Mono Wide Format Printer Debuts At Ipex 06

Xerox has launched its entry-level monochrome wide-format digital system, the 6204, for the architectural, engineering and construction markets.

Xerox has launched its entry-level monochrome wide-format digital system, the 6204, for the architectural, engineering and construction markets.

The Xerox 6204 will be on show for the first time on the Xerox stand at Ipex, alongside Xerox's portfolio of monochrome and colour wide-format products.

It is claimed to help users take advantage of the burgeoning wide-format market predicted to grow by 32 per cent in the next three years, said the company.

The 6204 is claimed by Xerox to be one of the fastest printers in its class and is an affordable option for customers migrating to digital printing or for those entering the wide-format market for the first time.

It is available in two network ready configurations - printer and printer-copier, which both have a range of options.

In addition to the configuration options, the 6204 is claimed to be one of the fastest products in the low-end, mono digital wide-format market.

It is said to produce five A1 / 2.5 x A0 images per minute.

The 6204 scanner on the multi-function system is the fastest in its class, scanning at three inches per second, and unlike competitors' products, it allows users to scan to their network in one step, added Xerox.

The 6204 is said to also print large documents with fine lines, such as engineering renderings, geographical information system maps and mechanical and architectural drawings at widths from 11" - 36" at a resolution of 600 dots per inch (dpi) x 600dpi.

Xerox added that with a footprint of less than one square metre, the 6204 is smaller than other printers and a front exit design makes retrieving prints easy, whilst allowing for the printer to be placed within inches of a wall, conserving work space and cost.

The system's embedded print controller sets up print files and transfers them to the printer and provides integration in to a customer's existing workflow process.

A touch screen interface and integrated scanner also make it easy and intuitive to operate, claimed the company.

Users can also select a two-roll paper option for increased printing capacity, extending unattended printing time.

Tim Greene, a director of the wide-format research group at Infotrends, an independent industry research firm, said: "Xerox is an important player in the monochrome wide-format market with one of the largest installed bases.

The company now has a complete portfolio of products for printing technical documents in small and medium businesses, large enterprise and print-for-pay." Digital low-end wide-format printer revenue is expected to grow from US$87 million in 2005 to US$115 million in 2009, easily the fastest growing segment of the wide-format digital printer market, according to Infotrends.

Anoush Dowlatshahi-Gordon, the director and general manager of the production systems group at Xerox UK, said: "Wide-format is an exciting growth area for Xerox and we have invested heavily to integrate it in to our production group since we took the decision to bring what was an independent operation fully in to Xerox." Dowlatshahi-Gordon added: "Although we have grown the business over the last two years, the 6204 launch marks the first of a number of market-led product launches that will accelerate this growth even more by targeting segments where our customers really want us to improve our portfolio." Howard Witt, the wide format manager at Xerox UK, said: "According to data from IDC, Xerox is the European market leader in the mid-range monochrome wide-format segment with our 510 and 6030/50 family of systems, which have a 55 per cent market share.

Our customers tell us they buy these products because of the flexibility we offer to adapt and change the system over time according to the way in which their needs evolve." And he continued: "The 6204 products represent the same sound investment because it offers modularity with options such as second paper roll, Postscript and scan to net even though it is an entry-level product.

With the 6204 launch we believe that we will also achieve market leadership in the entry level digital segment.".

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