Kyocera Printers

By George Mikolay, Senior Product Editor, A3/Copier MFPs, April 27, 2010

FS-C2126 MFP

The theme of the Kyocera’s recent dealer meeting held in Orlando, FL was “Building the Future…Together,” and with 85 percent of Kyocera’s revenue coming from its dealers in North and South America, the message is sincere. On the surface, it appears as if Kyocera’s dealer strategy over the past 12 to 18 months, in which the company introduced more than 30 new products to its Kyocera and Copystar dealers, as well as an industry-first three-year dealer warranty to cover all new MFPs, is paying dividends. Kyocera went from 23 single-line Alliance dealers in March of 2009 to 182 currently. The company plans to keep expanding the Alliance program by doing more of the same, announcing plans to launch 22 new product models this fiscal year. The company is also implementing a strategy to support its dealers in developing Managed Print Services (MPS) offerings, as well as a comprehensive HyPAS Developer Support Program.

On The Hardware Side

Models introduced at the meeting included a series of color and monochrome A4 multifunctional printers, eight new color A3 MFPs ranging from 20 to 70 pages per minute (ppm) in color, seven monochrome A3 MFPs ranging from 25 to 80 ppm, as well as color and monochrome ECOSYS printers. On the A4 MFP front, the FS-3040MFP and FS-3140MFP are slated for a June launch, as Kyocera looks to strongly position itself in the 40 ppm black-and-white A4 space. Designed from the FS-3920 printer engine, which demonstrated excellent reliability in BLI’s lab testing, the FS-3040MFP and FS-3140MFP will feature standard print, copy and color scan, as well as standard fax on the FS-3140 model. Both A4 models will also feature standard duplexing and Kyocera’s ASi drum, with a PM cycle of 300,000 impressions.

Launching in July, the 3-in-1 FS-C2026MFP and the 4-in-1 FS-C2126 MFP will offer rated speeds of 28 ppm and incorporate Kyocera’s micro-particle toner technology. Featuring standard color print, copy and scan, as well as black-and-white fax on the FS-2126, these A4 color models will feature a standard duplexing, along with a maximum paper capacity of 1,300-sheets. USB host printing and scanning will also be available.

27 April 2010, TTP is pleased to announce the release of the Meteor Head Driver Card “HDC-K” for the new Kyocera KJ4 printhead types KJ4B-HD06MHG-STDV2 and KJ4A-GD06AHG-STDN2/STDC2.   This new driver card enables OEMs to integrate new Kyocera KJ4 printheads with less cost, time and risk.  Printer manufacturers already using a TTP Meteor controller will recognise the software interface, additionally reducing their time to bring a Kyocera-based print system to the market.

TTP is also releasing a version of the Meteor DropTuner which packages the Head Driver Card with drop-control software and a laboratory-ready user interface to provide a product that is ideal for the inkjet laboratory. Often used with a JetXpert from ImageXpert Inc., the Meteor DropTuner helps inkjet engineers analyse droplet formation.

FAIRFIELD, N.J. – February 17, 2010 – Kyocera Mita America, Inc., one of the world's leading document solutions companies, is proud to have three of its ECOSYS color printers awarded Excellent Value ratings by The Office Products Analyst, a publication of Industry Analysts, Inc. Kyocera’s ultra-reliable and cost-effective FS-C5100DN, FS-C5200DN and FS-C5300DN ECOSYS color printers are recognized for providing best-in-class features and functionality with a low total cost of ownership.

“The Kyocera ECOSYS color printer line offers tremendous value to customers looking for high volume usage in medium to large workgroups,” said Andy Slawetsky, president, Industry Analysts, Inc. “With their low total cost of ownership, large paper capacities, long-life supplies, and efficient duty cycles, Kyocera offers competitively-priced printing solutions for businesses of all sizes.”

The OPA $500+ Color Printer Buyer’s Guide provides readers with critical information that will help them identify the color printer that is best suited for them. Industry Analysts, Inc. collected data for its Buyer’s Guide and entered monthly print volumes into its Color Printer Cost Calculator Tool to determine each color printers’ total cost of ownership. Estimated cost includes the purchase price of the machine and all supply items except paper over 36 months.

FAIRFIELD, N.J. – January 26, 2010 - Kyocera Mita America, Inc., one of the world's leading document solutions companies, today announced the launch of the FS-C8500DN color laser printer and the TASKalfa 552ci color multifunctional system. Encompassing the ultra-reliability, unsurpassed performance and proven color technology businesses demand, these new devices offer highly productive output speeds, affordability and flexible output capabilities for any office environment.

As part of Kyocera’s ECOSYS® line of environmentally friendly printers, the FS-C8500DN (50 pages per minute (ppm) color, 55ppm black) is Energy Star™ certified for power efficiency and utilizes long-life consumables for consistent high-quality image output in this ultra-reliable, high performance and affordable printer. The TASKalfa 552ci (50 ppm color, 55ppm black) expands Kyocera’s award-winning, flagship multifunctional product (MFP) series offering long-life components and embedded Hybrid Platform for Advanced Solutions (HyPAS) technology, Kyocera’s powerful and scalable software solutions platform, providing users with seamless integration with software applications that will operate in virtually any environment.

Both the FS-C8500DN and TASKalfa 552ci utilize Kyocera’s long-life technology, known to deliver the ultra-reliability that businesses demand. This long-life consumable technology helps to reduce required service intervention while maximizing performance in every environment. The FS-C8500DN and TASKalfa 552ci help to improve the document workflow by providing more business “uptime” through an industry-leading 300,000-page preventive maintenance (PM) schedule. This incredible PM cycle creates longer intervals of time between required service visits and helps minimize maintenance costs for end-users and keeps organizational productivity high.

Fairfield, N.J. – December 3, 2009 – Kyocera Mita America, Inc., one of the world's leading document solutions companies, today announced the expansion of its flagship TASKalfa multifunctional product (MFP) series with the launch of its latest black & white MFP: the TASKalfa 300i (30 pages-per-minute). The TASKalfa 300i completes Kyocera Mita’s award-winning black & white MFP product series, joining the most recent introductions, the TASKalfa 520i and 420i models (52 and 42 pages per minute, ppm respectively).

With its powerful yet sleek, space-saving and energy-efficient design, the TASKalfa 300i delivers big performance for the needs of any office environment. The TASKalfa 300i is built on Kyocera’s award-winning MFP engine technology that utilizes the company’s patented long-life Amorphous Silicon drum, and an offers crisp 600 dpi image quality with fast and efficient print, copy and scan functionality and document portability.

With a 300,000 page preventative maintenance (PM) schedule, the TASKalfa 300i is a flexible and durable document imaging system that maximizes productivity performance and uptime for end-users.

“Businesses of all sizes require superior imaging and maximum performance, which is why we have engineered the TASKalfa 300i with all the features of a mid volume model but at the price point and footprint ideal for smaller offices and workgroups,” said Danielle Wolowitz, Senior Manager, MFP Products and Solutions, Kyocera Mita America. “We are excited to now offer a full range of new TASKalfa monochrome MFPs and celebrate the successful launch of 30 new MFP and printer models within the past year.”

Flexible and Versatile Features
The simplicity of the TASKalfa 300i’s 8.5 inch color touch screen control panel allows end-users to quickly and efficiently navigate functionality, imaging and finishing options. Benefits include full-color scanning, a USB host interface for portable document sharing, and optional fax and internet fax capabilities.

API Cryptek’s Netgard Appliance Helps to Secure Kyocera MFPs by Providing Access Security Through Fully Integrated CAC/PIV Authentication

FAIRFIELD, N.J. and STERLING, Va. – November 10, 2009 - Kyocera Mita America, Inc., one of the world's leading document solutions companies, and API Cryptek, a leading provider of secure networking products and solutions, today announced that select Kyocera multifunctional products (MFPs) provide complete device locking security capabilities through API Cryptek’s Netgard™ MFD card reader appliance.

With the implementation of this new solution, end users who wish to access standard full functions of a Kyocera MFP, including copy, scan, e-mail and fax, will be required to authenticate with their U.S. Department of Defense-issued CAC/PIV Card (Common Access Card/Personal Identity Verification) and their personal identification number (PIN) via API Cryptek’s Netgard MFD. With this advanced security in place, Kyocera MFPs are securely locked from performing tasks until the user has been successfully identified. Utilizing the Netgard MFD with Kyocera’s MFPs effectively secures the device and prevents unauthorized users from accessing privileged materials or tampering with network resources.

“Kyocera has long been at the forefront of document security, and with our strategic alliance with API Cryptek’s securing technology, Kyocera will continue to offer advanced security options for today’s government agencies,” said Peter Hendrick, vice president, marketing for Kyocera Mita America. “As more organizations seek to further strengthen the security protection of their peripheral network access points, our technological partnership with API Cryptek will allow Kyocera to provide the most sophisticated security features to address the increasingly sophisticated nature of data security.”

FAIRFIELD, N.J. – November 5, 2009 – Kyocera Mita America, Inc., one of the world's leading document solutions companies, is proud to again be named the Most Reliable Monochome multifunctional product (MFP) line, in a recent survey of service managers and dealers. Kyocera Mita’s products earned a total overall reliability score of 8.4 (out of 10), as compared to the industry average of 7.9. Kyocera Mita has won this particular award more than any other manufacturer – in three of the past five years – while this survey has been conducted by Office Products Analyst, a publication of Industry Analysts, Inc.

“Based on our research, the Kyocera monochrome MFP line is the most reliable brand available today. Kyocera has won this honor more than any other manufacturer in the past ten years, and we congratulate them on their outstanding performance,” said Andy Slawetsky, President, Industry Analysts, Inc. “The feedback from service technicians clearly indicates that Kyocera must be a top consideration for customers when selecting a black and white MFP.”

OPA conducted in-depth telephone interviews with 135 dealer service managers throughout dealerships nationwide. Responses encompassed 44,462 multifunctional units. Copier dealer service managers were questioned on the products they work closely with on a daily basis. Eighty three models from seven manufacturers were studied and assessed on performance criteria such as mean number of installs, average monthly page volume, preventive maintenance (PM) cycle, and average pages between calls.

FAIRFIELD, N.J. – October 5, 2009 – Kyocera Mita America, Inc., one of the world's leading document solutions companies, is proud to announce that Better Buys for Business, a leading independent authority on document imaging equipment, has recognized Kyocera’s FS-C5400DN, FS-C5350DN, FS-C5300DN, FS-C5200DN and FS-C5100DN with 2010 Editor’s Choice Awards. As part of Kyocera’s ECOSYS® line of environmentally friendly printers, these Energy Star™ certified models utilize long-life consumables while consistently delivering high-quality image output.

According to Better Buys for Business, Kyocera color printers are powerful workgroup printers that offer respectable paper handling capabilities and provide impressive consumables costs. Better Buys indicated that the cost per page for black & white output is extraordinary and for color output Kyocera’s color printers offer a cost per page of almost half of the industry average, noting that this “alone makes these printers standout.”

“One of the key factors of businesses seeking to expand their color printing operations is the cost per page,” said Stephen Hannaford, editor-in-chief, Better Buys for Business. “Expanding on a legacy of offering leading office technology products with a low TCO, Kyocera’s new lineup of color printers offer both small and enterprise-size organizations high-quality, reliable color printing at an affordable price.”

In selecting Editor's Choice Award recipients, Better Buys for Business evaluates new products in a number of categories, including product area; features and technology; vendor profile; a detailed summary on current models from leading vendors; full specifications; and pricing information including cost per page. Kyocera’s outstanding printer technology enabled them to secure a ranking in the prestigious award winners’ category.

Fairfield, N.J. – October 1, 2009 – Kyocera Mita America, one of the world’s leading document imaging companies, today announced that it has been named Printer Manufacturer of the Year by Marketing Research Consultants, Inc. This year’s honor marked the fourth time in five years Kyocera has received the award. The Cannata Report, a Marketing Research Consultants, Inc. publication, will feature this year’s results in an upcoming issue. Winners are acknowledged based upon reactions of independent office equipment dealers nationwide.

“We congratulate Kyocera Mita on receiving the Printer Manufacturer of the Year Award,” said Frank G. Cannata, president, Marketing Research Consultants. “It is a great testament to the quality of the products as well as the people who support them in the field. This is also an acknowledgement by the independent MFP dealer community that Kyocera Mita printers represent a very important part of their product line up.”

The Printer Manufacturer of the Year award recognizes the manufacturer that provides the best overall sales and service support in the industry as determined by the 274 dealers who participated in the report’s 22nd Annual Dealer Survey. Ratings given to Manufacturers are rated on communication skills, competitive products, and programs that enable the independent copier dealer to achieve a high degree of success in a very competitive marketplace.

“Being named ‘Printer Manufacturer of the Year’ is a great honor for Kyocera,” said Peter Hendrick, vice president of marketing, Kyocera Mita America. “We have proudly accepted this award four out of the last five years, and credit our commitment to offering the highest-performing, most reliable, and one of the lowest total cost of ownership printer lines in the industry. We will continue to set the benchmark for the industry, always with the ultimate goal of providing the very best value and technology to our channel partners and their customers.”

KYOTO, Japan -- Kyocera Corporation (President: Tetsuo Kuba) today announced that it has developed the world's fastest* inkjet printhead — the key component in inkjet printing equipment. Each nozzle in the new KJ4 Series printhead ejects ink at up to 60,000 dots per second (at 60kHz drive frequency); with 2,656 nozzles per head, the device is capable of printing approximately 150 million dots per second.

Kyocera's previous inkjet printhead offered the world's fastest print speed when it was introduced in 2008 - 150 meters per minute at 600×600dpi resolution, using a drive frequency of 30kHz. The newly developed printhead sets new records for high resolution, full-color inkjet printing, offering the world's fastest print speeds in any of three resolutions: 600×360dpi (330m/min. at 40kHz), 600×600dpi (200m/min at 40kHz), and 1200×1200dpi (150m/min at 60kHz).

Recent years have brought increasing demand for on-demand printing, which allows for a larger variety of printing in smaller order volumes to meet specialized customer needs in the commercial high-speed printing market. In this way, inkjet printing is garnering attention for its flexibility on a page-by-page basis which contributes to productivity, and for its cost performance.

The new technology enabling this development was achieved by enhancing the drive frequency with Kyocera's unique elemental technology; making the interior ink channels more compact, optimizing the nozzle configuration, and improving the water-repellent coating on the printhead nozzle surface to prevent clogging, thus ejecting the ink more accurately. In addition to speed, it provides the high resolution required in the commercial printing market, with a 50 percent improvement in ink-drop placement accuracy over Kyocera's previous model. And like the original, the new printhead maintains the world's broadest single-unit print width, at 4.25 inches - enabling convenient printhead arrangement. Collectively, these features reflect Kyocera's commitment to lead the digital on-demand market with continuous technological advancement.