Ricoh’s R&D centres recently developed a new imaging technology offering an interesting alternative to the traditional inkjet and laser printing methods. Various new innovations eliminate many of the disadvantages of these conventional technologies. Colours are sharper, set-off and blurring avoided, and images guaranteed waterproof and sunlight resistant. Printing is fast and duplexing speed remarkably high. No time is lost in drying of images as the GelSprinter™ liquid gel instantly gelatinises and dries as soon as it touches the paper.
With fine quality at reduced cost, the Aficio™G500/G700 target the personal business printing market, as well as small workgroup users requiring colour office documents. Warm up times are modest at under 30 seconds, first prints coming in at 6 – 10 seconds, depending on the model and mode. Most characteristic, however, is the print speed - up to a solid 20 pages per minute for both colour and black and white (19 pages for the Aficio™G500). In addition, the duplex unit (standard on the Aficio™G700) allows for back page printing in a fraction of the normal printing time. Cost conscious offices will benefit from the ‘Level Colour’ mode; a unique feature making colour prints as affordable as black and white.
In the low end segment, the Aficio™G500/G700 exclusively combine high image quality and high speed with superior paper handling performance. The electrostatic belt transfer system, a proven technology with Ricoh’s high end colour laser printers, means higher reliability than traditional roller systems.
An additional novelty on the Aficio™G500/G700 is the GelSprinter™ Dual Tank System. This feature ensures there are no leftovers when replacement of any of the four high yield colour cartridges is due. A positive gesture to the environmentally- and cost conscious.
Simona De Sanctis, product manager at Ricoh’s European Marketing Group explains the company has great expectations of these extraordinary units: “At a competitive price level we will be marketing the Aficio™G500/700 directly through our existing sales channels. At this price/performance level we expect many users to ‘buy to experiment’ and we know they’ll be positive about the switch to GelSprinter™ devices.”
The designers also ensured usage, maintenance and consumables replacement are exceptionally simple. As a major advantage over most colour laser printers, the units have been designed for both the professional and the less experienced. The low unit weight of 10/11 kg means easy placement and relocation. The Aficio™G500/G700 Printer Status Monitor allows users to easily configure and monitor the printer from their PC through a straightforward, intuitive interface. Full front operation ensures easy cartridge and paper reload. Plain paper as well as thick and recycled paper types, transparencies and envelopes can be handled as well.
Both the Aficio™G500 and G700 offer full network capability and with Ricoh teaming up with international server manufacturer silex technology europe GmbH, matching optional print servers has been made available. Following the success of these units in Japan, the Aficio™G500 and Aficio™G700 GelSprinter™ colour printers will initially be introduced on two important European markets: France and Italy.
Ricoh currently manufactures one of the world's most extensive line ups of copiers, printers, scanners, faxes and multifunctional devices, as well as advanced software solutions.
