Powerful new multifunction devices expand Lexmark`s opportunity in the office

Lexmark International SA today introduced new products that will accelerate the company`s expansion beyond printing to a wider range of hardcopy solutions. The new devices facilitate the flow of business information and enable companies to easily and cost-effectively distribute the capabilities of a large, departmental multifunction printer (MFP).

The centrepieces of today`s introductions are two Lexmark MFPs, the X620e and the X750e, which consolidate high-performance printing, copying, faxing and scanning capabilities into single, space-saving units. These new products boost worker productivity with document-routing capabilities, such as scan-to-e-mail, that make traditionally paper-based processes significantly more efficient. The foundations of these new products are the Lexmark T620 monochrome laser printer and the Lexmark C750, which features innovative, single-pass colour laser technology developed by Lexmark.

"Lexmark`s message that our high-value solutions can increase productivity while reducing costs is gaining traction worldwide, and consequently there is a great deal of focus on the MFP category," commented Mark Hiller, MD of Lexmark International SA.

"We differentiate ourselves from the rest of the field by providing a compelling value proposition and distinctive ease of use. Our new MFPs, for example, feature a touch-screen interface that is so intuitive, that virtually anyone can walk up to it and access its many features without any training."

Compared to networked digital copiers, the Lexmark X620e provides enhanced functionality, but with a smaller footprint and a price that enables it to be better distributed throughout large enterprises as well as in small and medium businesses. The Lexmark X750e is a colour, network-ready MFP with four-in-one functionality that addresses any company`s document requirements at an incomparable price point.

The Lexmark X620e and X750e are just the latest products to join a family of robust Lexmark devices that are changing the workplace by streamlining communications and reducing expenses. Lexmark`s portfolio of MFPs includes output solutions that are suitable for enterprises ranging from small businesses to large corporations. The family of products ranges from the Lexmark X520, a durable 20 pages per minute (ppm) monochrome multifunction device, to the Lexmark X820e, a 45ppm workhorse.

"The market has been migrating away from large, centralised print sources toward a more distributed model, where printing solutions are located closer to the end-user. Lexmark has been keenly focused on providing printing solutions and services within this distributed model, and today`s introductions offer further evidence of this focus," continued Hiller.

"We work closely with customers to tailor high-quality document solutions, and to help them seamlessly integrate those solutions into the work environment using our software and services. We believe it is this kind of technology leadership that will help us continue growing our share of the distributed, multifunction printing segment.``

Customers might expect a device that consolidates all their office document requirements to be cumbersome and expensive, but the Lexmark X620e makes it easy and affordable to move information between digital and paper formats. The Lexmark X620e, features colour scanning, a 30ppm engine and an intuitive touch-screen interface. It also integrates securely into a company`s information system to allow easy access to corporate address books without the purchase of additional software.

Reliable and versatile, the Lexmark X750e performs the same array of business functions as the Lexmark X620e while offering the added impact of colour output. It has the flexibility to address any business output needs, including e-forms and direct Internet printing. The Lexmark X750e provides better multifunctionality than other devices that are currently more expensive.

The Lexmark C750 and the Lexmark T-family of monochrome laser printers can be converted into multifunction printers through the addition of the Lexmark X4500 MFP Option. Building on Lexmark`s heritage of modular, upgradeable laser printer designs, the X4500 MFP Option allows companies to transform their existing printers into multifunction office products.

For further information, please contact Mark Hiller or the relevant product manager at telephone (011) 329 0999; fax (011) 792 7449; e-mail mark.hiller@lexmark.co.za