TRUMBULL, CT – June 20, 2012 – When selecting a wide format printing solution the ultimate objective should be to select the equipment that delivers optimum productivity and is best suited to your business goals.

Below, Océ, a Canon Group company and an international leader in digital document management, outlines the importance of going beyond the “spec sheet” to find the wide format printing solution that best fits your overall workflow requirements.

What Makes a Wide Format Workflow Productive: The Four Components

Wide format production printing equipment should make each stage of your company’s unique workflow – from pre-production, to production and post -production – more efficient. When selecting your equipment, it is important to consider the following four components and how the system affects the user’s overall productivity.

1. Quality: The output produced on a wide format system is indicative of the machine’s quality. Factors that influence quality include the dots per inch of the print engine and scanner, the fusing process used, the algorithm used to digitize hardcopy input and scan technology. Equipment that delivers consistently high quality prints and copies with any original, in any mode, means that users do not have to worry about lost information or unusable output.

Traditional inkjet systems force users to choose between print speed and quality since users can select only one print setting for a file or job. However, systems equipped with intelligent print technology that automatically adjusts printer settings based on the image content without additional operator adjustment means sacrificing print speed for print quality is no longer an issue. In addition, equipment that uses radiant fusing methods vs. conventional fuser roller technology offers no resolution loss, dot size degradation or line fuzziness. Likewise, scanners equipped with intelligent scanning technology provide the capability to improve the quality of an original.

2. Reliability: Often defined by system uptime and parts replacement requirements, system reliability is critical to a user’s workflow. Look for equipment that is designed for durability and requires minimal service visits and parts replacements. Also, consider the benefits of completely closed toner systems that eliminate the need to regularly clean toner from the printer’s interior and make it easy to load toner, even while the system is printing.
3. Ease of Use: The equipment you select must be easy to use. How a user interacts with a wide format system is a critical component of overall productivity. Daily tasks such as media roll changing, output collation and job management or submission all affect overall productivity as it relates to the user experience. Traditional inkjet equipment often presents multiple drawbacks, such as cumbersome media handling, poor job submission options and disorganized stacking of output.

Seeking out equipment that delivers the greatest media flexibility, a full range of print/job submission management tools and organized document output enhances users’ experience with the equipment – while improving overall efficiency.

4. Throughput: It is important to realize that mechanical print speed is only one component of throughput, and the difference between many systems is marginal. Capabilities such as controller processing power, queue management, instant-on availability and copy/scan productivity are more critical to achieving greater throughput.

Advanced systems offer powerful controllers that can handle complex files and concurrent task, templates to simplify recurring tasks, enable one-touch operation and provide custom settings that can be tuned to the company’s unique copying and scanning workflow. The result – users experience increased efficiency and productivity, lowered risk of mistakes and greater ease-of-use; meaning jobs are completed faster and more accurately.

Achieving a productive workflow can have a significant impact on a user’s everyday operations and an organization’s overall business goals – including those tied to operational performance, profitability and business growth. Going beyond the spec sheet when selecting a wide format printing solution will address not only the challenges faced by individual users but those across your entire organization.

Download the new whitepaper “Beyond the Specs: Key Workflow Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Wide Format Print Solution” at www.oceusa.com/WorkflowNB to learn more.

About Océ

Océ is one of the leading providers of document management and printing for professionals. The Océ offering includes office printing and copying systems, high speed digital production printers and wide format printing systems for both technical documentation and color display graphics. Océ is also a foremost supplier of document management outsourcing. Many of the Fortune Global 500 companies and leading commercial printers are Océ customers. The company was founded in 1877. With headquarters in Venlo, The Netherlands, Océ is active in over 100 countries and employs more than 20,000 people worldwide. Océ North America is headquartered in Trumbull, CT, with additional business units in Chicago, IL and Boca Raton, FL. For more information, visit http://www.oce.com.

Océ and Canon: Stronger together

In 2010 Océ joined the Canon Group of companies with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, to create the global leader in the printing industry. Canon develops, manufactures and markets a growing line-up of copying machines, printers, cameras, optical and other products that meet a diverse range of customer needs. The Canon Group comprises over 198,000 employees worldwide. Global net sales in 2011 totaled USD 45.6 billion. Visit the Canon Inc. website at http://www.canon.com.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. With more than $45 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks fourth overall in patent holdings in the U.S. in 2010* and is one of Fortune Magazine's World’s Most Admired Companies in 2011. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss.