Ricoh Focuses on ‘Print and Beyond’ at drupa 2012

At drupa 2012, Ricoh is looking at ‘Print and Beyond’ by analysing the trends that are changing the way businesses will purchase and use ‘print’ in the future. Drawing on research recently published by the Economist Intelligence Unit and sponsored by Ricoh.

, print service providers are encouraged to look not only at the impacts of future technology on their own businesses, but also at how technology will change the way their corporate clients will work in the future. In the study, six out of ten respondents said they believe the markets they operate in will be significantly altered between now and 2020, bearing little similarity to today, so it’s crucial print service providers are prepared for the profound, yet energising, effects of technology change.

Under this ‘Print and Beyond’ theme, drupa 2012 is Ricoh’s global platform to launch a range of offerings to deliver client value in print and beyond. These include: a prototype of the Ricoh Pro L4000, a seven colour, latex ink, large format inkjet printer including white ink and InfoPrint ADF Express, a new addition to the Ricoh TotalFlow workflow suite. Furthermore, through its partnership with PTI Marketing Technologies, Ricoh will demonstrate a new visual search technology called Ricoh Clickable Paper. And Ricoh will be emphasising its commitment to the environment, as all its printing activity at the show will be carbon neutral.

In addition, Ricoh’s latest generation of its 3D inkjet head technology is being demonstrated on the Ricoh stand by Objet, a global provider of inkjet-based 3D printing systems and materials. Its latest 3D printers are available for organisations in sectors such as consumer goods and electronics, aerospace and defence, automotive, education, architecture, dental and medical, as well as for service bureaux.

Peter Williams, Executive Vice President, Head of Production Printing Business Group Ricoh Europe says, “Recent technologies including digital printing and inkjet technology have driven significant changes in just a few years for the production printing industry. And what is certain is that there will continue to be radical changes to our industry as current technologies will be applied in different ways by businesses, their customers and their employees. For print service providers to benefit from the impact of current and future technologies, it’s essential they focus on how technology is used to add benefits to their businesses, looking beyond specifications alone.” 

Summary of New Products and Services at drupa 2012 – ‘Print and Beyond’

Print — The Ricoh Pro L4000 large format inkjet printer

The Ricoh Pro L4000 series features the next-generation of Ricoh’s piezo-electric print heads with durable latex ink in seven colors; CYMK, light cyan, light magenta and white. It offers extensive media support on a range of substrates and is ideal for the environmentally conscious buyer of printed signage, point of purchase and indoor and outdoor display. 

The Ricoh Pro L4000 series also features multiple jetting print head technology to produce three different drop sizes at once, down to a minimum of four picolitres in size. The result is smooth, lifelike images every time. Furthermore, its extensive media support enables clients to order print on a wide range of substrates such as PVC, tarpaulin, synthetic paper, coated-paper, non-coated paper, textiles and more.

It will be available in North America and Europe in the first quarter of 2013.