What does it do?
This is a new flagship dry toner digital press in the Ricoh Pro C9xxx series, replacing the C9200 first seen in 2018. It is a long-SRA3 format CMYK printer built for high volumes and duty cycles, available in either 115ppm or 135ppm configurations; for the first time from Ricoh you can field upgrade from the slower configuration to the faster. It has a new print engine and significant improvements to quality, speed, automation and media range.
Ricoh followed up with the announcement of the Pro C7500, replacing the Pro C7200. This is slower than the C9500 at 75 or 95ppm, while having the same quality characteristics, but with the option of a fifth unit for extra colours or embellishments.
Heidelberg will rebadge these presses as the Versafire LP and LV, replacing its 2018 EP and EV models.
Note too that Ricoh is currently counting down to the European introduction of its B2 format sheetfed inkjet press, the Pro Z75, towards the end of this year.
When was it announced and what markets is it aimed at?
The Pro C9500 was announced at the beginning of August, with a UK introduction at Ricoh’s Print Evolution Live event in Telford at the beginning of October. The Pro C7500 announcement followed in September. Heidelberg announced its versions in late September.
Target markets for the Pro C9500 are much the same as for previous models: commercial printers that need a solid reliable performer for high monthly volumes. Tim Carter, commercial print director at Ricoh, says that the ROI will be “more aggressive” than the C9200. “Ricoh is going after litho markets with this new machine and wants to make it attractive to printers considering migrating into digital. The more cost effective it is, the quicker the migration will be.”
The C7500 is likely to appeal to commercial or inplant printers with lower volume needs, or those that would like to add value through the fifth unit’s choice of extra colours and embellishments. Current toner options are white, silver, gold, fluorescents or clear gloss.
How does it work?
Carter says that improvements to the C9500 are a mix of technical progress together with responses to requirements identified in user feedback on earlier machines, plus ideas about where markets are headed.
The core is a CMYK dry toner print engine with 2,400dpi resolution. Image quality is improved and the media handling is beefed-up for a wider range of stocks – 40-470gsm – as well as provision for longer stocks up to 960mm. Even longer banner lengths can be handled up to 1.2m if the optional Plockmatic feeder is purchased. These maximum lengths can be duplex printed, then handled at the output end by the optional Plockmatic create- trimmer. Another finishing option is the GBC Streampunch.
New fuser technology improves image quality across the full range of media. The gloss level of the toner can be adjusted to match the media, from high gloss through to matt for uncoated litho grades.
Some of the paper transfer hardware has been changed, such as a larger and harder nip drum and larger and softer transfer rollers. There is better front-to-back registration that takes different coverage (and so potentially uneven distortion) into account.
The digital front-end is still Fiery based, but on a more powerful platform. There are two options, for mid-range production and VDP requirements. Workflows supported include Ricoh’s own TotalFlow, but also third parties such as Prinect and Prinergy can be seamlessly integrated.
A new C9500 option is Auto Color Diagnosis, on-the-fly colour management that reads the characteristics of each sheet and compares it to the original ripped file. If there is a difference it automatically adjusts it for each sheet. This is particularly relevant to brands that want to avoid varying appearances.
A further option involves the new Auto Color Adjuster, an ICC profile-based system which can match appearance between different printers, even different processes such as digital-to-litho, or toner-to-inkjet.
What’s the USP?
It’s a combination of the improved features, automation and media handling together with support, according to Carter. “We are number one in the high volume sector. We take a consultative approach with customers, we have best-in-class service and post-sales support – it’s all about partnerships with our customers.”
How easy is it to use?
There is an improved 21.5in operator panel covering all printer operations.
Carter says: “We get regular feedback that users want fewer manual interventions and more and more automation. The new DFE is simplified in use and a lot more automatic. Then there is the improved automatic colour control, better feeders and paper transfer. All together, these mean that utilisation, uptime and throughput are better and require less manual intervention.”
Service and support?
Ricoh has a long-established service and support network in the UK, which incorporates training as well.
What does it cost?
The C9500 115ppm model will start at around £125,000 depending on configuration. The 135ppm model will be about £15,000 to £20,000 more, either to order from new or to field upgrade. Prices for the C7500 hadn’t been released at the time of writing.
There are click models for toner, parts and full service support.
When will it be available?
UK installations have started already, Carter says, though none have gone public at the time of writing. “We have a healthy order book for the C9500 and it’s starting with the C7500.”
SPECIFICATIONS
Colours CMYK
Resolution VCSEL 2,400x4,80dpi
Speed 115 or 135ppm
Monthly duty cycle up to 1m A4 pages
Max media size 330x960mm with option for up to 1.2m length
Media weights 40-470gsm
Media capacity 18,100 sheets total
Footprint 2.5x1m
Price from around £125,000 (115ppm), or about £140,000 to £145,000 (135ppm)
Contact Ricoh 01784 416 900 www.ricoh.co.uk
ALTERNATIVES
Canon imagePress C10010VP
Canon’s 100ppm dry toner flagship, launched in 2020. Like the somewhat faster C9500 it’s CMYK only and designed for solid throughput on a wide range of media. Automation features include ultrasonic multi-sheet feed detection, active front-to-back registration and spectrometric sensor for on-the-fly colour adjustment.
Colours CMYK
Speed 100 A4ppm
Average monthly volumes 450,000 A4 pages
Max media sizes 330x487mm with options for 762mm duplex or 1,300m simplex
Media weights 60 to 400gsm
Resolution 2,400x2,400dpi
Front-end Canon Prismasync iPR or Fiery FS400 Pro
Contact Canon UK 0844 892 0810 www.canon.co.uk
Fujifilm Revoria PC1120
Introduced into the UK market earlier this year, though it was originally intended to be showcased at the cancelled Drupa 2020.
Colours CMYK with optional fifth and sixth colours (white, clear, silver, gold, pink)
Speed 120 A4ppm for all paper weights
Recommended monthly volumes up to 475,000 A4 pages
Duty cycle up to 2.25m A4s per month
Max media sizes 330x488mm standard, option for 1,200mm long sheets
Media weights 52-400gsm
Resolution 1,200x1,200x10-bit ripping and 2,400x2,000x1-bit imaging
Price from around £150,000
Contact Fujifilm UK 01234 572000 www.fujifilm.eu
Konica Minolta AccurioPress C7100
Introduced in 2021. As with its rivals it packs more automation, better registration, longer sheet options and more finishing options than its predecessor C6100 series. The TU-510, an inline full-bleed cutting finisher introduced for the top C14000 can be specified.
Colours CMYK
Resolution 2,400x3,600 equivalent dpi
Max speed 100 A4ppm
Paper weights 52–400gsm
Max sheet sizes 330.2x487.7mm, 330.2x900mm (max duplex), 330.2x1,300mm (max simplex)
Paper capacity online 15,140 sheets
Contact Konica Minolta Europe www.konicaminolta.eu 07793 758571
Xerox Iridesse
Launched in 2018 with basically the same print engine as the Revoria, and the same fifth and six colour toner options, but different front-end options.
Colours CMYK with optional fifth and sixth colours (white, clear, silver, gold, pink)
Speed 120 A4ppm for all paper weights
Recommended monthly volumes up to 475,000 A4 pages
Duty cycle up to 2.25m A4s per month
Max media sizes 330x488mm standard, option for 1,200mm long sheets
Media weights 52-400gsm
Resolution 1,200x1,200x10-bit ripping and 2,400x2,000x1-bit imaging
Front-end Xerox EX-P 6 Print Server Powered by Fiery
Price about £180,000 with typical options
Contact Xerox UK 0870 873 4519 www.xerox.com
