A few weeks ago, Buyers Laboratory LLC (BLI) announced its annual PRO awards, acknowledging the best-in-class devices in BLI’s production field tests.
BLI is the leading independent authority in the document imaging industry, and their field tests and production tests rate performance on several fields, including printing and media.
BLI’s production tests reveal the attributes that distinguish the most outstanding performers in a challenging evaluation covering productivity, image quality, media handling, ease of use and more. The tests are made in the course of several years, generating tens of millions of impressions on production devices from the leading vendors.
This year, the winning performances were delivered by models from Canon and Konica Minolta:
Konica Minolta bizhub PRO 1100
Outstanding Monochrome Light Production Device
David Sweetnam, BLI’s Director of Research and Lab Services for EMEA/Asia quoted saying:
“The Konica Minolta bizhub PRO 1100 is an ideal choice for breaking into the monochrome production printing market. The robust image quality control lets operators enhance output to meet almost any need. The device earned BLI’s 5-Star status for its ability to handle fine lines, fonts, solids and halftones under optimal settings. And with media support up to 300 gsm from all drawers, the device also offers a degree of media handling flexibility above and beyond many of its competitors.”
Canon imagePRESS C850
Outstanding Color Light Production Device
Pete Emory, BLI’s Director of U.S./Asia Research and Lab Services says:
“The Canon imagePRESS C850 delivers outstanding image quality and powerful job management capabilities in a small footprint. Image quality was equally outstanding on coated and uncoated stocks, and even with textured paper and envelopes. The device earned BLI’s 5-Star status for fine line production. Color calibration, especially when using the PRISMAsync controller with in-RIP G7 calibration, is straightforward, making it easy to maintain that high level of quality over longer runs. And with simple procedures for programming media types, creating automated workflows and submitting jobs, the imagePRESS C850 promises to keep operators productive throughout the day.”