BWE BELL + HOWELL Expands Product Line With Company's First Wide-Format Scanner

New Infinity WF Offers Sharper Images at Faster Speeds, Superior Paper Handling

BWE BELL + HOWELL has added a new wide-format scanner to the company's full line of durable, cost-effective document scanners. Infinity WF is designed to convert documents up to 48 inches wide into digital images with speed and accuracy.

Available in three models with maximum scanning widths of 36, 42 and 48 inches, the Infinity WF can scan documents in bitonal, grayscale and color at 600 dots per inch (dpi). Depending on the model, it can scan at rated speeds of 3.2 to 4.2 inches per second (ips) in color and up to 12.6 ips inbitonal.

Designed to handle large format documents such as land surveys, architectural drawings, airplane engineering plans and maps, Infinity WF is equipped to meet the scanning needs of geographic information systems (GIS) and reprographic houses, as well as architectural, engineering and construction firms.

"We shape our product line to reflect customer needs, and we see
considerable demand for a fast, easy-to-use wide format scanner," said
Russell Hunt, president of BWE BELL + HOWELL Scanners. "Built with the same
high-quality standards our customers expect from BWE BELL + HOWELL,
Infinity WF's intuitive touch screen and simple feeder will make scanner
operation as easy for a novice as for an experienced user."

Designed to Provide Unsurpassed Image Quality

Infinity WF employs SharpShooterT Trilinear CCD cameras that provide sharper
pictures at faster speeds. This combined with its innovative LED  light
source allows for even distribution of light that helps the scanner
extrapolate to 1200 dpi for extremely high-resolution images.

Bundled scanning software augments the scanned image quality with color
gamma correction, black/white point adjustment, color dropout and monochrome
image enhancement.

Infinity WF is packed with features that make the scanning process easier
and more efficient. Image Rotation, for example, allows users to feed a
large document lengthwise and then rotate the scanned image to the proper
orientation. This is a very useful feature for users who need to scan
documents that exceed their scanner's maximum document width. "Image
Rotation allows users to scan more efficiently at the rated speed," said
Stacy Sax, product manager at BWE BELL + HOWELL. "With the ability to feed
landscape documents lengthwise, customers can scan documents they otherwise
couldn't. This also gives them the option of buying a smaller scanner model
than they would have had to."

Tough Product for Fragile Documents

Infinity WF features advanced paper handling and an easy-to-use feeding
mechanism for oversized and delicate documents. Automatic Width Detection
allows users to feed fragile documents through the middle of the scan table
without the danger of paper guides tearing or fraying edges.

Users also can manually adjust the amount of pressure between the document
and the glass plate. Transport wheels with individually mounted, spring
loaded ball bearings secure placement of the scanned document to ensure
smooth and gentle document throughput.

Infinity WF has built-in feet, which allow the scanner to be placed on a
table to scan fragile documents that cannot be bent, such as photographs,
archival blueprints, city maps and construction drawings.

Simple Installation, Low Maintenance

Infinity WF is easy to maintain, has low noise output and nearly no
recurring costs on consumables. The cameras are enclosed in glass to protect
them from dust, and the LED lights will last the life of the scanner. The
scanner also includes automatic camera calibration so that the Infinity WF
is ready  to scan as soon as it is turned on.

Infinity WF includes everything an end user needs for simple set up and
operation:
-- Traditional network cable or a crossover cable for easy connectivity
-- Scanner stand with all assembly tools
-- Software for image capture and enhancement, and the ability to scan to
PDF, JPEG or TIFF files, and also scan to network, print, USB or email
-- Power cord, calibration kit, roller cleaning paper, installation guide
and startup CD

"We want our customers to be able to open the box and start scanning right
away with no need for additional components or software," said Sax. "The
Infinity WF does not require users to install drivers on a dedicated
computer. Instead, they can access the scanner from any computer connected
to the enterprise server and the Internet."

Offered exclusively by BWE BELL + HOWELL's value-added resellers in the
United States, Infinity WF is Energy Star: Imaging Version 1.0 compliant.
Infinity WF will be on display at the AIIM 2007 Conference & Expo in Boston
at booth #2351.