Panasonic Unveils Its Most Technologically Advanced Series of Color Multifunction Products.

PHILADELPHIA -- Panasonic:

High-Speed DP-C322 and DP-C262 Boast the Latest Digital Imaging
  Technology, Such as Scanning Documents Directly into Email Messages
          and Scanning and Printing Directly from an SD Card.

Panasonic introduces its new high-performance C3 Series(TM) -- connect, converge, communicate -- this week at AIIM 2005 in booth #912. The series, which is part of Panasonic's award-winning WORKiO(R) line, features two MFPs with excellent monochrome and color output that company executives say are among the most technologically advanced in their segment.

What makes the series special? Start with new technology. Panasonic's Induction Heating eliminates the need to preheat the fusing device during standby. This technology is more environment-friendly due to a faster warm-up time and minimal power consumption during operation.

Another great feature is SD card integration, which provides portability, security and integration with other equipment such as digital cameras. Users can print from an SD card by inserting it directly in the front panel of the C3 Series. Thumbnails of images stored on the SD card are displayed on the control panel, making it easy to select and print an image. Automatic contrast adjustment allows photos created on a digital camera to be automatically processed to maximize contrast for the best possible sharpness and clarity.

According to Ted LeBlanc, president of Panasonic Digital Document Company, the DP-C322 and DP-C262 are the most eagerly awaited office systems in company history. "While there are machines with some of the features of the new C3 Series, there are no machines with all their features," LeBlanc said. "The factory designed two outstanding MFPs that dramatically expand the range of applications for which MFPs are typically used."

Both models in the series have a large-sized, user-friendly, full VGA color touch-screen control panel. This feature is particularly helpful for partially sighted users. Also, it can be adjusted for wheelchair users in 15-degree increments by tilting and locking the panel in one of several downward positions.

The DP-C322 and DP-C262 copy and network-print in black and white up to 32 ppm and up to 26 ppm, respectively, and copy and print up to 21 ppm in color. The MFPs were unveiled to dealers at Panasonic's recent annual sales meeting and dealer response to the new series was overwhelmingly positive. So much so, that they set a Panasonic record for order commitments at the sales meeting.

Lou Slawetsky, president of Industry Analysts, Inc., which just finished testing the new series, said the dealers' enthusiasm is well justified. "We were particularly impressed with several features of the DP-C322 and DP-C262, such as the SD memory card interface, that are unique to color copier-MFPs in their category," Slawetsky said. "The series also features one of the best control panels we've seen. It's intuitive, in color, oversized, adjustable and easy to understand."

Slawetsky said Industry Analysts was also impressed with Panasonic's printing technology, which he rates in the top third of manufacturers. "The printing technology is outstanding, right down to the MFPs' ability to register, plus a direct paper path that doesn't loop back through the machine," a feature that Slawetsky said tremendously increases paper-feeding reliability. He added that the DP-C322 and DP-C262 are among the easiest business color devices to use, even connecting to a network.

Also newly developed is Panasonic's emulsion aggregation toner technology, which takes color output quality to new heights through the use of smaller, more uniform particles. Emulsion aggregation toner allows smoother image reproduction by reducing the roughness of the intermediate tones in photos.

The DP-C322 and DP-C262 feature a newly designed color engine that maximizes color performance. For example, Panasonic implemented intermediate transfer belt technology in the engine to create a flatter paper path. This allows effective toner image transfer and more accurate printing while minimizing misfeeds.

Consistent color, versatile scanning selections and various automatic image modes--including modes specific for tracing paper, map and newspaper--all contribute to high-quality reproduction in the DP-C322 and DP-C262.

Color quality is further enhanced by three printing modes -- Standard, Photo Quality and Enhanced -- which offer different resolutions. With a maximum resolution of 1,200 x 1,200 dpi, fine color illustrations can be printed that are very close to the originals, and with a low running cost.

With Panasonic's advanced distribution technology, the DP-C322 and DP-C262 utilize Panasonic's compressed PDF file format that can dramatically reduce color file sizes. This allows larger color documents to be sent via email more easily, and recipients can open the files using a standard PDF reader without loss of clarity or resolution.

While the DP-C322 and DP-C262 are big on performance they're not big on price, and have a lower price point than many comparable MFPs. The DP-C262 and DP-C322 carry MSRPs(1) of $11,995. and $13,495., respectively.

With its multiprotocol design, intuitive printer driver control, web-based utilities, and network printer utilities including standard PCL6 emulation and genuine Adobe PostScript3 option, the new series is well-suited to the needs of today's networked office environments. Right down to its small footprint (25.8"x32.5"x40.7") for a color MFP. (The dimensions are 41.8"x30.7"x45.1" when the automatic document feeder, document tray and bypass are added.)

The new machines can practically transform most offices into an in-house print shop just by adding the finisher option, which allows users to create full-color brochures, booklets and flyers. This option features finishing for the most common types of binding: stapling, hole-punching and saddle-stitching.

At the same time, restrictions on usage can be programmed into the DP-C322 and DP-C262. One individual, for example, might have access to color as well as monochrome printing and copying, while another employee might be restricted to monochrome.

The MFPs also maintain an audit trail of every job that is processed, allowing printing costs to be broken down by department or user. And the machines can access a company-wide address book via Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), eliminating the need to maintain a separate directory of user names and email addresses.

Other high-performance features include standard duplexing, inverting automatic document feeder and 1,150-sheet paper supply. Scanning, SuperG3 faxing, maximum 2,250-sheet paper capacity, Internet fax and support for Panasonic's Document Distribution software, which allows centralized distribution of documents and the creation of text-searchable PDF files, are optional. These standard and optional features make the new C3 Series the smart choice for any office.

ABOUT PANASONIC

In the United States, Panasonic Digital Document Company, Unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America, markets a broad line of digital imaging systems, computer peripherals and office system products designed specifically for business use. Products available include fax and Internet fax machines, digital copiers, network multifunction devices, document management systems, scanners, electronic whiteboards, color and monochrome laser printers and impact printers. Headquartered in Secaucus, NJ, Panasonic Corporation of North America is the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE:MC) of Osaka, Japan. For more information, visit http://www.panasonic.com/office.

All brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

(1) Manufacturer's suggested retail price. Resellers must decide for themselves the prices at which our products are actually advertised and sold.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

End users may obtain sales information by contacting Panasonic at 1-800-742-8086 or 201-348-7000, or by visiting http://www.panasonic.com/office. Please do not publish the editorial contact telephone number. If you wish to review this or any other Panasonic document-imaging product, please contact Chris Florentz at 215-592-8601, or at [e-mail].

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