Managed Print Services market to reach $94.97 billion by 2024: TMR

According to Transparency Market Research (TMR), a global market intelligence company, the worldwide market for managed print services (MPS) is poised for a strong CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 14.8% during the forecasted period. Maintaining this pace, the opportunities in this market should rise from $26.18 billion (USD) in 2015 to $94.97 billion by 2024. MPS, said the TMR report, is driven by evolving customer needs and demands which have compelled players in this market to focus on delivering more innovative, flexible and cost-effective solutions. Managed print services are designed to streamline operations and ensure maximum efficiency. Benefits of MPS include reduction in print volumes, accurate allocation of costs, reduction in printer fleets, minimized IT workload, lowering paper usage, enhanced security and authentication, lower consumption of electricity, and improved overall business efficiency that impacts the bottom line.
One of the key challenges, said the report, is the ongoing transition to a more digitized paper workflow. Companies are looking to reduce their reliance on paper and this poses a major hurdle in the widespread adoption of MPS. Nevertheless, experts in the industry believe that, owing to the significant role that printing plays in various business operations, companies will continue to be reliant on it. Enterprises today are also presented with the opportunity of expanding the realm of MPS with the rising interest in document workflow automation. The market for MPS is undergoing what many in the industry term as an “identity crisis.” As print volumes decline at a steady pace, MPS providers are looking to extend their service areas to include business process automation, document workflow and information management.

Rising adoption of MPS by SMEs. The market for MPS is traditionally divided into large enterprises and small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). The former accounted for the leading share in the overall market owing to the adoption of MPS in managing complex IT infrastructure. However, SMEs are slated to up their usage of managed print services because of increasing awareness of its many advantages. Managed print services fall into three main types based on deployment: on-premise, cloud-based and hybrid. Due to the growing popularity and adoption of cloud-based MPS, this segment enjoys increased preference by end-users. MPS find find their way into several end-use sectors – such as telecom and IT, banking, financial services and insurance, healthcare and government, as well as public, legal, education, manufacturing and construction. The government and public sector is by far the leading consumer of MPS, owing to its massive volume of paperwork.

Asia Pacific and Latin America identified as lucrative markets for MPS. The global MPS market is segmented into Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. North America has been the dominant market for MPS services and is likely to retain its lead through to 2024. The high level of awareness among SMEs, as well as large enterprises in the region enjoying the benefits of MPS, have greatly increased its adoption here. In addition to this, the North America MPS market is driven by the strong presence of major MPS providers and leading copier and printer manufacturers. Asia Pacific and Latin America are two of the most promising markets for MPS, and are slated to offer players a host of opportunities in the coming years, said the report. The growth of these regional markets can be attributed to rapid economic development and consequently, widespread industrialization.
Some of the leading players competing in the global MPS market are ARC Document Solutions, Kyocera, Ricoh, Canon, Toshiba, Lexmark, Xerox, Konica Minolta, Print Audit and HP Development. Geographical expansion and alliances with channel partners are some of the successful growth strategies adopted by these companies.

Japan govt-backed fund may take minority stake in Toshiba chip unit – sources

A Japanese state-backed fund may invest in Toshiba Corp’s memory chip business as a minority partner – a move that would help the government prevent a sale to bidders it deems risky to national security, sources familiar with the matter said. Discussions on a potential investment are, however, at a very early stage and may not develop further as some people within the government are concerned it could be seen as a publicly funded bailout, one of the sources said. If the fund, the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ), teamed up with a bidder that would give the suitor a major advantage as it would represent a government stamp of approval, the sources said, declining to be identified as they were not authorised to speak on the matter. Cutting-edge chips are at the heart of robotics, artificial intelligence and connected devices and the government is worried that key technology could be transferred to China, people with knowledge of the matter have said previously. The government is prepared to use Japan’s foreign exchange and foreign trade laws to control the auction if need be, they said. Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko has said the ministry, which oversees INCJ, has no plans to rescue Toshiba. An INCJ spokesman said on Wednesday the fund would not comment on speculation. Toshiba said it would not comment on specifics of the sale process. Chief Executive Satoshi Tsunakawa said on Tuesday, however, that it would take national security concerns into account. In crisis over its Westinghouse nuclear business, Toshiba has put up most or even all of its prized memory chip business for sale to cope with an upcoming $6.3 billion writedown and to create a buffer for potential losses down the road. Separately a person with direct knowledge said that the government-backed Development Bank of Japan would be willing to lend support. It was not immediately clear what form that support would take. A spokesman for the bank declined to comment. Sources have said potential bidders include Western Digital Corp which operates a Japanese chip plant with Toshiba, rivals Micron Technology Inc and SK Hynix Inc. They also include Taiwan’s TSMC and Foxconn as well as financial investors such as Bain Capital. Toshiba has so far received bids that value the entire unit as high as 2 trillion yen ($17.4 billion), said a source with direct knowledge of the matter. Bidders have been asked to present their offers by March 29, he said. INCJ was involved in an attempt to rescue liquid crystal display maker Sharp Corp about a year ago with the government aiming to broker a merger between it and Japan Display Inc. Sharp, however, reached an agreement to be bought by Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry. ($1 = 114.6900 yen) (Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki and Taiga Uranaka; Additional reporting by Yoshiyasu Shida; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

Read more at: http://www.sify.com/technology/japan-govt-backed-fund-may-take-minority-stake-in-toshiba-chip-unit—sources-news-news-rdqpnQgjbfdec.html

Ricoh Supports New Market Moves for Print Service Providers at FESPA 2017

Ricoh will help print service providers identify new market opportunities with its broad portfolio of creative solutions at FESPA 2017 in Hamburg from 8 to 12 May.

Visitors will witness ways to enhance their service offering with Ricoh’s comprehensive range of wide format, large format and flatbed devices, supported by a dedicated suite of software solutions. There will also be direct-to-garment print solutions from Anajet, a Ricoh company.

“Ricoh has established a versatile range of hardware and software solutions to support print service providers as they seek to open new production worlds,” says Benoit Chatelard, Vice President, Production Printing, Ricoh Europe. “Ricoh has evolved to become a communication provider; offering the graphic display market roll to roll, large format, flatbed, software and digital textile printers. We aim to use our innovation-led ethos and collective expertise to enable confident choices in high quality, cost effective solutions.”

Demonstrated for the first time in Europe will be the 1.65metres-wide EFI VUTEK H1625 LED UV Hybrid roll/flatbed technology device. It features four colour print plus white and includes single pass and multilayer capabilities. Variable droplet sizes provide eight levels of grayscale. It is ideally suited to backlit displays, indoor and outdoor signage, posters, point of sale, display and exhibition graphics.

Also on show will be the Ricoh Pro™ L4160 latex large format printer an eco-friendly green technology with Ricoh’s own non-solvent based aqueous resin inks. The Pro L4100 series features the latest generation of Ricoh’s own piezo variable drop print heads. They deliver latex ink droplets as small as four picolitres offering durable printing for outdoor and indoor applications. Reduced environmental impact is another important benefit thanks to lower print heater temperature than its closest competitor models, enabling highly efficient power consumption.

The Ricoh technology will run alongside the MPC W2201SP colour wide format multifunction device. Potential buyers can choose between copier/printer or scanner functionalities and use Ricoh’s highly affordable, environmentally sustainable pigment-based Liquid Gel^TM ink technology to print on plain paper, photo paper or onto a blue-back media range. Capable of printing advertising and other graphic arts applications for outdoor as well as indoor environments, the MPC W2201SP is a versatile output device

Chatelard adds: “FESPA 2017 is the perfect place for print service providers to explore with Ricoh how they can move into new markets, increasing their reach, prestige and profitability. We are proud that the Ricoh systems on show support a more environmentally responsible approach to production with lower print temperatures and lower power consumption.”

In its software studio Ricoh will demonstrate MarcomCentral software-as-a-services for web to print capabilities and Marketing Asset Management and ColorGATE’s menu-driven wide and large format workflow for exact feature set specification.

Also on the Arjowiggins booth in Hall 6B, stand B45, a Ricoh Pro C7110X colour cut sheet press will be running the DigiPeel HD, a new digital transfer paper suited to a wide range of textile products.

Ricoh will be present at Hall B4L, Stand C10 throughout the event.

26.6M Oem Printers Sold Worldwide in 4Q. 2016

The worldwide hardcopy peripherals (HCP) market increased 0,6% year over year to 26,6-million units in the fourth quarter of 2016 (4Q16), according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Hardcopy Peripherals Tracker. 
The growth was driven by a solid performance in the inkjet and laser markets, which grew 0,6% and 1,6% year over year, respectively. Shipment value also increased to more than $14-billion in the quarter.
Each of the top three vendors saw year-over-year shipment growth in 4Q16, with HP Inc leading the chart at 4,3%, followed by Canon at 1,4% and Epson’s 1,1%. showed a 4,7% increase YoY. Fourth-ranked Brother and fifth-ranked Samsung posted year-over-year declines, with Samsung declining 25,2%.
Highlights from this quarter include:
* Six of IDC’s regional markets witnessed year-over-year increases in unit shipments; Asia Pacific (excluding Japan)(APeJ) posted 4,2% growth, the best year-over-year performance, with China continuing to be the key growth propeller. Inkjet growth in China was fuelled by continuous upsurge for ink tank printers within the small and medium business (SMB) segment, while laser growth was powered by channel expansion by the key vendors.
* HP outperformed all other vendors in the top five with more than 10-million units, increasing 4,3% year over year. The vendor enjoyed year-over-year expansion in both the inkjet and laser segments, which was driven by channel expansion and continued demand for its top selling inkjet and laser models.
* Epson continued to ride on the popularity of the L series (Ink tank) in APeJ and introduced four new L series models to help with its dominance in the Ink tank segment. The L series now accounts for more than 80% of the total inkjet shipment for Epson and L360 continued to be the top model this quarter with close to 302 500 units shipped.

Ricoh Announces Several Milestones that Demonstrate Ongoing Momentum in Inkjet Market

Ricoh presented its inkjet technologies at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2017. The global technology company continues to expand its impressive portfolio and build on its decade-long legacy as the first company to enter the high volume drop on demand market. At the biennial event held at Messe Lucerne, Switzerland, that was held Feb. 20-23, Ricoh showcased its production portfolio, including recent enhancements affecting print speed, quality and capabilities to help customers adapt to their fast paced, fast changing markets.

Ricoh continues to grow its inkjet portfolio to serve an increasingly diverse client base. Throughout this journey, the company has marked several milestones worth celebrating:

• More than 650 engines in 29 countries worldwide, averaging more than 20 engines per country.
• Being named a consistent global leader in high speed inkjet, most recently highlighted in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide High-Speed Inkjet Press 2016 Vendor Assessment* 
• More than 10 ink types developed and deployed, providing unmatched versatility and creative possibilities.
• Five generations of control unit platform, as Ricoh continues to evolve and reinvent to meet changing market needs.

Ricoh’s commitment to innovation spreads to its focus on reduced power consumption, reliability, output quality and application flexibility. Beyond the metrics, Ricoh has committed itself to driving continuous improvement in the inkjet market as well. This commitment is also reflected in Ricoh’s dedication to enabling clients to protect their investment by making needed enhancements that help meet the demands of the evolving marketplace.

“Hunkeler Innovationdays, one of the premier production print shows in the world, consistently provides an unparalleled opportunity to measure progress,” said John Fulena, Vice President, Ricoh Production Printing Group, Ricoh USA, Inc. “Ricoh is making huge strides, hitting big milestones and satisfying diverse client needs in a way that really stands out. We were proud to carry this momentum to the show and beyond. The way technology has changed in recent years, we really do seem to be entering into an Age of Inkjet, and that’s an age where Ricoh can be right at the forefront.”

Milestones and portfolio enhancements are strong evidence of effectively helping clients grow their business, but the Ricoh added value is also clear from clients’ own words:

• Tri-Win Direct, a national direct marketing company in the United States, distributed 200 million direct mail pieces in 2015. When they wanted to go bigger and better, they turned to Ricoh and the Ricoh Pro VC60000.
• Pondres, one of the leaders in Dutch data driven marketing and print, focused the Ricoh Pro VC60000’s speed and power on delivering high quality printing for its clients as it pursued a multichannel approach.
• Recent German adopter Walter Digital ordered the Ricoh Pro VC60000 to support its mailings, point of sale-material, marketing collateral and manuals.
• Urban Fulfillment Services (UFS), the US’ largest minority owned business outsource services provider to the financial services industry, has upgraded its print operations by adding multiple InfoPrint 5000s, helping to increase throughput and efficiency.

Enhancements to Ricoh’s market leading inkjet portfolio include:

• The brand new Ricoh Pro VC40000, announced last month, features a powerful combination of speed, resolution and ease of use. The Ricoh Pro VC40000 operates at speeds up to 120 metres/minute, making it capable of producing more than 100,000 A4 images per hour. Paper support from 40 to 250 gsm and an optional fifth printhead array for MICR, security inks and other options, bring astounding flexibility to the powerful platform.
• New and enhanced features for the Ricoh Pro VC60000, including a new 100 metres/minute speed option. This speed will support further inline finishing technologies that are not optimised for the platform’s usual 120-150 metres/minute speed; therefore enabling smooth production.
• Over the history of the InfoPrint 5000 program, Ricoh has demonstrated a commitment to our clients by offering high value improvements on a consistent basis. Recent upgrades have included paper saving mode, to nearly eliminate white paper from the start of a print job. Ricoh has also introduced new inks, DFE enhancements, enhanced JDF support, new colour management tools, and many other improvements.

Ricoh was also proud to again sponsor the DOXNET lectures and networking event at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2017.

*Report details: IDC MarketScape: Worldwide High-Speed Inkjet Press 2016 Vendor Assessment (doc # US40331116, September 2016)

BLI Analysts Award Colour Printer Pick to Ricoh

Buyers Laboratory (BLI), the world’s leading independent provider of testing services and analytical information for the document imaging industry, announces the winners of its highly sought-after Winter 2017 Pick awards.

Awarded twice annually, Picks acknowledge the products that gave the best performances in BLI’s extensive suite of lab tests in the previous six months.

 

BLI’s Winter 2017 Pick for the Outstanding Colour Printer for Mid-Size Workgroups goes to the following exceptional device:

SP C435DN

(Also sold under the Lanier and Savin brand names)

Outstanding Colour Printer for Mid-Size Workgroups

Ricoh Provides High Productivity and Low Cost

Ricoh was recognized in the mid-size workgroup categories with its SP C435DN. “Ricoh colour printers have long been known for their value and the SP C435DN is no exception, offering significant savings over the competition,” said BLI BLI Director of Office Equipment Product Analysis Marlene Orr. “And the Ricoh SP C435DN combines excellent reliability and simple maintenance for increased uptime, fast speeds and an intuitive design for increased worker productivity, and vibrant colour output, making it ideal for mid-size workgroups.”