Office Document Strategies Blog

The Speed Of Your Printer Can Matter

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Jul 3, 2019 @ 07:07 AM

There was a time when just getting a printed page from computer output was seen as a fantastic feat and how long it took to do so really was okay as long as it happened.  The glory dark ages of printing and computer generated output are long over and today people expect almost instant output when they hit the print button.

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Topics: total cost of operation, Multifunction Printer, MFP, Printer, Colour printer, colour multifunction, cost of printing, Kyocera copier

Creative Use Of 3D Printing Grows Steadily

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Mar 21, 2018 @ 07:03 AM

We have covered some of the ways that creative people have applied the technologies which have grown out of the early ventures in 3D printing in a number of articles over the past few years.  The concept continues to grow as more and more ways are found to apply the concept using different types of mediums as well as different kinds of tools to create the printed items.

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Topics: video, Printer, digital tools, automation

Printing Parts For 100 Year Old and One Off Cars | Jay Lenno

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Feb 21, 2018 @ 08:02 AM

Until the development of 3D Printing when someone talked about printing we all understood it was a two dimensional output, black or coloured toner on a flat piece of paper.  

With the development of 3D printing and its rapid advancement into using many different types of raw product for the printing of three dimensional objects the technology has been pretty revolutionary for all kinds of fields.  One of these is the automobile field, especially for the production of one off parts.

In a recent video I saw produced in Jay Leno's garage a famous place to anyone who has an interest in automobiles he describes how they have used 3D printing to produce parts for cars at the extremes of his collection.  In one case it is product for a 100 year old early generation electric car and in another parts for a special one off concept car that they created.

 

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Topics: technology tools, Printer, digital tools

Online Coverage Of Office Equipment Frustrations Can Be True

Posted by Ian Leppert on Wed, Oct 4, 2017 @ 08:10 AM

People who are fans of the movie "Office Space" remember the scene where three of the players take the printer out to the field and beat it to death because it keeps giving an paper jam error even when there is no paper jam.

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Topics: Multifunction Printer, Printer, Managed Print Services

Growth In Mobile Use Adds To Printing

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Apr 5, 2017 @ 08:04 AM

Most people know that mobile access to the Internet has been a major growth area of technology since the advent of smart phones.  Of course much of this is accessing and posting to various hot social media sites, like Facebook, Instagram, twitter, etc.  

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Topics: Multifunction Printer, MFP, Printer, mobility

Printing And Manufacturing Continue To Merge

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Mar 29, 2017 @ 08:03 AM

When most of us think about printing we think of the process that started with Gutenberg and which has been refined over the centuries to permit fast, efficient and colourful information transfer.  Traditional printing ranges from a simple monochrome sheet to full feature coloured products including art work and magazines. 

Of course over the years it has been refined into wondrous advertising pieces with the processes using other substrates besides paper.  Vinyl, cloth, metal, wood, glass and many more surfaces have been used to receive the printed message and images.

In office environments we have seen the development of super fast, highly capability multifunction printers (MFP) which permit the rapid production and assembly of all kinds of printed documents and materials.  Wide format printers come in massive widths and permit the production of advertising materials which have radically changed the way that images and other information have been displayed and used.  Vehicle wraps are now common with every urban street experiencing all sorts of vehicles, especially transit buses, which showcase local and national brands and personalities.

3D Printing Adds More Dimension

Ever since Gutenberg created the first printing press, printing has been largely a two dimensional process.

With the advances of 3D printing a whole new range of possibilities have emerged which are radically impacting many industries and most notably differing elements of manufacturing.

A recent CNN Money article showcases how manufacturing has changed from the traditional industry we think of as a result of the introduction of 3D printing capabilities.  
While the article centres upon US experience similar experiences are occurring throughout the industrialized world including Canada.

The CNN article describes the experience of a new type of manufacturing worker:

"Andrew Rosa doesn't do back breaking work. His hands aren't swollen, blistered or greasy. He doesn't operate loud machines. He isn't in a labor union."  It describes how he works as part of a team which sets up, programs and manages 3D printed manufacturing which produces products faster, more efficiently and with less risk to workers than would have been possible in the past.

The company highlighted in this article is simply one of thousands which have adopted the capabilities of 3D production and who are revolutionizing industries.

The interesting part of 3D printing is how the processes used really do mimic traditional printing processes, where a product grouping, toner or ink usually, are layered upon a substrate to create an image of a message.

In 3D printing the same process is used only it is layered in multiple super think layers to create an eventual 3D product.  Of course where the real changes are occurring is in the printing "inks" that are being layered.  In early instances there were various forms of plastics which could be melted and extruded to create the layers needed.  

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Topics: Printer, automation

Key Decisions To Make When Purchasing New Printer

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Feb 1, 2017 @ 08:02 AM

One of the infrequent tasks that every organization faces at  some point is buying or leasing a new print device.  Often someone just says, 'order one like the one we have now".  Of course since print devices tend to last for some time the one you have now may no longer be in the market and it may not really be the right fit for your current needs.  Here are a few of the key decisions you need to consider BEFORE you place that order. 

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Topics: Multifunction Printer, MFP, Printer, colour multifunction, Multifunction Printer support

3D Printing Is Much More Than We Might Think

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Nov 9, 2016 @ 08:11 AM

When 3D printing was first talked about what we saw was neat production of small plastic parts that might be used to assembly a toy, a display or some sort of interesting art object. Today this type of use is become pretty mainstream with small 3D printers being introduced for home or office use either for educational benefit or for design display. 

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Topics: technology tools, Printer

HP Acquires Samsung Printer Business

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Oct 19, 2016 @ 08:10 AM

Just about a month ago HP and Samsung announced a deal that will see HP acquiring Samsung's printer business which is said to be about $1.8 billion US annually.  It appears that after many years producing print products as an OEM supplier and then a few years doing so under its own name Samsung has decided that it should focus on other aspects of its electronic industry.  

In the announcement HP has said this is the largest print related purchase that it has ever made.

HP has long used Canon engines for many of its laser printers and with this deal it gains the potential to move much of its engine production and R&D to the Samsung based designs.

I observe that it is only a few years that Samsung has been producing and selling its own brand of A3 (traditional 11 x 17 copier sized) products and it may be access to this area is one of the keys for HP.  Over the past ten years or so HP has struggled trying to find a fit with multifunction printer devices under its brand which can take control of the office print market like they have successfully done with their laser printer models which are primarily A4 (letter/legal) sized.

By acquiring Samsung they instantly obtain a recognized set of full bore A3 office multifunction devices in both colour and mono which can be branded HP and could complement other units in their offerings.  For those dealers which have been selling Samsung equipment it presents a bit of a challenge, but not one they will not have handled before.  Potentially they may have a broader set of options presented as HP fills out the line.  For most they will be dual branded and will have another line to use to fulfill customer needs.

Industry Changes Ongoing

This acquisition is just another step in a steady shift in the print market as the volume of paper changes and the moves to a more electronic or digital document world continue.

Konica Minolta was created through the merger of two separate brands in 2003.  Ricoh has built up its operations through a string of brand purchases over the years, Ricoh acquired Savin, Gestetner, Lanier, Rex-Rotary, Monroe, Nashuatec, IKON and most recently IBM Printing Systems Division / Infoprint Solutions Company.  

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Topics: MFP, Printer, Copier

Kyocera Wins BLI Awards

Posted by Lee Kirkby on Wed, Jul 20, 2016 @ 08:07 AM

One of the things that drives print manufacturers to improve their equipment offerings is the ability to have the newer units tested for performance by the independent testing labs.  After some time it is harder to get the interest of customers and potential adopters as there is always a new crop of equipment being introduced by someone in the industry.

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Topics: MFP, Printer, Kyocera copier, Kyocera Canada