Konica Minolta adds bizhub C450 to colour range

Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK) Ltd has launched the bizhub C450 in the latest addition to Konica Minoltas highly successful range of colour document imaging systems. The bizhub C450 is an ideal replacement for monochrome and colour printers/copiers with its copy and print speed of 45 pages per minute for black and white and 35 prints per minute colour speed. The bizhub C450 captures the full essence of the bizhub concept by blending the ability to digitally share and distribute black and white or colour documents with the ability to control security.

With the debut of the bizhub C450, Konica Minolta is also introducing its new bizhub OP open platform, setting the standard for all future Konica Minolta multifunctional systems. bizhub OP was developed by Konica Minolta to bring a new level of performance and reliability to the office multifunctional imaging system by delivering a common user experience, increased manageability, superior print performance, improved scanning functionality and enhanced security.

The three major components of bizhub OP are the bizhub Architecture, the Emperon Print System and bizhub Open API. The bizhub Architecture removes the need for separate functional boards through the utilisation of common system software that drives all functions copy, print, scan and fax. The new architecture also eliminates hardware-based functions, and shares the devices CPU and memory for a seamless user experience.

Developed by Konica Minolta Business Solutions in collaboration with Konica Minolta Printing Solutions, the Emperon Print System brings together the best technologies of the legacy organisations to deliver high performance and high value. The Emperon Print System provides Konica Minolta bizhub C450 customers with total integration of their document output management with a consistent user interface and functionality across future Konica Minolta products. In addition, the bizhub Open API (available at the end of 2005) will enable control of both the print and scan functions from external applications.

Key standard features
The bizhub C450 offers the following standard features: PCL5c/PCL6/PS3 emulation, networking, 38 originals-per-minute (opm) colour and mono scanning, a 40GB hard disk drive, Hard Disk and User Box functionality, 256 g/m2 from all paper trays with automatic duplexing, Reversing Automatic Document Feeder, Konica Minolta Simitri Colour Polymerised Toner, User Authentication, and network management tools through the PageScope software suite.

Enhanced imaging and paper handling
Featuring 256 levels of greyscale per pixel, 600 by 600 dpi copy resolution and 600 by 1800 dpi enhanced print resolution, the bizhub C450 produces clear text, sharp edges and consistent colour. The bizhub C450 uses Konica Minolta Simitri Colour Polymerized Toner, which maintains the uniformity of the toner particles for more even distribution, significantly better halftone definition and better solid fills.

With these image quality features, standard paper capacity of 900 sheets, including a 150-sheet intelligent bypass tray; expandable paper capacity up to 3,400 sheets; and the ability to handle up to 250gsm paper through all trays, the bizhub C450 easily meets the colour and monochrome document needs of busy office workgroup environments.

Optional faxing and printing capabilities
With the introduction of the bizhub C450, also comes the addition of 33.6Kbps Super G3 fax capabilities for a complete office workgroup solution. The optional fax functionality includes: transmissions in mono, JBIG data compression, up to 600 by 600 fax send resolution, separate scanning, duplex send and receive, mixed original faxing, PC faxing and memory reception.

For graphic-intense environments, an IC-402 Image Controller (EFI) with PostScript 3 support, graphic arts functionality (Auto Trapping, Hot Folders and standard Spot-On Colour Matching), EFI Impose, EFI Densitometer, ColourWise Pro Tools and the EFI Colour Profiler Kit are available options.

Advanced security and data handling features
Because document security and the way documents are handled and managed have become increasingly important, the bizhub C450 supports Hard Disk Drive Overwrite and Job Erase, which automatically overwrites the hard disk drive after each job. In addition, the bizhub C450 offers User Authentication with NDS capability to protect a user job by prohibiting its modification or deletion. With User Authentication, it is also possible to enable or disable each users access to the device based on function copy, print, scan, fax and hold job control.

The bizhub C450s User Box feature supports each of the devices functions copy, print, scan and fax. With a total of 1,000 user boxes and the ability to store up to 3,000 documents, users can manage individual User Boxes, create public and private User Boxes, assign passwords, and restrict the number of files stored.

Finishing options for maximum productivity
For added productivity and convenience, Konica Minolta has enhanced the finishing options available for the bizhub C450. The new FS-603 Booklet Finisher, with its sorting, stapling and saddle stitching, as well as two and three-hole punching capabilities, enables users to create up to 60-page booklets. The new FS-507 Staple Finisher features sort, group, corner staple, and two and three-hole punching functionality.

PageScope Suite provides document processing and network management functions
bizhub C450 customers also have access to PageScope, Konica Minoltas powerful family of integrated software applications and utilities that help businesses manage their documents and devices. Included in this suite of products is PageScope Net Care, which provides network administrators with detailed information about the operating conditions of all output devices containing a Management Information Base (MIB) on a network from any Web browser.

Also included is PageScope Web Connection, which allows users to instantly check device conditions on all network-connected Konica Minolta printers/copiers from their desktop. By using the information available from Net Care and Web Connection, businesses can lower management costs and maintain the optimum operability of their devices.