By Lucy Feyrer
Part 2 of 2
While we discussed the benefits of mobile applications (apps) in the first part in the series, it is important to note that as beneficial as this feature may be in the CAD, AEC, and GIS space; for a fine art printer or design house working with a wide format scanner, a mobile app may not be the best option. “Design work is executed on company premises, so the link between scanning and mobile apps is less prominent. In this environment, it is more natural to store scanned documents in shared folders, send them directly via email, or store them in thumb drives for later use,” says Alex Moñino, worldwide marketing director, Designjet large format printers, Hewlett-Packard (HP).
In the second part of this series we profile some of the newest wide format—24 inches or wider—scanners available. Some of them offer mobile apps for managing jobs, while others are suited for the fine art and design side of the spectrum.
Canon Solutions America offers several wide format monochrome and color scanning solutions. The most recent additions are the Océ TC4 and Océ TC4XT scanners. The first scans documents up to a thickness of .12 inches, whereas the TC4XT is for thicknesses up to .60 inches. Both are fully upgradeable to Océ TDS450, Océ TDS700, or Océ TCS500 multifunction systems or to a multi-printer configuration driving up to three Océ print engines with the help of an Océ Multi-Printer Connectivity Kit.
Colortrac’s newest scanners, available through Paradigm Imaging Group, include the SmartLF SG. It is designed to offer high-fidelity color reproduction for large format documents. It is specifically developed for scanning and reprographics service professionals, electronic document capture, and high-end technical imaging with AEC, CAD, mapping, and GIS. The new SmartLF SC Xpress Series is equipped with SingleSensor technology to provide quick scans of technical documents and maps. Additionally, the company released Professional MFP Solutions. Available in three sizes, 25-, 36-, and 42-inch widths, these are ideal for copying large format technical documents at fast speeds.
Contex Americas recently released the ScanStation, which ranges from $12,000 to $19,000. It comes equipped with an HD Ultra i4250s, HD Ultra i4290s, IQ Quattro 4450, IQ Quattro 4490, or HD 5450 scanner, in addition to an all-in-one controller with Intel Core i7 processor and 21.5-inch multi-touch screen functionality. ScanStation features REimage technology, which allows a user to return to a scan’s raw data to capture specific content. This eliminates the need to rescan documents.
HP announced the HP Designjet HD Pro in June 2014. It is available at a list price of $17,000. Using CCD technology, the scanner offers ideal color accuracy and is customized for seamless integration with HP Designjet printers. When combined with a printer, the system offers a single interface for maintenance and support. Last Fall, HP introduced the HP Designjet SD Pro. It is listed at approximately $10,500. It is designed for high productivity of fast and detailed document reproduction. It scans to email, USB, and network drives.
KIP offers the KIP 2300 monochrome and color scanner, with direct connection support for inkjet printers. It scans at speeds up to 60 feet per minute (fpm) in monochrome and 30 fpm in color. Additionally, the KIP 720 large format scanner is a 24-bit, 36-inch, full-color image capture system ideal for processing photographs, complex maps, and AEC/ CAD drawings.
Newly Corp. continues to promote its Scanera TopFace PRO—which it introduced to the market in 2010. Available at $89,000, the scanner can scan flat and three-dimensional objects, producing high-resolution images at 130 million pixels at 23×33-inch output. It ideal for scanning menus and catalogs; a four-inch tall object capacity accommodates food, framed artwork, and clothing.
Wide format scanners serve a range of markets. Depending on the need, a mobile app might benefit the user. Other times, a more hands-on approach is required. In either scenario, today’s technology is equipped to handle it all.
Click here to read part one of this exclusive online series, Scanners on Wheels.
Click on the link above to get more information on the vendors mentioned in this article.
Feb2015, Digital Output DOSC1502
