During a conference call with industry analysts recently, James Fuller, product marketing manager at KYOCERA, said the company’s TASKalfa line will make its debut in the A4 color segment with the release of the TASKalfa 406ci, 356ci and 306ci series. The company also announced the expansion of their partnership with Nuance Communications, Inc., a leading provider of document imaging solutions, as well as the availability of AutoStore 7 (one of Nuance’s document capture and workflow solutions) on HyPAS-enabled MFPs.
Welcome to the World of A4, TASKalfa
The announcement of the TASKalfa 406ci, 356ci and 306ci series was the main event. “The TASKalfa 406ci series brings proven technology to an A4 footprint. This robust series offers vivid color output, scalable paper handling, finishing, and business applications to meet business needs,” said Fuller. The folks at KYOCERA said that their splash in the A4 MFP segment will be a “door opener” for dealers to gain net-new business.
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The TASKalfa 406ci, 356ci and 306ci series includes 42-, 37-, and 32-ppm models. Highlights include optional internal and external finishing, business application support, 1200 x 1200 dpi print resolution, and mobile printing capabilities.
The 406ci and 356ci come standard with a 7”, 90-degree-tiltable color TSI control panel. The control panel has the look and feel of a tablet, allowing users to swipe through pages, as well as zoom in and out via pinch and spread—which is especially handy for deployments with embedded or integrated business applications. The devices also can hold up to 3,100 sheets to support longer jobs and can color scan at speeds up to 80 ipm (images per minute). The 406ci and 356ci carry a suggested retail price of $7,505 and $6,757, respectively.
The 306ci is a scaled back version of the family. It sports an identical touchscreen UI but in a smaller form factor (4.3”), offers color output up to 32 ppm and can scan up to 40ppm. The MFP comes standard with a 600-page capacity, which can be upgraded to hold up to 3,100 pages. Just like its siblings, it delivers features aimed at optimizing workflows. It can support mobile printing and scanning, as well as business applications. KYOCERA suggests a retail price of $4,552.
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The combination of KYOCERA’s Tiered Color System (TCS) and TASKalfa 406ci series will entice cost-conscious customers who still associate color with high costs. The system provides customers with a means to monitor and control their color costs for output such as a memo with a small color logo, all the way up to a colorful brochure. According the company, the Tiered Color System capability puts customers in control of color costs by paying for the actual color used.
Expanded Partnership and AutoStore 7 Aim to Optimize Workflow
According to Michael Paris, solutions marketing manager for KYOCERA Document Solutions America (KDSA), “the KYOCERA and Nuance partnership gives KYOCERA dealers a very scalable and flexible suite of workflow optimization solutions for their customers.” The expanded partnership will include direct support from Nuance and allow device integration into many common enterprise systems. Commenting on the partnership, Michael Rich, executive vice president and general manager of Nuance Document Imaging said, “Just like KYOCERA, our goal is to help organizations of all sizes manage their documents—and the information within them—productively, securely, and profitability.” 
The release of AutoStore 7 for HyPAS-enabled MFPs continues the current trend of workflow optimization seen industry wide. AutoStore enables users to capture and convert, process, and route documents to fax, email, network folders, cloud storage, PCs, and a wide range of leading DMS and ECM solutions. Version 7 delivers enhanced security, updated routing capabilities, and unified paper and electronic forms.
According to the company, “the solution is particularly well suited for process-intensive organizations, manufacturing and distribution, financial services, as well as healthcare organizations.”
