XEROX IS FIGHTING TO REGAIN GROUND lost to Ricoh and Konica Minolta with the launch of the Versant 2100, a four colour 100ppm toner press. The press will replace the ageing DC8080, the last of the DocuColor family tree, fitting between the J75 and Color80/100 presses.
“The DC8080 has had its day, that has long gone,” says Chris Irick. “Our customers have had to make trade offs because of this.”
LIKE THE XEROX MACHINES THAT sit above and below it, the Versant 2100 uses a FujiXerox developed print engine, and employ a VCSEL laser, like those that Ricoh and KM use. This provides imaging at 2400dpi though with a 1200 x1200dpi rendering engine. Xerox is also using a new low gloss EA toner, and technologies switched from the more powerful presses to provide better colour control, back to back registration accuracy and consistency of image placement.
There are three options on the front end, a Xerox FreeFlow Print Server which will network the Versant to the rest of the Xerox print portfolio; and two Fiery Rips, the EX2100 and the EX-P2100 which offers 40% more performance for customers handling more complex applications. Both are also delivering 10 bit colour rather than 8 bit, which achieves greater colour precision.
THE PRESS INCORPORATES FEATURES to extend paper handling, running at the full 100ppm from 52gsm to 300gsm and slowing to its 80ppm to its maximum speed of 80ppm, thanks to a new design of belt fuser. Running four colour on one side, and black on the reverse, will operate at 90% of full throughput. It will also run a greater range of substrates, from textured materials to plastics.
Xerox is working on developing a media library, which will be available through the digital front ends and is allowing users to create their own substrate profiles. The Versant 2100 comes with five paper trays with the ability to feed paper by hand. there is also a choice of finishing systems, including GBC punch, Plockmatic booklet maker and Horizon trimmer to deliver completed booklets in line. With a link through the Freeflow server to XMPIe StoreFlow for web to print portals, Xerox is enabling a hands off production process.
WHILE THE VERSANT REPLACES THE DC8080, Xerox still retains the 560/570 as its entry to production printing, the C75, then the new press, Colour800/1000, iGen4 and iGen1150. It raises questions of over complexity and whether one machine cannibalises sales of presses either side of it.
“We believe the colour market is growing in volume. Production colour growth is happening as new technology expands the types of jobs that commercial printers can bring in,” says Irick. “We are delivering lower price points than three or fine years ago.”
THIS IS BORN OUT BY XEROX’S RESULTS for Q1. Revenue in the document technology division is down 4%, and it reports a big jump in installations in the production colour sector. Colour pages produced are 8% up, while overall digital pages are 3% lower than at the same point in 2013. And the company adds that revenue from colour pages is flat, despite the increase in volume.
The pricing for the Versant 2100 is not being disclosed, but will be competitive in the market sector. Orders will be accepted from July. The machine will come up against the Konica Minolta C1100 which was launched at Ipex and any new Ricoh machine that may be introduced later this year. Canon is also active in the sector, though its C7010 engine is now the oldest on the market.
