BLI Lab Spotlight: Printers and Scanners

With Picks fast approaching, BLI’s Lab is abuzz with document imaging devices from the top OEMs. To keep you abreast of the latest news, we chose two product categories to highlight. So, here’s a roundup of the latest group of printers and scanners submitted for BLI lab testing.

Scanner activity in BLI’s lab has remained constant over the past months, with models undergoing in-depth testing over a period of two weeks per device. Here’s a quick look at the latest round of scanners currently finishing up testing.  The Epson and Brother models include scan-to-cloud functionality (to such services as SharePoint, Evernote, Google Drive, etc.), while the ibml model is the most robust desktop scanner tested by BLI to date.

• Epson WorkForce DS-7500: Windows and Mac compatible, includes an ultrasonic double-feed detector (automatically stops the scan job if two pages feed together), and offers support for a variety of file formats (searchable PDF, PDF, PDF-A or jpeg).
• Epson WorkForce DS-520: Windows and Mac compatible, includes three sets of rollers for dynamic skew correction,  ultrasonic double-feed detection to prevent paper jams, scan to searchable PDF and automatic paper size detection.
• Brother ImageCenter ADS-2500We: Includes wireless and Ethernet network connectivity and a 3.7" color touchscreen display.
• ibml ImageTracDS 1085: Includes dual output trays—a first for desktop production scanners, standard and optional imprinters, left-justified feeding and a host of proprietary software options.

And because testing occurs on a rolling basis throughout the year, BLI analysts never stop seeking out the newest scanners to put through their paces. Our team of experts has already secured commitments for additional test units for later this summer. Some of the new models on the way or just arriving in our lab include the Brother PDS-5000 and PDS-6000, Canon imageFORMULA DR-C240 and Kodak Alaris Scan Station 710. The PDS-5000 and PDS-6000 are the fastest models from Brother’s line of scanners, while the Scan Station 710 is Kodak’s fastest network scanner. Be sure to check bliQ for preliminary data as it becomes available.

The printer side of the lab is jam-packed with an avalanche of devices that just arrived in hopes of being the next Pick award winners in their respective printer categories.

• HP Color LaserJet Pro M252dw printer/M277dw MFP: A 19-ppm small workgroup color laser printer and sister MFP that offer faster first-print times and significantly smaller footprints than the previous generation models; they also support direct printing of MS Office files(Word, PPT, XLS) from USB Flash drives. BLI’s preliminary productivity testing shows that first-print times for both models are faster than nearly all competitors tested to date.
• HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M553x: A 40-ppm mid-size to large workgroup color printer that offers faster warm-up times than previous generation models and uses ColorSphere 3 toner for better color output; it also supports direct printing of MS Office files from USB Flash drives. In BLI’s testing, first-print times for three of the four file types used in testing were the fastest of comparable models tested to date.
• HP LaserJet Enterprise M604dn/M605x/M606x: Mid- to high-volume workgroup monochrome laser printers with rated speeds of 52, 58 and 65 ppm. These models offer faster speeds than the previous generation models and a redesigned control panel that remains visible, even when the unit is opened up for maintenance tasks (this lets the user see instructions while changing toner or removing misfeeds).
• OKI B432dn printer/MB492 MFP and OKI B412dn printer/MB472w MFP: Small to mid-size workgroup monochrome printers and MFPs offering standard automatic duplexing, a two-piece consumable design and rated speeds of 42 ppm and 35 ppm.
• Ricoh SP 4510DN printer/SP 4510SF MFP: 42-ppm monochrome workgroup printer and MFP that include automatic duplexing, standard Data Overwrite Security System to wipe data from the hard drive after printing and offer support for the Ricoh Smart Device Mobile Print&Scan app. The MFP can be upgraded to include the Ricoh Integrated Cloud Environment (ICE), which adds support for printing from/scanning to cloud repositories, while the printer includes an ECO-Night sensor that powers down the device when the lights are turned off.
• Ricoh SP 4520DN: 42-ppm monochrome desktop printer with an ECO-Night sensor and advanced security including HDD encryption and Ricoh’s DOSS, as well as a customizable touchscreen interface to simplify menu navigation.

Head over to bliQ for a peek at the productivity test data and watch for our in-depth lab reports in the coming months on these and many other products.