Minolta South Africa recently concluded a leasing and service deal in excess of R3.5 million with Shell & BP South African Petroleum Refineries (SAPREF) for the supply of digital copiers and laser printers, which should result in a significant reduction in printing costs.
Minolta`s Durban sales manager, Merylene Railton, says the agreement with SAPREF constituted the lease of 63 digital copiers and five Magicolor 2200 laser printers. "The lease will run for a period of 42 months and includes complete service backup support and a maintenance contract," says Railton.
All the digital copiers have been installed with printer controller attachments, which allow the digital copiers to function as high-end network printers.
Having migrated from a mixture of more than 250 cartridge-based laser and inkjet printers and facsimile units in common areas and on many personal desktops, as well as standalone photocopiers to far fewer `communal` printers and no personal desktop devices, SAPREF IT manager, Fred Turck says the project was justified largely on cost-savings, which have been considerable as it is cheaper to produce documents on digital copier technology than on conventional laser printer technology.
"The installation of machines at key locations will help to de-bottleneck certain units and the IT-based user support load will be significantly reduced, as will the load and administration of the print servers. We also expect (and are achieving) new levels of print quality and throughput.
"Minolta`s products were selected via a tender process but we were, however, familiar with the product," he says. "Prior to the introduction of the digital equipment, SAPREF was already a Minolta copier and facsimile site."
The new copiers and printers have been installed at strategic locations within SAPREF`s refinery and at the Island View and Joint Bunkering Services sites as one of the steps in SAPREF`s strategy to make technology deliver more value, while maintaining control of operating and support costs. "The service received from Minolta during the project phase has been exemplary and professional, characterised at all times by a willingness to ensure the project is a success," says Turck.
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