It does however expect revenue to grow by 6% in 2010. Chairman, Fujio Mitarai, stated that “We will continue to aim for the top 100 status, but we are not sure if e can achieve that in 2010” in regards to his quest to make Canon one of the 100 largest companies in the world.

- Canon announced it has placed other imagePRESS C7000VP production color systems, this time at Ron’s Printing Center in Longmont, CO, and Copresco Printing of Chicago, according to Dennis Griff, Senior Director for Production Print for Canon.

- Canon has launched programs to aggressively assist its dealers go after the IKON/Canon machines in field:
- “Canonball” program provides a check to end user to cover up to 9 monthly IKON lease payments to make it easier to upgrade to a new Canon from the Canon dealer.
- “Double Stretch Your Dollar’s program provides up to $8000 to upgrade a Ricoh product to Canon

The information above is a quick review of copier/MFP industry news from various trade publications.

-=Good Selling-=

"TWIC" This Week in Canon 2-2-09

Ciber Inc., a computer system integrator, said Monday it has completed its acquisition of Canon Technology Solutions Inc.(CTS), a technology consulting unit of Canon USA Inc.

Greenwood Village-based Ciber (NYSE: CBR) said the acquisition will allow it to expand its information technology outsourcing division, Ciber ITO.
CIBER® (NYSE: CBR) is a leading international system integration consultancy and outsourcing provider with superior value-priced services for both private and government sector clients. CIBER’s services are offered on a project or strategic staffing basis, in both custom and enterprise resource planning (ERP) package environments, and across all technology platforms, operating systems and infrastructures.

Canon Technology Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc., has been an innovative leader in providing advanced technology solutions and consulting to organizations since 1985. Our mission is to help leading corporations create and sustain competitive advantage, empower their employees to achieve ever increasing levels of productivity and accomplishment, and to transform their critical business operations in order to achieve superior levels of performance through the intelligent application of enabling technologies.

Clearly, I don't understand this move unless it was a poor performer for Canon? Any comments?

Canon gave a tour to journalists of its camcorder plant in Oita, Japan. Details:
- Manufacturing is done by teams or cells, rather than an assembly line
- Each cell has 20 members
- Each cell adopts a name like “Emperors of the Night” or “King of the Ninja”
- Camcorder is assembled every 20 minutes
- Total plant production is 500 camcorders every 8 hours
- Workers get 10 minute break every 2 hours, and dinner (no lunch break)
- Work day is 12 hours
- Parts are supplied to the cells by self-guided supply carts
- Total of 70 cells work different shifts
- Each cell is 20 meters apart
- Total plant is 77,000 square meters
- Total production is 200 million units per year
- Only automation used is for lenses, where glass is heated to 700 degrees Farenheit to form lens
Canon announced it will close its office in Amstelveen in the Netherlands in a cost cutting move.

More details on the last quarter’s financials for Canon:
- profit fell 81% to 35.8 billion yen
- predicts further drop to a 14 year low
- net income falls 91% to $130.4 million