Improved product performance plays central role in mid-term plan to double printer unit sales within EMEA

Egham, UK, 30 April 2012: OKI Europe has increased its range of print and imaging devices targeted at the larger business and workgroup market, as part of its strategy to offer competitive, cost-effective solutions to businesses of all sizes.

The company's comprehensive development initiative, in which more than half of the revised product range consists of new or upgraded products, was announced by OKI Europe's managing director, Terry Laidlaw, at the company's recent ‘Smart Business' Conference in Barcelona.

This is part of the company's plan to double printer unit sales within EMEA and grow its share of the European market "Historically, our success has been built on a deep understanding of the very different needs of each of our target sectors," confirms OKI Europe's managing director, Terry Laidlaw.

"The new products reinforce this approach, by not only meeting the broader requirement of larger users for high performance, flexibility and low cost per copy, but also the demands of specific vertical sectors in such areas as professional quality in-house colour printing on a wide range of media."     

Colour printing
OKI has introduced a new top-end C841 model to its range of A3/A4 colour printers, together with an upgraded C831, replacing the earlier C830.

The new products offer faster print speeds (35ppm for both mono and colour) and faster time to first page (9.5 seconds). An IC card reader or PIN offers enhanced authentication for better print security to ensure confidential documents are read by the right person only, especially important where files are saved on a shared network folder.   

The C841 also offers 1200 x 1200dpi print resolution as standard ideally designed for graphics companies and other vertical sectors where print quality is of paramount importance. The C800 Series' advanced design delivers this enhanced functionality within the smallest footprint of any product in this sector.   

"We created a brand new segment with the original C800 Series," says Laidlaw. "We identified that the demands of businesses and workgroups of differing sizes for a single device that would provide high quality, reliable A3 and A4 colour and mono print output at a price customers could afford were not being met.

"This proved extremely successful and we believe that the new upgraded products will prove just as effective for today's large businesses or busy workgroups."

Multi-function products (MFPs)
OKI has also launched the new MB491 (four-in-one print/copy/scan/fax), which completes the MB401 Series of A4 mono desktop MFPs. These combine outstanding software utilities, cost and energy saving features and a reverse automatic document feeder (RADF) as standard, all in one ergonomic and ultra-reliable device.

The MB491 is specifically designed for large corporations or work groups with high-volume use and where security is critical. This top-end model includes 40ppm print speed (the fastest in the desktop market) with 12k toner capacity for low cost per page. It also offers a foreign device interface (FDI) and secure print option to ensure confidential documents are read by the right person only, especially important where files are saved on a shared network folder.   

Ease of use is also improved thanks to a new operating panel with 3.5" display. A separate print cartridge and drum offers better drum life utilisation and easier access to consumables.     

As with the rest of the OKI product range, the new products are based on the company's unique proprietary LED technology and come with a three-year warranty, which gives customers peace of mind and confidence in the robustness and reliability of their OKI device.