Venture Computer, the sole Southern African distributor for Lexmark International, today announced a range of OptraImage multifunction products.
"Today, the speed of business is often negated by the speed at which companies can move paper," said Mark Hiller, Managing Director of Venture Computer. "Lexmark`s new OptraImage multifunction products (MFPs) enable our customers to print out information on paper, but more importantly, help them capture that information and move it back into the electronic realm so they can move their business at electronic speed, shorten cycle times and reduce operating costs."
Three new MFPs have been introduced:
OptraImage T610sx
The OptraImage T610sx is an affordable, compact, 15 ppm multifunction printer for small workgroups such as branch offices in financial institutions, pharmacies, nursing stations and government offices. It is based on the T610 laser printer and has document production capabilities including reliable, fast, high-quality monochrome network printing and digital copying. Document delivery capabilities with the OptraImage T610sx include faxing digital and paper documents, scanning documents in colour to user workstations, as well as to e-mail addresses and to storage servers. These capabilities enable low-cost, high-quality and flexible document distribution.
Placing integrated, robust multifunction devices like the OptraImage T610sx closer to the users who need them, optimises work processes by reducing the time spent walking to centralised facilities or dealing with multiple devices and interfaces. The intuitive, consistent interface provided by Lexmark`s OptraImage products reduces training costs and learning curves. Businesses also benefit from a single set of supplies for the typical office tasks of printing, copying and faxing.
OptraImage T614dx
The OptraImage T614dx, is a versatile and fast network multifunction printer for workgroups that combines print, copy, fax and colour network-scanning functions into a single device. The OptraImage T614dx combines Lexmark`s Optra T614 monochrome laser printer with Lexmark`s new OptraImage 443 multifunction option, which features a single pass colour duplex scanner. The device scans at 21 page per minute (ppm) monochrome and 12 ppm colour and can scan two-sided documents more reliably with one pass, saving considerable time and money.
With the OptraImage T614dx, businesses can improve productivity, reduce costs and improve document workflow by consolidating printing, faxing, copying and network scanning devices into a single, space-saving, OptraImage multifunction printer. Users can print and copy documents at up to 25 ppm ("scan once, print many") and then fax them from the device itself or from their workstations.
The OptraImage T614dx also allows users to scan monochrome or colour documents that can then be emailed or filed electronically. For example, a colour magazine article can be scanned, filed in an electronic folder or emailed to interested staff throughout the company directly from the OptraImage T614dx. The document could also be sent, using File Transfer Protocol (FTP), to a departmental colour laser printer located elsewhere on the network for printing. For faxing, users can connect Lexmark`s OptraImage MFPs to an analogue telephone line at speeds up to 33.6 kilobytes per second or to many corporate SMTP fax servers, saving considerable costs associated with extra phone lines and toll charges.
Independent testing performed by Business Equipment Research and Test Laboratories USA (BERTL USA) measured Lexmark`s OptraImage T614dx as outperforming the HP LaserJet 8100MFP in overall copy quality and was found to be comparable to the Ricoh Aficio 270 and the Xerox Document Centre 440ST on standard business documents when using the default settings.
"For users that require predominantly printing and some copying, the OptraImage T614dx may prove to be a better solution than a copier based system and provides far better value for the money," said Mark Nadel, Director of Testing at BERTL USA. "The Xerox Document Centre 440ST and Ricoh Aficio 270 had a wider, more extensive copy capability but we believe that some of these capabilities will not be used in a mainly print environment and are not essential for standard business copying. The Ricoh and Xerox devices are priced substantially higher than the OptraImage T614dx."
BERTL USA analysts tested a total of 55 different documents on each of the devices and scientifically measured all copies. BERTL USA also asked a panel of users to assess each of the test documents and rated every copy sample.
OptraImage C710sx
The OptraImage C710sx, is an affordable, small workgroup, colour network multifunction printer. It combines Lexmark`s Optra C710 colour laser printer with Lexmark`s OptraImage 242 multifunction option. The OptraImage C710sx can perform the same basic functions as the OptraImage T614dx with the addition of colour printing. From this device, users can scan colour documents at seven ppm, make colour copies at up to three ppm or monochrome copies at speeds up to 16 ppm ("scan once, print many"). The OptraImage C710sx affordably brings colour network printing and scanning to workgroups needing colour laser output while incorporating all the functionality of a MFP.
Lexmark Document Distributor
All OptraImage MFPs include Lexmark`s Document Distributor software (standard edition). Lexmark Document Distributor is a robust document management and workflow tool that helps companies automate and streamline electronic document distribution. Automating repetitive processes such as claims processing, speeds up business, frees up staff time for other projects, and reduces cycle times.
An advanced version of Lexmark Document Distributor, now integrates with Open Data Base Connectivity (ODBC) compliant relational database management systems and groupware systems such as Lotus Notes and Microsoft Exchange.
New features in Lexmark`s Document Distributor software can route documents automatically based on information, such as predefined values or user inputs. For example, a bank loan application for R100,000 or less may be routed to one employee for processing, while loan applications greater than R100,000 can be routed to another employee. In this example, Lexmark Document Distributor will route the loan application to the appropriate person or location based on the specific loan amount, determined through optical character recognition (OCR). The bank would benefit from faster and more accurate transactions, reductions in cycle times and improved productivity that saves them significant hard and soft Rand costs.
Upgrade existing Lexmark printers easily
Current Optra T and Optra C710 customers can upgrade their printers with the new OptraImage 242 and 443 multifunction options from Lexmark, thereby protecting their initial investment and adding new multifunction capabilities.
Lexmark`s OptraImage solutions and Optra network printers can grow to meet the needs of a business as the output demands change. Protecting the customer`s investment is why Lexmark products are scalable. Upgrading the function of an Optra printer or multifunction device is easy with Lexmark`s variety of application printing solutions. Bar code printing, electronic forms and drag-and-drop printing of TIFF, PDF and HTML documents from the optional ImageQuick SIMM are all available.
"Lexmark`s philosophy is that businesses should consolidate printing, copying, faxing and scanning capabilities into a single device within workgroups," continued Hiller. "Placing easy-to-use, networked MFPs closer to users helps them perform job tasks more quickly and saves the company considerable hard and soft costs associated with using disparate devices that are located farther away from users."
For further information, please contact Mark Hiller or the relevant product manager at tel. (011) 329 0999; fax (011) 792 7449; e-mail mhiller@venture.co.za
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Venture Computer is the sole distributor in South Africa for Lexmark; and Tally; products including consumables, with offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth.
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