Ricoh expands business opportunities for offset and digital print operations with new Ricoh ProTM VC70000e

Ricoh has launched its fully automated and media versatile Ricoh Pro VC70000e high speed inkjet press in a move to support organisations in attracting new business and talent. The powerful continuous feed press offers exceptionally high quality, image driven, customised marketing, direct mail, and publishing applications.

The latest model in Ricoh’s award-winning continuous feed portfolio boasts significant upgrades to hardware, software and workflow. They support productivity and quality enhancements and the migration of analogue to digital production.

Labour shortages are becoming a universal problem in the printing industry. Ricoh is leading the development of automation tools that can greatly simplify production. The Ricoh Pro VC70000e’s software advances include production automation tools as well as business intelligence capabilities via the Ricoh Pro Scanner Option and RICOH SupervisorTM. Ricoh’s Automation Suite combines Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) benefits to simplify operation and give greater feedback upon which business decisions can be based. These applications can collect information directly from clients' workflow to drive accuracy and efficiency in production print and discover patterns that power smarter operation. The feedback loop is continuous, helping Print Service Providers (PSPs) build even stronger relationships with their clients, due to a more accurate and efficient workflow process.

German print and mailing specialist Sattler Media Group was among the first of Ricoh’s clients to deploy the Ricoh Pro Scanner Option with built in AI and Machine Learning functionality. Christian Haneke, Innovation & Solutions Manager, says: “The solution enables us to document print standards at any point in the production run for ourselves or our clients and to maintain optimal quality. It also helps to minimise setup times and improve the overall availability of the Ricoh Pro VC70000.”

High quality results are ensured on the Pro VC70000e by Ricoh’s proprietary undercoating technology. The optional undercoating process broadens the range of applications that are suitable for inkjet by further improving overall print quality with sharper detail and more vibrant colours. In addition, at a time when substrate choice is compromised by global shortages, the ability of undercoat to create a standardised print surface ensures outstanding results can be achieved on an even wider range of media. Text and line work have been sharpened, too, with new printhead developments.

The Pro VC70000e is field upgradeable and interchangeable with existing ProTM VC70000 models. This lowers barriers and costs of entry for existing continuous feed operations who want to broaden their application set. This is as a direct result of the feedback received from Ricoh’s clients.

Eef de Ridder, Vice President, Graphic Communications, Ricoh Europe, comments: “The Pro VC70000e will help clients to automate their production as well as overcome challenges they are experiencing resulting from paper supply shortages. The original Pro VC70000’s patented dryer technology opened doors to new opportunities around continuous feed inkjet quality and this new model is the next phase of our continuing evolution to deliver best-in-class inkjet innovation. This unique platform opens doors to new business opportunities by delivering high end luxury applications with next level print quality.”

The Pro VC70000e is available now in EMEA.