Sharp has announced the launch of the AR-M451N and AR-M351N, its latest mid volume multifunctional (MFP) printers to offer 45 and 35 pages per minute (ppm) respectively. Providing high quality copy, print, scan and fax capabilities at a high speed and user-friendly software for workflow control and document filing, the new AR-Ms have been designed to cope with larger organisations' requirements for efficiently streamlining document workflow across the entire company network.
Replacing the award winning AR-M350 and AR-M450, these news devices offer an array of time saving features - incorporating document filing, finishing capabilities and technical support tools - which can all be easily configured and upgraded in line with organisational growth.
The A3 Duplex Single Pass Feeder (DSPF), a feature unique to the mid volume MFP, offers the ultimate in end-user productivity by allowing users to scan in up to 60 two-sided documents per minute in double-sided scan mode. Other time saving features include the dedicated internal hard disk with 40GB capacity that centrally stores documents and previous print jobs for fast retrieval. This allows recently completed print runs to be repeated without the user needing to recreate the job, minimising processing and user intervention.
The inclusion of Sharpdesk adds to this, providing an integrated desktop management facility that can save documents in over 200 file formats and allows users to organise, edit, search and distribute documents all via a simple drag and drop operation. The powerful high-speed scanning features on the new AR-Ms also allow easy integration with SharpFind 5.0. This package incorporates a unique full-text retrieval feature which automatically archives every word in stored documents to a general index, ensuring the index is optimised to allow fast access to all documentation. The scanning option also supports Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), which displays email addresses on the AR-Ms' front panel display, allowing convenient access to email addresses held in the global network address book.
The new AR-Ms offer built-in features that support the network administrator by reducing the time spent handling technical support requirements. The Printer Administration Utility (PAU) networked printer management tool provides a good example of how this is achieved. Using the standard Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), PAU keeps a constant status check on the devices, warning when action is required by the network administrator. This monitoring tool is utilised remotely via the network from an easy to navigate single console, allowing time to be saved via the remote configuration of the products. The network administrator also benefits from the provision of 500 user access codes that determine who can gain access to the device.
In addition to this, the new AR-Ms offer multiple security features designed to prevent unauthorised access and secure data output. A choice of output methods are provided, with the Print Hold function storing print data on the MFPs' hard disk and withholding output until the user executes a print command. For added security, Confidential Print requires personal identification numbers to be entered at the machine before printing can begin. The optional Data Security Kit (DSK) enhances security further, preventing sensitive records from being recovered by unauthorised persons by completely erasing and encrypting the data generated by each job.
A further level of protection can be gained by utilising Secure NIC, a secure network interface card which conceals all IP addresses, ensuring only authorised users can access the devices and the network administrator has sole control to re-route print jobs.
Where particularly large jobs are subject to urgent deadlines, the network tandem feature can be applied to double output speeds to 70 ppm on the AR-M351 and 90 ppm on the AR-M451 by running two devices on the same network and sharing the load between them.
The products are also specified in a network ready format out of the box. The AR-M351N and AR-M451N offer network printing, plus scanning as a free trial and as a simple upgrade. Combining network print with scanning to email, FTP or to a user's desktop, these machines offer a perfect gateway into document storage and retrieval system.
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