Konica Minolta Production Devices Sweep BLI’s PRO Awards

November 17, 2014 – Hong Kong (HK) – Buyers Laboratory LLC (BLI), the leading independent authority in the document imaging industry, today announced its annual PRO awards, which acknowledge the best-in-class devices in BLI’s production field tests. This year it was three models all from Konica Minolta that delivered the winning performances and earned the awards. Having generated tens of millions of impressions on production devices from the leading vendors over several years, BLI’s production tests reveal the attributes that distinguish the most outstanding performers in a challenging evaluation covering productivity, image quality, media handling, ease of use and more. The 2015 BLI PRO Award winners are:

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Konica Minolta, Inc. bizhub PRESS C1100 Outstanding Colour Mid-Volume Production Device bizhub PRESS 1052 Outstanding Monochrome Light- to Mid-Volume Production Device bizhub PRESS 2250P Outstanding Monochrome Mid- to High-Volume Production Device

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Winning Performances Spanning Three Segments
While each of the winning devices has particular strengths, all the models share some important characteristics that will be welcome in high-volume production environments. For one, they all have excellent media handling, with very high maximum input and output paper capacities, support for heavy media up to 350 gsm, dehumidifier and preheat features to assist with handling of offset media, a humidifier option to reduce rippling and paper curl, and a high-capacity post-process inserter for workflows incorporating pre-printed colour covers, inserts and tabs. They are also productive (particularly with A3 and oversize SRA3 media), easy to use and offer a wider than average range of image quality settings to enable users to achieve optimum output.

The 100-ppm Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS C1100 is the winner of BLI’s 2015 BLI PRO award for Outstanding Colour Mid-Volume Production Device. “Usually we see models that excel in one or two areas, but fall short in others,” said David Sweetnam, head of BLI’s European Research and Lab Services. “But with very high ratings across the board in every category, the bizhub PRESS C1100 will be a good fit in mid-volume production environments regardless of whether productivity, image quality, media handling or ease of use is the main concern.” Particularly noteworthy is the unit’s colour consistency, which is among the best BLI has seen and earned the rarely awarded 5-star rating for this important category. Text and fine lines were equally stellar, also earning 5-star ratings, and the device produced smooth halftone curves across all four colours on both coated and uncoated paper. In addition, the unit achieved simplex and duplex throughput speeds at rated speed across the entire supported media range.

Winner of the 2015 PRO award for Outstanding Monochrome Light- to Mid-Volume Production Device, the 105-ppm bizhub PRESS 1052 matched or surpassed its competitors in nearly all of close to 20 speed tests and earned BLI’s highest (5-star) rating for productivity. Notably, it ran at rated engine speed when producing jobs with multi-tray switching and coated inserts, outperforming all of its competitors—two of them by very large margins. It also handled heavy-grade stocks and jobs that involve switching between letter and ledger output more efficiently than many competing models. “Not only is the bizhub PRESS 1052 highly productive,” said BLI Director of Laboratory Testing Pete Emory, “but its input and output paper capacities are so high that it can run for a full eight hours before requiring operator attention.”

Comprising two bizhub PRESS 1250P engines working in tandem and driven by a single Konica Minolta controller, the bizub PRESS 2250P is the PRO award winner for Outstanding Monochrome Mid- to High-Volume Production Device. In BLI’s evaluation, the unit delivered on its promise of 250 A4 ipm in duplex mode, cranking out more than 15,000 images in a single hour of duplex A4 workflow. BLI analysts cited in particular its duplex performance on A3 and SRA3 media, where, over the course of an hour it delivered 8,396 and 7,886 impressions, respectively, equating to speeds of 279.87 and 262.87 A4 2-up impressions per minute, surpassing the performance of competing devices and approaching the performance of some devices with higher rated speeds.

“Our results clearly show the bizhub PRESS 2250P to be an excellent and cost-effective choice for organizations entering the short-run book printing market,” said BLI’s Sweetnam.

While alternative print controllers are available for some of the devices, BLI tested all the models with the Konica Minolta controller, which offers a wide range of image quality adjustments; extensive job-building and advanced page-level programming capabilities; highly featured drag-and-drop hot folder functionality; and Konica Minolta’s Tone Curve utility, which provides users with professional-grade custom grey programming capability.

“We are pleased to receive these awards as they are a testament to our commitment to meet the demands of users in these production segments,” said Jonathan Yeo, general manager with Konica Minolta Business Solutions Asia Pte. Ltd.

About Buyers Laboratory LLC
Buyers Laboratory LLC (BLI) is the world’s leading independent provider of analytical information and services to the digital imaging and document management industry. For more than 50 years, buyers have relied on BLI to help them differentiate products’ strengths and weaknesses and make the best purchasing decisions, while industry sales, marketing and product professionals have turned to BLI for insightful competitive intelligence and valued guidance on product development, competitive positioning and sales channel and marketing support. Using BLI’s web-based bliQ and Solutions Center services, 40,000 professionals worldwide create extensive side-by-side comparisons of hardware and software solutions for over 15,000 products globally, including comprehensive specifications and the performance results and ratings from BLI’s unparalleled Lab, Solutions and Environmental Test Reports, the result of months of hands-on evaluation in its US and UK labs. The services, also available via mobile devices, include a comprehensive library of BLI’s test reports, an image gallery, hard to find manufacturers’ literature and valuable tools for configuring products and calculating total cost of ownership (TCO) and annual power usage. BLI also offers consulting and private, for-hire testing services that help manufacturers develop and market better products and consumables.

For more information on Buyers Laboratory LLC,  visit http://www.buyerslab.com

bizhub PRESS C1100/C1085 system simulator now available

Follow the link. Great support tool for Production Print Sales.

http://www.biz.konicaminolta.com/simulator/production/c1100_c1085/index.html?rellink=topicnews

Konica Minolta Expands Healthcare Portfolio with Inofile’s Clinical Document Exchange Platform

Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announced a strategic alliance with Inofile to distribute Kno2™, a clinical document exchange platform that enables patient care facilities to securely exchange vital patient information via the cloud using scanners, multi-function devices and health information networks. The relationship includes an exclusive Kno2 user interface that is integrated into the Konica Minolta bizhub® multifunctional printer (MFP) control panel offering a user experience not available with any other MFP manufacturer.

“Even with the significant advances in EMR adoption, a tremendous amount of paper-based records are faxed or mailed when a patient is transferred from one healthcare facility to another,” says Sam Errigo, senior vice president, Business Intelligence Services, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. “Through our partnership with Inofile, we can assist healthcare customers by providing an integrated solution that delivers digital patient information in an efficient and secure manner that complies with HIPAA and HITECH technology standards. This exciting new technology offers an end-to-end solution to easily capture a complete patient record and share that information across the continuum of care dramatically reducing the amount of paperwork when transferring records from one facility to another.”

Kno2 is available through Konica Minolta’s EnvisionIT Healthcare solution portfolio, a comprehensive suite of products, software and services designed specifically to address the challenges facing healthcare facilities. Integrating Kno2 with Konica Minolta bizhub MFPs allows healthcare customers to capture, exchange and receive patient information or other documentation in healthcare-compatible formats with a variety of health information exchanges, including Surescripts, the predominant health information network; Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems; and outside providers or partners. This provides healthcare facilities with an on-ramp to Meaningful Use Stage 2 requirements with secure messaging to pass patient data across healthcare providers for timely, accurate, efficient and cost-effective delivery of care.

“Imagine how efficiently healthcare facilities could operate if outdated fax technology was replaced with a standards-based platform where all points of care could exchange patient information simply, securely and affordably,” says Jon Elwell, CEO, Inofile. “We have made this opportunity a reality and will move healthcare forward by combining our Kno2 technology with Konica Minolta’s formidable suite of products and market presence. Now healthcare organizations of all sizes and segments can immediately participate in a faster, more effective and secure exchange of information to improve efficiency and elevate care.”

Kno2 has also earned certification in Konica Minolta’s bizhub Extended Solutions Technology (bEST) program. An integral part of bizhub OP (Open Platform), the bEST program enables a seamless interface between bizhub MFPs and software applications residing on a PC or server.

About Inofile

Inofile technology creates vital links to simplify healthcare. Its groundbreaking software solves one of the most complex and overlooked problems facing healthcare, transforming unstructured medical information into a common, standards-based format. Inofile connects the healthcare continuum with simple, cost effective technology designed to integrate into any patient care setting. Learn more at www.inofile.com.

Konica Minolta South Africa launches mobility offering to optimise service delivery nationwide

Konica Minolta South Africa clients across the country can now enjoy an entirely new and exciting aspect to the company’s service delivery, as it launches its innovative mobility project, which is comprised of two complementary systems – vCare and mobile.

vCare is a proprietary device relationship management system that connects to Konica Minolta bizhub or bizhub PRO devices, monitoring and recording the device’s meter readings, technical performance, supply levels and more.

“Konica Minolta South Africa has successfully integrated its multifunctional devices into its SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, meaning that the bizhub service process is becoming entirely proactive, something that will ensure optimum client uptime,” says Chanelle La Cante, SAP CS & Mobility SME at Konica Minolta South Africa.

According to La Cante, by linking the bizhub devices to the organisation’s ERP system via a secure Internet connection, hundreds of diagnostic areas within these machines can be continuously monitored.

Consumables, like toner, or parts that are about to reach end-of-life, can now be proactively ordered via direct communication with Konica Minolta South Africa’s SAP ERP system, via vCare. The system then automatically logs services calls and dispatches information to field service engineers via their mobile devices, making for a completely seamless automated process.

“Previously, the process of requesting a field service engineer was managed via our call centre, where calls were booked and then, as needed, dispatched to the site. vCare has now automated this process. For those who have not yet had the vCare system installed, the call centre is still available for service call logging. However, all customers will benefit from the new mobile solution, which allows for a faster turnaround time on calls, regardless of whether they are logged via vCare or the call centre, as all Konica Minolta South Africa’s field service engineers now have immediate access to more detailed information on their mobiles before they even leave for the customer, including error codes and spares needed. This eliminates most diagnostic guesswork on site.”

The mobile devices used by Konica Minolta South Africa field service engineers can also be utilised to access information on any outstanding calls or spares that are currently in stock, as well as for GPS routing and recording meter readings.

Customers can now sign off service calls on the mobile device, which in turn creates a PDF document with all the information recorded, such as spares used, work carried out and meter readings of the specific device. This data is subsequently stored within the SAP ERP system, where it can be accessed as and when required.

“As well as being accessible via our ERP system, a copy of the PDF is mailed to the customer as soon as it is signed off on the field service engineer’s mobile device,” she explains.

La Cante points out that, as a paperless system, the mobility offering will provide obvious environmental benefits. “In addition, the system enables real-time reporting, faster response time, more productive hours for our field service engineers due to improved call and route planning, as well as more accurate stock control.”

The system is also being used for Konica Minolta South Africa’s national stock take. By asking the field service engineers to use their devices for the stock take, time is saved, paper output is reduced, there are fewer part number errors and no back-office capturing.

La Cante states that the hugely successful pilot project in Pretoria led to a staggered nationwide roll-out, with all branches coming online in September.

Konica Minolta Recognized as World Leader for Climate Change Initiatives

Konica Minolta, Inc. has been included on “The A List: The CDP Climate Performance Leadership Index 2014 (CPLI),” in recognition of its actions to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the business risk of climate change,

Listing 187 companies identified as “demonstrating a superior approach to climate change mitigation,” The A List was produced by CDP, the international NGO that drives sustainable economies, at the request of investors who represent more than a third of the world’s invested capital.  Information provided for nearly 2,000 companies was independently assessed against CDP’s widely-respected scoring methodology and the companies were ranked accordingly. Konica Minolta is one of 24 Japanese companies included on The A List.

Konica Minolta has also been recognized by CDP for the second year in a row as a leader for the depth and quality of climate change data it has disclosed to investors and the global marketplace. Konica Minolta’s status is awarded with a position on the Japan 500 Climate Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI), published in the CDP Japan 500 Climate Change Report 2014. This annual index highlights the constituent companies within the large Japanese 500 companies (Japan 500) including companies in the FTSE Japan Index.  For 2014, the Japan 500 CDLI includes 28 companies achieving a disclosure score of 97 or more, which highlights companies providing a high level of transparency in their disclosure of climate-related information.  CDP disclosure scores are provided to investors and other decision makers through various channels to help them assess corporate preparedness for changing market demands and emissions regulation.  This year, Konica Minolta is the only company in the Information Technology sector selected in both CPLI and CDLI.

“Global greenhouse emissions continue to rise and we face steep financial risk if we do not mitigate them. The need for data on corporate climate change impacts and strategies to reduce them has never been greater,” says Paul Simpson, chief executive officer of CDP. “For this reason we congratulate those businesses that have achieved a position on CDP’s Climate Disclosure Leadership Index. These companies are responding to the ever-growing demand for environmental accountability and should inspire other to follow suit.”

As a global company, Konica Minolta shares the growing consensus that accountability for contributions to climate change is a business imperative.

All Covered Ranked Among Top Cloud Services Providers for Third Consecutive Year

All Covered, a division of Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. (Konica Minolta), has been recognized as one of the top 100 Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) for the third consecutive year, according to Penton Media’s fourth-annual Talkin’ Cloud 100 report. All Covered is one of a few companies on the list to also appear on the MSPmentor 501, a distinguished list and report identifying the world’s top 501 managed service providers (MSPs).

“We have seen tremendous growth in our Cloud Services offering as more customers take advantage of the benefits of cloud computing such as improved system uptime and redundancy,” says Todd Croteau, president of All Covered. “Being recognized on the Talkin’ Cloud 100 list for the third consecutive year validates our strong position in the marketplace and our commitment to delivering secure, reliable cloud services to our customers.”

All Covered is a leading IT services provider offering a range of services, including Cloud Services, security, application development, desktop management, email management, server and network monitoring and 24×7 client help desk. All Covered Cloud Services are designed to provide customers of all sizes with affordable and scalable cloud solutions ideal for cloud servers, backup and disaster recovery, business continuity and hosted applications. All Covered Cloud Services are hosted in a secure private cloud datacenter that is SOC1/SOC2 compliant. For more information, download All Covered’s Cloud Services eBook.

The Talkin’ Cloud 100 report is based on data from Talkin’ Cloud’s online survey, conducted January-May 2014. The Talkin’ Cloud 100 report recognizes top cloud service providers based on such metrics as annual cloud services revenue growth, both in actual dollars and in percentage growth rates. The full report is available now on the Talkin’ Cloud Website.

“Penton and Talkin’ Cloud congratulate All Covered,” said Charlene O’Hanlon, Senior Executive Editor and Executive Managing Editor of Talkin’ Cloud. “The Talkin’ Cloud 100 represents those companies leading the way in the cloud space at a critical point in the maturation of the market.”

Konica Minolta – 2Q / March 2015 Consolidated Financial Results

Positive momentum in profit remained strong in the Business Technologies Business and Industrial Business. Year-on-year sales and profit increases stayed ahead of target, wrapping up the first half of the year satisfactorily.

Net Sales : ¥ 478.6 bn（YoY +6%）

An increase in sales of hardware, driven by new A3 office color MFPs and new PP color products, and solid sales of non-hardware coupled with business expansion for OPS and IT service solutions in the Business Technologies Business contributed to higher sales.

Operating income : ¥ 29.2 bn （YoY +21%）

Net income normalized due to a decrease in extraordinary appropriation such as loss on business withdrawal (-¥16.8 billion) in the 2Q following the recording of tax effects (+¥9.2 billion) related to a review of deferred tax assets in the 1Q of the previous year. Net income increased substantially with the increase in operating income.

Net income : ¥ 14.7 bn （YoY +164％）

Profit increase in the Business Technologies Business combined with higher sales than expected for TAC films and measuring instruments as well as the positive effect of withdrawal from the glass substrates for HDDs business in the Industrial Business contributed to higher operating income.

Full Presentation:

http://www.konicaminolta.com/about/investors/pdf/fr/konicaminolta/2015_h27/2015_2q_presentation.pdf