Duplicator Competition Suzanne Farley November 2007

About the Players - Taken from itChat RISO RISO is currently the Number One manufacturer of digital duplicator products in the U.S. The company has achieved that position by targeting its core business – the educational and religious market – and creating solutions specifically designed around those needs. RISO is also targeting the religious market with a series of agreements and rebate plans designed specifically for religious institutions, counting some large organizations such as LifeWay among its customer base. Ricoh While Ricoh’s digital duplicator product line covers virtually every type of digital duplicator, from ultra-affordable entry-level models to devices suited to professional and commercial print shops, the manufacturer’s current focus is on the higher end of the market. Ricoh is targeting in-house CRDs as well as commercial printers with a modular digital duplicator system that uses several components to create true four-color output in resolution up to 600dpi. Duplo Unlike Ricoh and RISO, Duplo’s primary selling point is the number and type of finishers that it offers. In conjunction with two other divisions of the company, Graphic Products and Office Equipment, Duplo delivers extensive finishing options such as collators, binders, booklet-makers, etc. Duplo noted it has no immediate plans to join Ricoh and Riso in offering two color digital duplicating solutions. Stating that they are not convinced that it’s a broad enough market. With Duplo’s stated goal of developing technologies that support educational institutions, expect to see future new products aimed at the lower end of the digital duplicator market.

Ricoh RICOH models: HQ9000 DX4640PD HQ7000 DX4542 DX3340

Ricoh HQ9000 Priport HQ9000 Ledger size, 600 x 600 dpi Introduced April 2006 Also sold as: Gestetner CP6346; Lanier LDD280; Savin 3590DNP; Standard SD700 SPR $19,005 (with stand and platen cover) Targets Production environments (print-for-pay or CRD)

Ricoh HQ9000 general specs 600 x 600 dpi First copy time: 19 seconds Print speed: 135 ppm letter/ 120 ppm ledger Std Paper capacity: 1,000 sheets Std Embedded controller / Optional PostScript

Ricoh HQ9000 comments During our testing of the HQ9000 we noticed that it lays down very little ink giving solids more of a gray image, which is why the ink yield may look favorable. In evaluating the output from the HQ9000 we noticed that contrast ratios (highlights, mid-tones, and shadows) do not seem accurate.

Ricoh HQ9000 comments The HQ9000 produces light screens and watermarks poorly, practically dropping them out. BLI cited the same thing during their evaluation. As stated in the lab test report of the HQ9000, “The halftone range in print mode was barely visible at the low end of the range.”

Ricoh HQ9000 comments Ricoh promotes, "Coupled with its SeriPrinter Model 25 print system and its variable data VDPH1 software, this total product can be deployed at the data center level for high-volume printing of envelopes or marketing flyers." Taken from ITChat.com, "Requires large, space-consuming accessories to create two color output in one pass. No finishing options. SeriPrinter 25 option requires its own special inks. Start and Control buttons can be mixed up, meaning users mistakenly dump master."

Ricoh DX4640PD Priport DX4640 PD Automatic Duplex duplicator Auto duplex letter-size only Ledger size, 400 x 400 dpi Introduced June 2007 Also sold as: Gestetner CP6340D, Lanier LDD350d, Savin 3585DNP2, Standard SD462 SPR $17,900 (with stand and platen cover) Targets educational organizations, healthcare providers, and organizations with two-sided forms.

Ricoh DX4640PD general specs 400 x 400 dpi First copy time: 12 seconds Print speed: Simplex:135 ppm letter/ 120 ppm ledger Duplex: 240 ipm (letter only) Std Paper capacity: 1,000 sheets Std Embedded controller / Optional PostScript

Can automatically duplex up to letter-size only. Ricoh DX4640PD comments Can automatically duplex up to letter-size only. This model is basically an HQ7000 with a duplex function. Where does this fit? Too expensive for the education market. Print quality not sufficient for the print market.

Ricoh HQ7000 Priport HQ7000 Ledger size, 400 x 400 dpi Introduced August 2006 Also sold as: Gestetner CP6334; Lanier LDD250; Savin 3580DNP; Standard SD460  SPR $15,400 (with stand and platen cover) Targets budget-conscious businesses with high-volume print runs

Ricoh HQ7000 general specs 400 x 400 dpi First copy time: 19 seconds Print speed: 135 ppm letter / 120 ppm ledger Std Paper capacity: 1,000 sheets Std Embedded controller / Optional PostScript

Ricoh DX4542 Priport DX4542 400 x 400 dpi Introduced October 2006 Also sold as: Gestetner CP6244+; Lanier LDD245; Savin 3270DNP; Standard SD430  SPR $9,142 (with stand and platen cover) Targets religious, educational and non-profit organizations with short-to-medium run lengths

Ricoh DX4542 general specs 400 x 400 dpi First copy time: 24 seconds Print speed: 120 ppm Std Paper capacity: 1,000 sheets Optional controller

Ricoh DX4542 comments BLI ink yield results were rated fair and below the average. The VC-20 PC Controller interface is limited. Does not monitor paper or consumable levels. Halftones in print mode are grainy.

Ricoh DX3340 Priport DX3340 Legal size, 300 x 300 dpi Introduced August 2006 Also sold as: Gestetner CP6143L; Lanier LDD120; Savin 3180DNP   SPR $5,803 (with stand and platen cover) Targets educators and administrators

Ricoh DX3340 general specs 300 x 300 dpi First copy time: 33 seconds Print speed: 130 ppm Std Paper capacity: 1,000 sheets Optional controller

Ricoh DX3340 comments BLI ink yield results were rated fair and below the average. The VC-20 PC Controller interface is limited. Does not monitor paper or consumable levels. Halftones in print mode are grainy.

Duplo DUPLO models: DP-460H DP-S850 DP-S550 DP-S510 DP-220le DP-210Le DP-C115

Duplo DP-460H Duplo DP-460H Ledger size, 600 x 600 dpi Introduced 3rd quarter 2004 SPR $19,995 Targets quick and commercial print market

Duplo DP-460H general specs 600 x 600 dpi First copy time: 22 seconds Print speed: 130 ppm Std Paper capacity: 3,000 sheets Std Embedded controller / Optional PostScript

Duplo DP-460H comments Vacuum / Air-fed duplicator versus the traditional roll-feed system which Duplo claims aids registration and eliminates marks caused by friction-based feed-rollers.

Duplo DP-S850 Duplo DP-S850 Ledger size, 600 x 600 dpi Introduced April 2007 SPR $16,995 Targets commercial firms and in-plants with photographic work

Duplo DP-S850 general specs 600 x 600 dpi First copy time: 16.5 seconds Print speed: 150 ppm (letter only) Std Paper capacity: 1,200 sheets Std Embedded controller / Optional PostScript

Duplo DP-S850 comments BLI cited the weaknesses of the DP-S850 as priced higher than average for its overall value, and below average ink yield. If the machine runs out of paper during a print job, the user must reloaded the paper, press Start on the control panel, and then go to the PC and click on Retry on the pop-up message on the screen or the next print job in the queue will not start.

Duplo DP-S550 Duplo DP-S550 Ledger size, 300 x 600 dpi Introduced April 2007 SPR $13,995 Targets traditional print market for text-heavy documents

Duplo DP-S550 general specs 300 x 600 dpi First copy time: 16.5 seconds Print speed: 150 ppm (letter only) Std Paper capacity: 1,200 sheets Std Embedded controller / Optional PostScript

Duplo DP-S550 general specs Marketed by Duplo as an ideal fit for heavy text work, however BLI rated its text in both print and copy modes as below average for darkness, sharpness, full character formation, and the smoothness of characters. Scored the lowest rating for its printer driver, image quality, and ink yield. The print driver does not offer the ability to adjust speed and density. Line art and text was of poor quality with evident break up.

Duplo DP-S510 Duplo DP-S510 Legal size, 300 x 600 dpi Introduced April 2007 SPR $7,995

Duplo DP-S510 general specs 300 x 600 dpi First copy time: 16.5 seconds Print speed: 150 ppm (letter only) Std Paper capacity: 1,200 sheets Std Embedded controller / Optional PostScript

Duplo DP-S510 general specs Marketed by Duplo as an ideal fit for heavy text work, however BLI rated its text in both print and copy modes as below average for darkness, sharpness, full character formation, and the smoothness of characters. Scored the lowest rating for its printer driver, image quality, and ink yield. The print driver does not offer the ability to adjust speed and density. Line art and text was of poor quality with evident break up.

Duplo DP-220Le Duplo DP-220Le Legal size, 300 x 600 dpi Introduced August 2007 SPR $6,995 Targets Education and Institutional buyers

Duplo DP-220Le general specs 300 x 600 dpi First copy time: 21 seconds Print speed: 130 ppm Std Paper capacity: 1,100 sheets Optional computer connectivity

Duplo DP-220Le comments Same unit as DP-210, but with a glass platen. No Energy Save Mode. While ledger paper is supported, image size is restricted to 8.2" x 13.8", just smaller than legal size.

Duplo DP-210Le Duplo DP-210Le Legal size, 300 x 600 dpi Introduced August 2007 SPR $5,995 Targets Education and Institutional buyers

Duplo DP-210Le general specs 300 x 600 dpi First copy time: 24 seconds Print speed: 130 ppm Std Paper capacity: 1,100 sheets Optional computer connectivity

Duplo DP-210Le comments Same unit as DP-220, but ADF only. No platen. No Energy Save Mode. While ledger paper is supported, image size is restricted to 8.2" x 13.8", just smaller than legal size.

NEW! Duplo DP-C115 Duplo DP-C115 Legal size, 300 x 300 dpi Introduced September 2007 No pricing yet Targets organizations with tight budget constraints.

Duplo DP-C115 general specs 300 x 300 dpi Print speed: 130 ppm Std Paper capacity: 500 sheets Optional controller

Duplo DP-C115 comments Duplo’s desktop duplicator is similar to RISO’s legacy CR1610 in that it prints at 130ppm with a resolution of 300 x 300 dpi; however the DP-C115 sheet feeder capacity is only 500 sheets. Standard features include LCD panel, computer interface, and built-in ADF. No glass platen.