KONICA MINOLTA
Konica was first to market with a high-speed color MFP in 2002. After Konica and Minolta merged, Konica Minolta began offering this product as the bizhub PRO C500. This machine has a printing speed of 50/50 ppm (BW/FC). The target market for this device was clearly the light production market. The bizhub Pro C500 is able to handle 13-inch paper, and offers peripherals like an A3 large capacity tray (LCT), a Folding unit, and Trimmer. It also offers an EFI controller and an EFI server option. This has been a popular product, especially in the U.S., and there are over 10,000 of these units in the field. As these units age, many customers may be looking to replace them and will find the C7570 very appealing with is faster speeds and enhanced finishing options.
Konica Minolta also offers a heavier model, the Bizhub PRO C5500 and C6500. These machines operate at 55/55 and 65/65 ppm, respectively. They have a large user interface, higher durability and a wider variety of options (for example, A3, bigger LCT, various folding options, and Trimmer). Konica Minolta will be focusing on the production market with this product as well. For the office market, Konica Minolta offers the bizhub C550 and bizhub C650, which operate at 55/45 ppm and 65/50ppm, respectively, and use a new mid-segment engine platform.
CANON
For a long time, Canon did not have a high-speed color product to compete with Savin, Xerox, and Konica Minolta.
Now Canon has introduced the Color iRC5185 with 51 ppm/51 ppm. This machine is geared towards the office environment, although Canon has attempted to sell it into production environments. Again, the higher speed and enhanced finishing capabilities of the C6055/C7570 will be attractive to larger offices and light production environments in a face-off against this Canon products.
Introduced in late 2006 and launched in mid-2007, Canon entered the production market with its imagePress C7000, which operates at 70/70 ppm, and has specifications and a price tag aimed at the Production customer. Canon has also OEM’d this product to Kodak for sale into the graphic arts market. The C6055/C7570 do not face off directly against this product. They are rated at different monthly volumes and advanced paper handling capabilities. But especially in light production environ- ments, the more attractive price point of the C6055/C7570 series may offer a competitive advantage.
