KONICA MINOLTA LAUNCHES THE bizhub 500 and bizhub 420
DIGITAL PRINTER/COPIER/SCANNER/FAX DEVICES

Segment 4 Workhorses Boost Productivity Through Simple, Reliable and Secure Networked Document Workflow

RAMSEY, N.J. — March 1, 2006 — Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announced the introduction of the bizhub™ 500 and the bizhub 420 printer/copier/scanner/fax devices.  With print/copy speeds of 50 pages per minute (ppm) and 42 ppm, respectively, the bizhub 500/420 are ideal for mid- to high-volume office environments that require a reliable, monochrome MFP with network capabilities and flexible document finishing and distribution functionality.

Featuring monthly duty cycles of 175,000 impressions and 150,000 impressions, respectively, high toner yields, PageScope network management tools, and bizhub OP, the bizhub 500/420 brings a new level of performance and reliability to mid- to large-sized offices by delivering a common user experience, increased manageability, superior print performance, improved scanning functionality and enhanced security.

These Segment 4 workhorses have been designed to provide workgroups and businesses in need of B&W production with powerful features and a multitude of document workflow solutions.  Functional highlights include:  high output speeds; fast, flexible scanning up to 70 originals per minute (opm); a three-way tilting control panel with large function keys and simple touch-screen command interface; User Box and User Authentication functionality; Konica Minolta Simitri® Polymerized Toner; and production-quality finishing options. 

“While the overall market for office MFPs is certainly moving towards color devices, there continues to be a high demand for high performance B&W devices in many corporate and government environments, including the legal, banking and real estate industries.  These new devices offer the same innovations that are being offered in our color workgroup products, such as bizhub OP and Simitri toner, but are available at a lower price point for companies whose job types simply do not require color,” said Kevin P. Kern, vice president, product planning and development, Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.  “With advanced network capabilities and high-quality, workhorse-level production, the bizhub 500 and bizhub 420 offer a cost-effective boost to document workflow.”

bizhub OP Brings a New Level of Performance & Reliability
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 utilization of common system software that drives all functions — copy, print, scan and fax.  The new architecture also eliminates hardware-based functions, and shares the device’s CPU and memory for a seamless MFP user experience. 

The bizhub 500/420’s optional IC-204 Image Controller is driven by bizhub OP’s Emperon Print System.  The Emperon Print System allows for full control of the devices’ printing and finishing options, and provides for total integration of document output management with a simple, intuitive user interface.  The optional IC-204 includes PCL5e/PCL6, PostScript Level 3 emulation, Scan-to-SMB (desktop), Scan-to-Email, Scan-to-Hard Drive, Scan-to-FTP and Network TWAIN scanning functionality — all at up to 600 dpi resolution (1,200 x 600 dpi printing and copying, when smoothing is selected). 

In addition, the bizhub Open API (not available at time of launch) will enable simplified, custom integration with future third-party software.

Paper Handling and Image Quality
The bizhub 500/420 offers a maximum paper capacity of 5,650 sheets.  Additionally, the ability to handle from 5.5″ x 8.5″ to 11″ x 17″ paper at weights up to 110-lb. index provides users with devices that meet their broad spectrum of printing/copying/scanning needs. 

Featuring 600 x 600 dpi print and copy resolution with 256 grayscale levels, the bizhub 500/420 produces clear text, sharp edges and smooth halftones and provides special features such as 1200 dpi equivalent copy resolution that makes every document look more professional.  The bizhub 500/420 use Konica Minolta Simitri® Polymerized Toner with smaller, smoother, more uniform toner particles for more even distribution, significantly better fine line definition, and better solid fills.

Advanced Security and Data Handling Features
Due to the importance of document security and document management in today’s business environment, the bizhub 500/420 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 user’s access to the device based on function — copy, print, scan, fax and hold job control. 

With the addition of the optional hard disk drive, the bizhub 500/420’s User Box feature supports each of the devices’ functions — copy, print and scan.  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.

Optional High-Volume Faxing
Optional 33.6 Kbps, Super G3 analog FAX functionality is also available for the new bizhub 500/420 for seamless productivity.  The optional fax capabilities include:  32 MB of memory (40 GB with HDD option); transmissions in B&W up to 11″ x 17″; MH, MR, MMR and JBIG data compression; up to 600 x 600 fax TX resolution; IP Relay Fax; and PC Faxing.

Production-Quality Finishing Options
Production-quality finishing options designed to handle the vast variety of in-house printing needs faced by today’s businesses are offered for the bizhub 500/420, including 50-sheet stapling; two- and three-hole punching; and saddle-stitch booklet making for up to 60-page booklets.

PageScope Software for Managing Documents & Devices
Available for the bizhub 500/420 is the PageScope Software Suite, Konica Minolta’s robust family of integrated software applications and utilities that help businesses save time, reduce costs and increase productivity.  The bizhub 500/420 and the PageScope Software Suite equal a powerful combination.  The PageScope Software Suite delivers networked information flow from the desktop, enabling businesses to manage their bizhub documents and bizhub devices more effectively through a single interoperative system for increased efficiency.  Included in this suite of products are PageScope Net Care and PageScope Web Connection. 

PageScope Net Care provides network administrators with detailed information about the operating conditions of all networked output devices containing a Management Information Base (MIB) from any Web browser.  Built into every bizhub device, PageScope Web Connection allows users to instantly check device conditions on all network-connected Konica Minolta printer/copiers from their desktop. 

Available as options for the bizhub 500/420 are PageScope Data Administrator™, which permits users to remotely configure users/accounts/abbreviated addresses (one touches) in one step, directly from the desktop; and PageScope Workware™, a simple yet powerful document management program.

Highlighted bizhub 500/420 Features:
 

• bizhub 500 offers print/copy speeds of up to 50 ppm
• bizhub 420 offers print/copy speeds of up to 42 ppm
• 175,000-impression (bizhub 500) and 150,000-impression (bizhub 420) monthly duty cycles
• bizhub OP for multifunctional productivity
• Optional embedded print controller with advanced print functionality, including PCL5e/PCL6 and PS3 emulation printing
• Advanced network scanning capabilities including Scan-to-Email, Scan-to-FTP, Scan-to-HDD, Scan-to-SMB and Network TWAIN scanning
• Rapid scanning up to 70 opm
• Konica Minolta Simitri® Polymerized Toner
• Standard duplexing
• Ability to handle up to 110-lb. index paper from the manual bypass
• 600 x 600 dpi print/copy resolution; 1,200 x 600 dpi printing and copying, when smoothing is selected
• 5,650-sheet maximum paper capacity
• 192 MB standard memory
• 40 GB optional hard drive
• Optional Super G3 analog FAX capabilities
• Advanced finishing options, including 50-sheet stapling, saddle-stitch booklet making, and two-and three-hole punching
• PageScope Software Suite