Global technology company Ricoh will launch its latest series of production cutsheet device, Ricoh Pro C7100X, which comes equipped with a fifth colour station.
This feature enables these high-speed, production colour printers and multi-function devices (MFPs) to be applied to more products and deliver a unique output based on the customer's demand.
The device, with either a white or clear ink station, will be available in the market from December 2014. This is said to be an inexpensive option for small and mid-sized printers that want to offer more applications to its customers.
This feature can also be used by printers that want to offer banners, POP displays, signs and other services like sales and marketing collateral.
With the fifth station, the Ricoh Pro C7100X prints at speeds of up to 80ppm and the Ricoh Pro C7110x at speeds of up to 90ppm on A4 size papers. They have a maximum sheet size of 13x19.2 and a maximum monthly volume of 240,000 based on letter size.
The series supports up to 360gsm of paper weight in both simplex and duplex. It can print on an array of substrates including tree-based paper, synthetics and envelopes; and prints at 1200x4800dpi with VCSEL image quality.
Ricoh Americas Corporation senior vice president, marketing Tim Vellek said: "For too long, cost has been a barrier for small and mid-sized shops looking to expand their application portfolio. We surveyed our customers and they were very clear - they are looking for a more cost-effective, versatile route to delivering a broader range of output with effective color flexibility.
"And so we developed fifth-station solutions that addressed these needs. Now, they can enter new markets, deliver shorter runs and maintain the high quality their customers have come to expect, at a price point they can afford."
The series also comprises other features like an AC-transfer system and elastic fusing belt technology. It is available with an option of oversized prints of up to 27.5 inches in length. A self-contained liquid cooling system helps keep the developer at a constant temperature and minimises disruptions in extended production runs.
The Ricoh Pro C7110x series will be on display at Graph Expo 14 in Chicago between September 28 and October 1, 2014.
