Minolta recently announced that the company will only distribute digital copiers and will cease to import and distribute analogue copiers other than those required for government and other tenders.
Says Paul Symonds, copier product manager at Minolta, "The decision was taken mainly because of the maturing digital copier market in SA. The trend is particularly pronounced at the mid- and top-end of the market, where the capabilities of this technology have resulted in more than 80% of all Minolta`s new copier installations being digital."
And because digital is the newest wave of technology available, mass production of digital products is having a positive effect on the costs. "The cost of digital is decreasing because of the increasing demand for it," explains Symonds.
Businesses and personal users alike are also recognising the cost of ownership of digital technology could be considerably less. "Users can invest in a digital copier and enjoy the benefits of a printer, scanner and often, fax facility, all in one," comments Symonds. The cost per copy using digital copier technology is also considerably less than standard printer technology.
Further, digital copiers can be linked to a network, enabling users to produce multiple copies from a normal PC. "Up to 90% of our higher level digital copiers are used for networking purposes, with around 40% of the entry-level digital copiers being acquired for their networking features," adds Symonds.
Other advantages such as superior image handling, increased copy speed, quality control, finishing capabilities, including stapling and punching, as well the ability to create unlimited sets, make choosing digital a particularly sound investment.
Minolta`s current digital product selection is certainly comprehensive enough to sustain current South African demand, from the basic entry-level copier to top of the range products that can produce anything from 15 to 75 copies per minute. And as Symonds explains, the company will remain at the forefront of the market by increasing the range of digital technology products it makes available in the future.
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