55 Prints Per Minute Entry Level Digital Printing

The Bizhub Pro C5500 digital printing system has been introduced by Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) as an entry-level addition to its Bizhub Pro range.

With a claimed output speed of 55 prints per minute (ppm) for A4 colour or black-and-white output, the Bizhub Pro C5500 is said to have a compact footprint making it suitable for central reprographic departments, with a claimed monthly output volume of between 30,000 to 60,000 pages.

The Bizhub Pro C5500 incorporates SEAD - screen-enhancing active digital process - a screening method that is said to provide colour processing for improved image quality with smoother backgrounds.

In addition, Konica Minolta's ITbit (image tag bit) technology produces enhanced halftone printing, showing visible improvements particularly for outlines, reversed and slim text, added the company.

Image quality is also said to be assured with Konica Minolta's patented Simitri HD polymerised toner using smaller, smoother, more uniformly shaped toner particles for more even distribution, giving better fine line definition and better solid fills.

The system accommodates a range of substrates, including paper up to 300gsm, coated paper, card and digital offset stock.

With a standard paper capacity of up to 1,750 sheets and an optional unit giving a maximum 4,250 sheets, the Bizhub Pro C5500 is said to be suitable for long print runs and continuous production.

Air assisted feeding rollers and dehumidification heaters on each paper tray in the system, as well as a double feed detection mechanism ensure paper feed reliability.

Both paper and toner can be replenished on the fly, without the need to stop production on the system.

Konica Minolta added that its Bizhub Pro range is are designed to meet the print industry's preferred bleed size for media of SRA3 (320mm x 450mm) to allow full-size A3 documents with trim marks and A4 booklets to be trimmed to size.

The accuracy of the output can be judged by the 0.5mm registration tolerance (per side) for perfecting (duplex) production and sheet-to-sheet.

With an embedded EFI Fiery controller, the Bizhub Pro C5500 also has an IC-408 controller to provide users with a range of software utilities for high-volume applications, as standard.

Designed for colour printing, the IC-408 Fiery controller offers variable data printing support and a range of security features, ensuring data security control, including access to the controller itself, said the company.

The Bizhub Pro C5500 is available with a variety of flexible finishing options.

The optional booklet finisher will automate the production of booklets and brochures, providing in-line half-fold and saddle stitching functions.

Booklets can be made up to 20 sheets thick for a maximum 80 page document.

The booklet maker can also be used for multi-position stapling of up to 50 sheets per stapled set.

A post inserter is also available to automate insertion of pre-printed covers in to documents printed on the Bizhub Pro C5500.

Other finishing options include a staple finisher and in-line punching for two or four holes.

As the Bizhub Pro C5500 staples and punches at the full rated speed of 55ppm there is no loss of speed for producing finished documents.

Jos Kelly, head of production print at Konica Minolta, said: "This launch extends our range of professional digital systems, offering customers all the benefits of the Konica Minolta colour digital technology at an entry-level price.

The Bizhub Pro C5500 offers an easy entry in to colour print on demand for CRDs that want to benefit from the flexibility of short run colour output and variable data printing.".

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