When you think of leading technology companies, IBM never strays too far from your line of thought. Consistently one of the top ten information technology companies in the world, it’s also one of the oldest. IBM was founded in 1911 under the name Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company, taking on its more recognizable moniker in 1924.
IBM’s reputation for innovation is unparalleled in the industry too. Over the years, the company has invented the personal computer, floppy disks and hard disks. It also drew from almost a century of business experience to create a thriving printing division that, at one point, generated $1 billion in revenue each year.
However, 2007 brought about a big change for the company. It was in this year that IBM entered into a joint venture with Ricoh. The latter began operating as a printing subsidiary for IBM, taking all responsibility for the company’s printers. Today, Ricoh has full control over IBM’s former printing division.
Home and Office Printing
The switch to Ricoh proved beneficial because the company was able to place its full focus on printing, whereas IBM has multiple business interests to split its work between.
Since 2007, Ricoh has focused primarily on the production of multifunction printers for the home, in addition to industrial printing solutions. It’s B&W (Black and White) series of printers stand out, with the MP 6503 offering plenty of features that cover the needs of any office.
In addition to being capable of printing over 60 pages per minute, the printer can hold 4,300 pieces of paper. It also works as a scanner and copier, hitting speeds that most rival companies’ printers can only dream of.
Its Workstyle Innovation Technology (WIT), which it builds into the majority of its modern printers, also shows that Ricoh can adapt to the demands of a modern market. WIT allows Ricoh’s printers to access the cloud and ensures printer users can access their printer from anywhere in the world. The RICOH Smart Device Connector helps with this, allowing people to remotely send print jobs from anywhere that has an internet connection.
Offering Industrial Solutions
Beyond its home and office printers, Ricoh has developed a range of industrial printers that have several uses. For example, its Ri 6000 garment printer can print a pattern onto a t-shirt in less than 60 seconds. Using water-based ink, it’s an ideal choice for small business owners and fashion designers.
Beyond this, the company offers wide format printers that are suitable for graphic designers, as well as its Cutsheet range of digital presses.
Much like with its home and office printers, Ricoh focus on delivering speed and quality with its industrial solutions.
A Multi-Award Winning Company
Ricoh’s dedication to the quality of its own products is only matched by its dedication to corporate social responsibility.
It’s a multi-time winner of the Energy Star Partner of the Year Award. In fact, every multifunction printer that it produces today carries the Energy Star certification.
Ricoh has also committed to the hiring of military veterans. It received the Coalition for Government Procurement’s Best Veteran Hiring Award in recognition of its hiring practices and efforts to reach out to veterans in local communities.
However, the most relevant to its customers is its Gold Qualtrics 2017 Insights to Action (I2A) Award. Ricoh received this honor in recognition of its work with customers, with particular focus on the data it collects and uses to develop new product offerings.
Do You Need Ricoh or IBM Printing Supplies
Both Ricoh and IBM have reputations for innovation, with Ricoh continuing this with its range of fast modern printers. However, many people still use legacy IBM printers due to their robust nature. If you need supplies for printers from either company, please take a look at our catalog.