Office productivity and efficiency has increased over the years as technology has advanced, evolving the way we work, communicate and share information. You need business equipment you can rely on and, instead of needing to have both a printer and a copier to get work done, you can source a solid combination of both, with the addition of other features.
Multifunction printers (MFPs) combine printers and colour copiers to simplify your workplace. Along with printing and copying, these machines can scan to locations including email, USBs and cloud-based services. The more advanced models can be customised with finishing options like stapling, hole-punching and sorting.
These MFPs are designed to meet your business printing needs while cutting supply costs and increasing workflow. They can be purchased or leased, and an array of accessories is available for most models.
To find the right printer for you, ask yourself the following questions:
1. How much volume do we print?
Print speed is one of the most crucial specifications to look at when you choose an MFP. Print speed is often listed as "ppm", standing for pages per minute. You'll want to find a printer with enough speed to keep your workflow running smoothly. Of Konica Minolta’s bizhub range, the C227 produces 22 ppm, the C250i 25 ppm, the C360i 36 ppm, and the C558 55 ppm.
If you don't print in high volumes, a lower speed will be satisfactory for your business, such as the C227 or C250i. However, if you are a larger business that requires high-power printing, the C360i or C558 will be more suitable.
2. What type of paper do we use the most?
As most organisations require A4 and A3 types of paper, you want to make sure your printer has the capacity to store enough sheets for these sizes.
Konica Minolta’s A3 bizhub MFPs can store up to 6,650 sheets of up to A3 size, and can be configured with different size trays connected to the main unit and even a large capacity tray which sits adjacent to the MFP.
3. What are our scanning requirements?
Nearly all office printers have built-in scanners, but not every machine has duplex scanning abilities that enables double-sided scanning. Your organisation’s scanning needs will determine what MFP is most suited to your business.
The bizhub, C250i, C360i and C558 all have a built-in, full-colour ADF scanner with a duplex feature. The C558 can scan up to A3-size sheets. This model can scan 120 IPM in its simplex mode and 240 IPM using its duplex mode.
The C250i and C360i also possess powerful built-in scanners, with the ability to scan up to A3-size sheets. However, some distinct differences exist. The C250i has two settings for its simplex scanning feature and can scan 80 (DF-632) IPM and 100 (DF-714) IPM in simplex mode. It can also scan in duplex mode at up to 200 IPM (DF-714) and this document feeder also incorporates double-feed detection sensors and automatic correction of skewed documents and images.
4. How important is the quality of the printer’s output?
Possibly the number one factor that determines the quality of a MFP is the printer’s resolution, or DPI (dots per inch). A standard MFP produces documents at 600 x 600 DPI, though more advanced models can produce much higher resolutions.
The Konica Minolta bizhub MFPs vary greatly in their print resolution capabilities. The:
- C227 can print up to 1800 x 600 dpi equivalent
- C250i can print up to 1200 x 1200 dpi and also 1800 x 600 dpi equivalent enhanced
- C360i can print up to 1200 x 1200 dpi and also 1800 x 600 dpi equivalent enhanced
If you are primarily using MFPs to print text-based documents, you can stick to a printer that has a lower resolution. However, if you produce a high volume of marketing materials such as brochures and flyers or distribute high-quality documents, you will need to select a MFP that can print using a higher resolution.
5. How complex are the documents that we’re printing?
The complexity or volume of the documents you’re printing will affect the amount of memory your MFP should have. The C227 has a standard memory of 4GB. This model would be suited to an organisation that only plans to use their MFP for printing basic documents that require little storage.
Both the C250i and C360i have a standard memory of 8GB. If your business processes a high volume of images or printing jobs, an MFP with a higher memory capacity would be the most appropriate fit.
Results
To recap, Konica Minolta’s range of bizhub MFP’s can cater to a wide range of business needs.
It’s more standard models, such as the C227, are most suited to companies that have a lower overall print need, have little to no scanning needs, require lower graphic print resolution, and need less memory.
The newer i-Series models, such as the C360i, or the C558 would be more appropriate for organisations that have higher print and scanning needs, require high print resolution for documents, and require a higher memory capacity.
Ultimately, your overall budget and individual business needs will be a determine what MFP you choose, so take your time and thoroughly research all of your options before investing in an MFP.
To find out more about our bizhub MFP range and how they can work for your business, contact Konica Minolta today.
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