Ricoh SA will demonstrate production printing and workflow solutions that maximise business opportunities for graphic arts and central reproduction environments at the Africa Print Expo, taking place from 22-24 August at the Sandton Convention Centre. Production digital colour, trans-promotional, and cloud solutions are some of the trends expected to take centre stage at this years exhibition as the industry responds to technological revolution and broader socio-economic factors.
Ricoh sponsored research in the EMEA region by the Economist Intelligence Unit, the upshot of which is that six out of 10 respondents said they believe their markets will be significantly altered by 2020, and bear little resemblance to today, said Vaughan Patterson, sales manager production printing business at Ricoh SA.
Maturation of digital technologies are significantly altering the production market landscape and Patterson said that South Africas graphics arts, commercial, and enterprise printers are poised to capitalise on the business opportunities presented by this flux.
Ricoh SA will display and demonstrate a number of technologies in Hall 1, stand D9-20, including production printers consisting of the Pro C751, the Pro C901, Pro1357, the multifunctional MPW2401, and an ultra short throw projector.
Recent technologies, including digital printing and inkjet technology, have driven significant changes in just a few years for the production printing industry, said Patterson. What is certain is that there will continue to be radical changes to our industry as current technologies will be applied in different ways by businesses, their customers and their employees. For print service providers to benefit from the impact of current and future technologies, it’s essential they focus on how technology is used to add benefits to their businesses, looking beyond specifications alone.
While Ricoh supplies a range of office equipment, such as MFPs, printers and faxes, with related supplies and services, a range of mono and colour production systems for in plant, print-for-pay and commercial print markets, it also wraps business solutions around the technologies, processes and services to support complete document solutions.
Ricohs Business Driver programme is a resource of practical information and tools for production printer customers. It assists clients in marketing and sales, operations, design, and management by giving them direct access to global professionals through a single source. It helps them to maximise the value they achieve from their digital equipment, take advantage of effective sales and marketing strategies, capitalise on special offers and get access to webinars and e-learning modules.
Ricoh SA will also share its new tagline: imagine. change. which reflects its global shift towards services, also demonstrated through its expanding services portfolio for production printing, the office, and elsewhere throughout organisations. It also highlights Ricohs focus on helping clients develop their businesses.
The Africa Print Expo is a valuable local forum for us to showcase our portfolio as a committed solutions provider in the digital production printing environment, said Patterson. It is also an invaluable medium for interacting with existing and future clients.
Ricoh SA last year generated 400 leads from the exhibition and this years stand, the same size as last year at 180sqm, will reflect the new tagline: imagine. change.
Nearly 30 Ricoh professionals and specialists will demonstrate technologies, processes and business solutions to visitors and provide them with the focused attention they require.
Last year’s Africa Print Expo in the City of Gold attracted over 6 300 visitors, making it the best attended show to date. Entrance is free. For more information and to pre-register online, visit: www.africaprintexpo.com.
