PFU Limited, a Ricoh group company, has launched three new professional scanners, RICOH fi-8600, fi-8700S and fi-8700, designed to speed up the digitization of large volumes of documents, including old, fragile or damaged documents that require particularly careful handling to avoid damage during the process.
The new equipment combines high scanning speed with advanced paper protection technologies and software that improves image quality and automates data capture. The range is especially aimed at historical archives, healthcare centers and organizations that need to process documentation of different sizes, formats and states of conservation.
Intelligent and flexible processing
The fi-8700S and fi-8700 feature an A3 flatbed along with an automatic document feeder (ADF), allowing you to scan large quantities of originals in batches and immediately turn to glass when you find a broken or extremely fragile document, without having to change equipment.
“Organizations do not usually have difficulties with conventional documents, but with those that, due to their characteristics, slow down processes, increase costs and force them to resort to manual solutions,” says Yasunari Shimizu, president and CEO of PFU (EMEA) Limited. “In the era of artificial intelligence, digitizing and reliably capturing physical documents is a fundamental starting point to streamline processes.”
Digitize without putting the originals at risk
One of the main challenges for historical archives, libraries and documentation centers is to preserve their collections while they advance in their digitization. Aged, torn or damaged papers require special treatment to prevent damage during handling.
To meet this need, the fi-8700S and fi-8700 combine batch scanning with individual scanning of delicate originals using its A3 flatbed, capable of capturing an A4 document in just 0.6 seconds.
In addition, its automatic feeders can move laterally and rotate 180 degrees, making it easy to insert documents from both sides. Intelligent Sonic Paper Protection and Lag Detection technologies help prevent feeding incidents and protect originals.
This versatility is also especially useful in the healthcare field, where the same file can bring together electrocardiograms of several meters, analyzes of different pages and clinical records with documents of multiple formats.
Speed and efficiency
The new range allows this documentation to be processed within the same workflow, supporting weights between 20 and 413 g/m² and documents up to 5,588 mm in length using compatible feeding systems.
With a 300-sheet automatic feeder, the fi-8600 and fi-8700 reach speeds of up to 100 pages per minute and 200 images per minute, while the fi-8700S offers up to 75 pages per minute in simplex scanning.
The use of the flat surface is not at odds with efficiency in capturing, so they incorporate functions such as Timer Scan, to perform automatic captures at established intervals, and Multi-Crop, which allows several elements to be digitized simultaneously and saved as independent files.
All three models are compatible with PFU’s PaperStream software, which improves image quality and facilitates information extraction, validation and processing.
Document management
PaperStream IP optimizes images for optical character recognition (OCR), while PaperStream Capture allows you to scan documents in batches, automatically separate them, and extract information from printed text and barcodes. For its part, PaperStream Capture Pro Premium incorporates advanced data extraction and validation functions.
«Document digitization is not only about converting paper into digital files, but about making the information available and can be used in business processes. For many organizations, the challenge is managing large volumes of documents of different natures, some especially delicate, without requiring more time, errors or manual tasks. Having solutions that adapt to the characteristics of each original is essential to improve efficiency,” says Jesús Cabañas, Regional Manager of PFU Iberia.
All three models are compatible with PFU’s PaperStream software, which improves image quality and facilitates extraction
LAN connectivity and support for PaperStream Central Admin allow you to centrally manage devices, perform remote updates, and monitor operation.
In this way, PFU offers a solution that combines speed, flexibility and protection of the originals to respond to the digitization needs of historical archives, healthcare centers and organizations that manage complex documentation.
The three models of Ricoh fi scanners are now available for sale at the following recommended price:
- RICOH fi-8700 MSRP: €9,229
- RICOH fi-8700S MSRP: €3,819
- RICOH fi-8600 MSRP: €5,516
