Canon U.S.A. Introduces Four New Color Products in Four Market Categories At Seybold SF.

Business/Technology Editors

Seybold Publishing 2000

Canon U.S.A. South Hall Booth No. 701

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 29, 2000

Undisputed Leader in Color Output Goes "4-for-4" with the CLC 

5000, CLC 3100, Color imageRUNNER C2050, and BJ-W9000

Canon U.S.A., Inc. today announced the availability of four new color output devices targeted to four market categories, including the CLC 5000 for high-end production color, the CLC 3100 for entry-level production environments, the Color imageRUNNER C2050 for the corporate office, and the BJ-W9000 for wide format applications. The new products are within a long-term growth strategy of "colorization" for the Company, which has held the number one position in color copiers for the last twelve years.

"Our growth strategy of colorization will expand the use of color across market segments by leveraging the growth of Internet printing and even more powerful application software available to end users," said Tod Pike, senior vice president, Canon U.S.A. Imaging Systems Group. "The technology, features, and price/performance found in these new products set a solid foundation to build upon, while continuing to reaffirm our heritage of color leadership."

Canon CLC 5000 - High-End Production Color

The CLC 5000 is a 50 page-per-minute (ppm) color laser copier/printer utilizing four drum technology and Canon's exclusive Finer Brighter (FB) toner. With a print resolution equivalent of 800 x 400 dots-per-inch (dpi) and recommended monthly volume maximum of 200,000 impressions, the device is targeted to the production print-for-pay, corporate and graphics central reprographic department, commercial and internet printer, and service bureau.

The CLC 5000 incorporates all new document finishing capabilities for the Canon CLC line, including booklet making and trimming of paper sizes up to 12" x 18". Scan Once Print Many (SOPM) technology, stackless duplexing, and paper handling capacity up to 5,350 sheets from a total of four available sources ensure continuous operation within demanding production environments. CLC 5000 customers may choose one of two standard available paper decks, including a 4,000 letter-size sheet deck or 2,000 oversize, up to 12" x 18" sheet deck. With flexible support for up to 80 lb. cover stock, the CLC 5000 is ideally suited for producing crisp, vivid Canon color within booklets, manuals, brochures and other bound documents.

The optional Canon ColorPASS for the CLC 5000 provides network print capability. The unit will come standard at launch with a minimum or higher configuration of dual Intel Pentium 700 MHz processors, an 18.2 GB hard drive, and 512 MB of RAM memory. Canon has once again partnered with Electronics for Imaging (EFI) (NASDAQ:EFII) to develop the ColorPASS for the CLC 5000 and help establish the device as a leader in high-production color. The new ColorPASS is designed for true production environments, focusing not only on performance but also on digital workflow - offering many document editing, job management, and finishing options necessary in CLC 5000 installations. Familiar Fiery technologies such as Command Workstation, ColorWise 2, and DocBuilder Pro are standard, along with new technologies such as member printing and PowerForm.

Canon CLC 3100 - Entry Level Production Color

The CLC 3100 is a 31 ppm color laser copier/printer utilizing four drum technology, with a copy/print resolution of 400 x 400 dpi and recommended monthly volume maximum of 100,000 impressions. With support for up to 5,250 sheets the CLC 3100 supports up to 110 lb. index stock and full bleed output on 12" x 18" sheets. Like the CLC 5000, customers may choose one of two standard available paper decks, including a 4,000 letter-size sheet deck, or 2,000 ledger-size sheet deck. The optional Canon ColorPASS-Z90 and the new ColorPASS-Z70 provide network print capability for the CLC 3100.

As the direct replacement for Canon's highly successful CLC 1000, the CLC 3100 is targeted to high volume users as an aggressively priced entry-level production upgrade fully capable of handling print-for-pay, small central reprographic department, and graphics department needs.

"With the introduction of the CLC 3100 and CLC 5000, Canon color is now available to both entry-level and high-end production level users," said Mason Olds, director and general manager, Canon U.S.A., Inc. Graphic Systems Division. "Our new and existing customer base will rather easily distinguish these production models as price/performance leaders in their class with the added assurance of the Canon brand and organization behind them."

Color imageRUNNER C2050 - Corporate Office Color

The Color imageRUNNER C2050 is a 21 ppm color and black-and-white copier and/or printer device using four drum technology and Canon's spherical toner, which reduces fuser wear-and-tear while producing smooth, non-glossy, high quality output at 600 x 600 dpi and 256 gradations. The fully modular design of the Color imageRUNNER C2050 makes it possible for a customer to configure the device as a digital copier, printer, or copier/printer. All devices are targeted to the mid-high volume corporate office, bringing cost effective color to workgroups who may otherwise be outsourcing color production, or using unproductive, multiple low-volume desktop color printers.

"With the introduction of the Color imageRUNNER C2050, Canon color becomes an option under our highly successful imageRUNNER brand," continued Pike, adding "The corporate office is an area where we have seen tremendous growth with digital products, and we view colorization of output as a natural progression for many of our customers."

Capable of supporting up to 5,550 sheets, maximum paper sizes up to 12" x 18" and paper weight up to 80 lbs. cover stock, the Color imageRUNNER C2050 can be configured with high-level document finishing options, including an 18-bin stapler/sorter, a 3-bin finisher which collates and performs multi-position stapling, or a saddle-stitch finisher allowing the production of booklets.

Print configured versions of the Color imageRUNNER C2050 contain an internal color server and print controller developed by EFI with a 266 MHz processor, 6 GB hard drive, and 160 MB of RAM. Support for10/100 Ethernet connectivity to Windows, NetWare, and UNIX environments with PostScript 3 printing is also available. Device management applications, including Canon NetSpot, as well as Fiery driven technology such as Command Workstation, FieryLink, and Fiery Driver are standard.

Canon BJ-W9000 - Production Color Wide Format

The next generation Canon BJ-W9000 wide format printer offers photographic quality output in all available modes at 1200 x 600 dpi. The printer is a new market, production level solution capable of handling the needs of print-for-pay establishments, commercial printers, and in-house corporate designers.

Using a Six Head Color System (cyan, magenta, yellow, black, photo cyan, photo magenta) the device offers Canon's exclusive Microfine Droplet Technology, capable of 8 picoliter dot size for precise placement and uniformity. The result is highly detailed color images, smooth edges, more accurate mid-tones and highlights, and drastically reduced graininess. Final output rivals the traditional silver halide photographic process.

Images up to 42 inches wide can be printed using a dual roll system and wide range of media choices. Using the device print driver, the operator may choose which roll to print from, or allow the printer to automatically cascade to the second roll when the first is finished. The BJ-W9000 has the capability to print up to 92 square feet per hour through a total of 3,072 nozzles. The result is a greater discharge of ink over a larger area in less time.

The imagePASS-W20 print controller for the BJ-W9000, developed by EFI, features an Intel Celeron processor at 433 MHz, a 20 GB hard disk, and 128 MB of RAM memory. With a built-in SCSI interface, the printer supports PostScript 3 through Windows, Macintosh, and UNIX operating systems. Standard Command Workstation provides a wide range of productivity and job control tools, including tiling, nesting, previewing, auto-scale, and paneling.

Pricing and Availability

The CLC 5000 will be available in the first quarter of 2001 through authorized Canon dealers and subsidiaries at a U.S. suggested base retail price of $89,500.

The CLC 3100 will be available October 1, 2000 through authorized Canon dealers and subsidiaries at a U.S. suggested base retail price of $63,100.

The Color imageRUNNER C2050 will be available through authorized Canon dealers and subsidiaries in the first quarter of 2001.

The BJ-W9000 will be available through authorized Canon dealers and subsidiaries in the first quarter of 2001.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. is an industry leader in professional and consumer imaging solutions and, through its parent company, Canon Inc., is a top patent-holder of imaging technologies. The company's comprehensive product line includes networked multifunction devices; digital and analog copiers (color and black and white); printers, scanners, image filing systems, and facsimile machines; camcorders, cameras and lenses; and semiconductor, broadcast and medical equipment. Canon employs 12,000 people at more than 30 facilities throughout North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

All referenced product names are trademarks of their respective owners.