KONICA MINOLTA’S bizhub PRO 1050 RECEIVES 2005
‘MOST OUTSTANDING MULTIFUNCTIONAL IMAGING SYSTEM OF THE YEAR’ RECOGNITION FROM BUYERS LABORATORY

Konica Minolta’s bizhub MFPs Stand Out Against the Competition;
bizhub PRO 920, bizhub C450 and bizhub C250 named Fall 2005 ‘Picks of the Year’

RAMSEY, N.J. – January 24, 2006 – Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) today announced that Buyers Laboratory Inc. (BLI) has recognized the Konica Minolta bizhub PRO™ 1050 as the “Most Outstanding Multifunctional Imaging System of the Year” for 2005.  This special achievement recognition marks the first time since 2000 that BLI has given an award for product of the year. 

“Rarely has a product impressed us the way the bizhub PRO 1050 has.  Its performance was so stellar in every way — reliability, productivity, ease of use, image quality, paper-handling — that, of all the many products tested in the past year, it is the unanimous favorite of BLI’s technicians and editors,” said Daria Hoffman, BLI managing editor. 

An ideal device for production environments ranging from CRDs to quick printing to commercial printers and datacenters, BLI honored the 105 pages-per-minute (ppm) bizhub PRO 1050 for “combining exceptional performance with exceptional value” and for distinguishing itself from the field by offering “a maximum manufacturer-rated monthly volume that’s more than twice that of most competitive models in its speed range.” 

In addition, BLI recognized the bizhub PRO 1050’s suitability for production environments with its:  “exceptional paper-handling capabilities that include the highest maximum paper capacity in its class, ability to accommodate heavier paper weights from all of its drawers over competitive models, and extensive finishing options (including a saddle-stitch finisher that can fold and staple up to 50 sheets to produce 200-page booklets that can be trimmed with the included trimmer).”

“The bizhub PRO 1050 being honored with BLI’s Special Achievement Award for the ‘Most Outstanding Multifunctional Imaging System of the Year’ is a testament to the research and development efforts that were devoted to the production of this industry standard-setting device,” said Indiana Nakagawa, senior vice president, marketing and corporate planning, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, U.S.A., Inc.  “This system features groundbreaking innovations in imaging, including Konica Minolta’s Simitri® Polymerized Toner.  The first monochrome Segment 6 device to include polymerized toner, the bizhub PRO 1050 brings superior black image reproduction to production print customers who are looking for the highest quality, digital output.” 

Nakagawa continued, “We designed our 105 ppm monochrome MFP to be a highly competitive offering for the in-plant, CRD and print-for-pay markets, with the durability and capabilities of production print machines, yet delivered in a footprint and at a price point that is unbeatable.  We are proud to be recognized for the 1050 and the superior engine design, paper handling, finishing and imaging features that it has brought to the market.”

Konica Minolta Fall 2005 BLI “Picks of the Year” — bizhub PRO 920, bizhub C450 and bizhub C250

In addition to the “Most Outstanding Multifunctional Imaging System of the Year” special recognition for the bizhub PRO 1050, Konica Minolta’s bizhub PRO 920, bizhub C450 and bizhub C250 were named as Fall 2005 “Picks of the Year” in their respective categories.  Twice a year, BLI’s Pick of the Year program recognizes individual products in every product category in the office imaging marketplace that showed exemplary performance during BLI’s extensive lab testing.  In the spring of 2005, BLI recognized the bizhub and bizhub PRO line of digital imaging systems as its “2005 Product Line of the Year.” 

“Unlike industry awards that are based on survey responses or superficial reviews conducted in manufacturers’ showrooms, BLI’s awards stand alone in that they are based on rigorous laboratory testing — day in and day out for two months.  Consequently, a BLI ‘Pick of the Year’ is a hard-earned award that buyers and IT directors can trust,” said Tony Polifrone, managing director, BLI.

Konica Minolta bizhub PRO 920 – Outstanding Segment 6 Multifunctional Imaging System

Designed to combine professional production features with advanced device and workflow management functions, including speed, reliability and durability, automatic finishing, flexible scanning, and superior output quality, Konica Minolta’s 92 ppm, Segment 6 production workhorse was recognized by BLI for its advanced paper-handling and its wide range of finishing options.  Specifically, the device was noted for its ability to handle media ranging in size up to 12″ x 18″ and in weight up to 110-lb. index from both the bypass and the optional LCT. 

BLI’s reviewers also commended the bizhub PRO 920 for being “at the head of its class in print productivity,” noting that the device is the most efficient of the competitive models for producing booklets in print mode and that it displayed the highest print efficiency in both simplex and duplex mode, as well as overall copy efficiency that was the “best tested to date” in simplex mode.

In his review of the bizhub PRO 920, Pete Emory, manager of laboratory testing, BLI, praised, “Priced at $39,000 for the base unit, the bizhub PRO 920 offers well designed print drivers that make it easy to produce complex print jobs (such as printing onto tab extensions), as well as excellent multitasking capabilities.  For example, the bizhub PRO 920 allows users to program a virtually unlimited number of copy jobs, while another copy or print job is in progress.  Because of its outstanding productivity, strong reliability and very good image quality, BLI highly recommends this device to businesses needing a heavy-duty, high-volume multifunction solution.”

Konica Minolta bizhub C450 – Outstanding Full-Color Multifunctional Imaging System for General Office Applications

An ideal replacement for Segment 4 monochrome and color printers/copiers with its copy and print speeds of 45 ppm B&W and 35 ppm color, BLI honored the bizhub C450 for “demonstrating exceptional reliability, excellent multitasking, very good image quality, good productivity and competitive supplies costs; and for being an exemplary performer in its demanding two-month, 125,000-impression laboratory test.”  The bizhub C450 only misfed once during its test and required no service calls, making it a standout from the crowd with “one of the best records for reliability for color MFP products tested to date.”

Highly recommended by BLI for offices with monthly volumes up to 75,000 impressions, the high performance, high-value office MFP was also noted for its competitive price and for offering “a lower than average cost per page for color toner.”

Konica Minolta bizhub C250 – Outstanding Full-Color Multifunctional Imaging System for General Office Applications

The groundbreaking full-color, 25 ppm bizhub C250, which is attractively priced at the same level as Segment 2 monochrome machines, was praised by BLI for the “outstanding performance and value” that the device delivers to small- to medium-sized offices.  BLI also recognized the bizhub C250’s “excellent reliability,” remarking that the device completed its 75,000-impression BLI laboratory test with “no service required and just four misfeeds” and its “excellent multitasking” abilities. 

“With its standard Emperon controller, the bizhub C250 will satisfy the needs of most office users, with very good image quality and a price — the lowest among color business units — that makes it an excellent value,” Emory of BLI noted.  “BLI highly recommends the bizhub C250 for monthly volumes up to 50,000 impressions.”

About Buyers Laboratory, Inc.
For over 40 years, BLI has been the leading independent office equipment test lab and business consumer advocate.  In addition to publishing the industry’s most comprehensive and accurate test reports on office document imaging devices, each representing months of exhaustive hands-on testing in the company’s 10,000-square-foot lab, BLI has been the leading source for extensive databases of specifications and pricing on copiers, printers, fax machines and multifunctional products.  BLI has recently added Field Test Reports to provide subscribers with preliminary product assessments as soon as possible after products are introduced.  As a result, BLI is able to meet its subscribers’ needs for quick and early product reviews.  With its Buyers Alliance program, BLI also provides comprehensive purchasing support services to business consumers in the process of acquiring office equipment.  In addition, BLI provides a vast array of custom testing services, including document imaging device beta testing, print controller testing, and the testing of consumables.  BLI sells its information through its flagship web service bliQ, providing the industry with the key intelligence it needs to do business.