Press Releases

Sharp Earn Fall 2009 BLI “Picks"

December 14, 2009 - Hong Kong – Buyers Laboratory Inc. (BLI), the world’s leading independent evaluator of document imaging products and solutions, today announced its Fall 2009 “Pick” awards honoring outstanding A3/Ledger-size MFPs from Sharp. BLI’s semi-annual “Pick” awards are given to the hardware and software offerings that measure up as the best in BLI’s comprehensive evaluations, which assess a wide range of the most important features and performance factors for buyers.

The Fall 2009 Sharp Electronics Copier MFP “Pick” winners are:

Sharp’s MX Monochrome Series Earns Honors

Earning high marks in nearly every aspect of testing, all four models in Sharp’s MX Monochrome Series have earned Fall 2009 BLI “Picks” in their respective speed ranges.

The four models—the 28-ppm MX-M283N, 36-ppm MX-M363N, 45-ppm MX-M453N and 50-ppm MX-M503N—demonstrated outstanding reliability in BLI’s durability testing and offer very good multitasking capabilities. They earned high marks in all aspects of connectivity as well.

The models also offer a host of innovative features that helped Sharp earn a 2008 BLI “Outstanding Achievement Award.” Most notable is the industry-first standard retractable QWERTY keyboard. Because it makes it easier for users to enter index data, the QWERTY keyboard helps to make these Sharp devices more functional with integrated software applications, while also making documents easier to retrieve later. The models also feature a high-resolution color touch-screen display that is customizable to allow commonly used features to be placed on the main screen for each function, as well as the third-generation of Sharp OSA (Open Systems Architecture) so that they can be configured to integrate with customers’ document management and other types of applications to automate workflow.

"We are again very honored to be selected by BLI to receive the above pick of the year awards. We are continuing to manufacturer products that exceed all expectations and raises an already high benchmark" said Jan Nicol, Managing Director of Sharp Corporation of New Zealand.
 
"The MXM283N, MXM363N, MXM453N and MXM503N are stepped up performers with color network scanning delivering upgraded functions, low energy consumption and reliable data protection".

Sharp Wins BLI‘s 2009 MFP “Line of the Year” Award

December 9, 2009 – Hong Kong – Buyers Lab, the leading global provider of information and testing services to the digital imaging industry, today announced the winner of its most coveted “Line of the Year” award, with Sharp receiving the honors for the second time in the last three years.

BLI‘s “Line of the Year” is awarded once a year to the vendor whose product line is determined to be the best overall based on its cumulative test results in BLI‘s rigorous two-month laboratory evaluation. Among the many factors considered are reliability, image quality, productivity, ease of use, scanning, a host of connectivity attributes and overall value. Also considered is the breadth of each vendor's line.

Innovation, Innovation, Innovation

“Time and again, Sharp is able to respond to the market‘s changing needs and opportunities in a more dynamic manner than many of its competitors,” said BLI Assignments Editor George Mikolay. “This in turn helps them to bring to market the application answers that create a clear level of differentiation from its competitors.”

Indeed, last year Sharp became the first of the traditional copier vendors to launch workgroup-level A4/letter MFPs that like copiers feature separate drums, developer and toner. These are the BLI highly-recommended MX-B401 and MX/DX-C401, along with the MX/DX-C311, a Spring 2009 BLI “Pick.”

With the launch of these A4 models, Sharp not only offers both A3 and A4 products, but also A4 products that meet the differing service requirements of various kinds of customers. For example, MX versions sold through the traditional dealer channel provide replacement of consumables via service, while DX models sold through the reseller channel are for those customers who prefer a more printer-like service model where they change consumables themselves.

“While all the dynamics driving change may not be clear, what is clear is that dealers must expand their business model beyond focusing exclusively on selling higher-priced ledger/A3 hardware,” said BLI Managing Editor Daria Hoffman. “With A4 MFPs that are just as robust as traditional A3 MFPs in this important segment, Sharp has a leg up on many of its competitors.”

Sharp‘s A3 models also offer a host of innovative features that helped the company earn a 2008 BLI “Outstanding Achievement Award.” Most notable is the industry-first standard retractable QWERTY keyboard. Because it makes it easier for users to enter index data, the QWERTY keyboard helps to make these Sharp devices more functional with integrated software applications. The models also feature the third generation of Sharp OSA (Open Systems Architecture) so that they can be configured to integrate with customers‘ document management and other types of applications to automate workflow.

Casting A Wide Net Around A3 Hardware

This year, Sharp‘s A3 MFPs have earned eight “Picks,” covering the entire spectrum of color and monochrome from 26 to 50 pages per minute. In fact, at 17, Sharp‘s current A3 “Picks” number more than any other copier vendor.

Common among the “Pick” winners is the same outstanding combination of high reliability and above average ratings for all aspects of connectivity, including feedback to workstations, administrative utilities, and print drivers. Ease of use is also very good, thanks in part to a high-resolution color touch-screen display that is customizable to allow commonly used features to be placed on the main screen for each function.

Also distinguishing Sharp‘s A3 devices from the competition are their exceptional scanning capabilities. For example, Sharp‘s ImageSEND function combines scanning, faxing, Internet faxing, FTP scanning and scan to desktop under one tab. In comparison, some competing models require programming multiple jobs to send the same documents to different destinations, requiring many more steps. Sharpdesk is also a favorite among BLI technicians for its ease of use and excellent results for OCR. The vast majority of Sharp‘s “Pick” winners also feature dual-head scanning, which leads to less wear and tear, less chance for misfeeds and quicker scan speeds.

Sharp‘s devices also set the benchmark for programming LDAP destinations. “While other vendors‘ MFPs enable users to program destinations via LDAP at the device, Sharp enables LDAP searches not only from the control panel but also remotely via the embedded Web utility,” said BLI Manager of Laboratory Testing Pete Emory.

“We are honored to be again awarded the Line of the Year Award”, said Jan Nicol, Managing Director of Sharp Corporation of New Zealand.  ” Through a combination of a forward thinking approach and dedication to the needs of our end users, Sharp continues to design products which are customer focused and provide document solutions to our clients that increase productivity and value.  We are in a fortunate position to be able to offer our clients an award winning line of MFP’s that are customizable, easy to operate, secure and reliable."