Page 24 - Print 21 Magazine Jul-Aug 2020

Digital Printing
Ricoh launches new
entry-level digital colour printer
Imaging giant Ricoh is launching the Pro C5300s, a new entry-level digital colour printer. It draws much of its technology from its well-established big brothers, reports Wayne Robinson.
Ricoh is targeting commercial printers, copy shops and franchises with its new Pro C5300s digital colour print
system. The company is pitching it as an entry-level printer, but with the functionality of its high-end siblings.
The new Pro C5300s supersedes the 5200 but is a different animal altogether. The 5200 was aimed mainly at the in-plant market.
But the new model caters for that and has commercial graphic arts capabilities thanks to its feeder, consistent image quality, and inline finishing options.
Henryk Kraszewski, product marketing manager at Ricoh, says, “The new printer is the same compact size, but has commercial functionality. Ease of use means it will appeal to print business owners who want to have real flexibility of product, who want to be able to produce a wide range of printed jobs inline, with minimal operator skillsets.
“The new 5300 S will produce everything from regular brochures – saddle stitched and folded – to 1.26-metre banners, to envelopes and NCR sets. It is a real workhorse for any print business, but at an entry-level price.”
In fact, the price of the engine itself remains unchanged from
the previous model, with final investment figure depending on the options taken.
Kraszewski says, “Its compact design, its print quality and its versatility of substrate mean it is a significant step up, and well suited to commercial applications. It still has all the connectivity of the previous model.”
New to the format is the vacuum feed table found on the Pro C7200
24 Print21 JULY/AUGUST 2020
Entry level: Ricoh Pro C5300s
and Pro C9200 models, which come with mechanical registration beloved of printers everywhere. It will print on stock up to 360gsm, with no loss of rated speed for anything up to 250gsm. Stocks include synthetic and textile papers. It prints duplex at the same speed.
Key benefits of the enhanced system include high image quality, with Ricoh 2400 x 4800dpi VCSL technology, and new gloss control to address different image output demands. It has high productivity with a speed of up to 80ppm and a monthly duty cycle of 450,000. The vacuum feed large-capacity tray supports a wide range of substrates.
There is improved front-to-back registration, due to a new paper
pass control system, and there are mechanical registration controls. The new Pro C5300s comes with wider variety of post-press capabilities, enabling responsive service delivery, supported by peripherals, including
an enhanced booklet finisher capable
of 30-sheet booklet production at 80gsm. Versatile end-to-end production is further aided by its high capacity stacker and efficient fore-edge trimmer.
The Pro C5300 incorporates a 10-inch touch-screen colour panel for what Ricoh says is fast and easy set-up, and uptime is maximised with simple-to-change operator replaceable units (ORUs).
As quick copy shops and franchises
in particular see a decrease in skillsets among staff, the ease of use is a key factor in the Pro C5300s.
Kraszewski says, “Having an entry- level press that is capable of producing such a rich variety of work, but with ease of operation, is testimony to
the great work of the Ricoh research and development teams. They think through everything so carefully.”
For print businesses that need
a special colour capability, Ricoh
has the Pro C7200. For the million- sheets-per-month operations there
is the Pro C9200. Ricoh first entered the commercial print market at drupa in 2008. Since then, it has become
a key player in the digital cutsheet space. In fact, its printers are sold by Heidelberg around the world. The toner-based systems are just part
of its portfolio, which includes the high-speed inkjet web VC70000, and the new flatbed roll to roll and direct to garment digital inkjet UV printers that we saw at PrintEx last year.
Kraszewski says, “Every part of the Pro C5300s is manufactured by Ricoh, in common with its bigger brothers, and the Ricoh inkjet machines. This gives us complete control over quality, compatibility and supply, the whole system is in our hands.”
The Pro C5300s is now available in Australia and New Zealand, and with its pedigree, functionality and versatility is sure to be on every printer’s shortlist. 21