Sharp Wins BLI‘s 2009 MFP “Line of the Year” Award
12/18/09
December 4 - Hackensack (NJ) – 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 once again receive this award,” said Mike Marusic, Vice President of Marketing and Service, Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America.” “We believe it to be the result of our continued focus on where the market is heading, not just where it is today. In doing so we work closely with end users to understand their needs and where their business is moving, and then design products that will help them work more efficiently and ultimately improve their bottom line. The result is our award winning line of MFPs–from A4 to production class–that are customizable, easy to operate, secure and reliable.”
Heil, Urben and VanArk named in Leadership Green Bay’s “25 people from 25 years”
8/03/09
Leadership Green Bay celebrates 25 years with video
Leadership Green Bay is commemorating its 25th anniversary through a video which honors 25 people who have been instrumental to the success of the program. Alumni from Leadership Green Bay chose a list of people then voted for the 25. From there, people who worked with the honoree or were in the same class spoke about the talents and gifts the person gave to Leadership Green Bay.
The video is accessible at www.titletown.org (Chamber programs-Leadership Green Bay).
40 People Under 40 You Should Know
2/16/09
To honor the most promising and business savvy of the younger set, The BBJ unveils its “40 under 40 people you should know” for 2009.
These forty remain true to the original concept of the “people you should know” in that they are compelling, interesting and amazing people who deserve recognition. These people are admired for their work ethic, drive, dedication, commitment to what they believe in and for having that energized “aura” about them. These individuals you classify as special- people you really want to know, network with and are proud to have represent the Greater Green Bay Community.
We’re pleased to announce and honor Advantage Office Solutions’ own, Heather Heil, as one of these “40 People under 40 you Should Know.”
Chambers members may know Heather Heil, 30, for her ongoing work with Leadership Green Bay (LGB). Heather Graduated LGB in 2007 and has been the driving force behind the newly formed Alumni group.
Likewise, it was a chamber event that led Heather to create www.greenbaylocalmotive.com, a site that promotes buying local. She conceived the project after attending a Café discussion on vibrancy in Green Bay. Heather was shocked that people didn’t realize how much Green Bay has to offer.
“If we’re living here and we don’t know about these businesses, how are we supposed to drive traffic? She says. “People may not realize it but buying local keep more money in our community and builds a strong local economy.”
Heather also helped spearhead the Fire and Iron Motorcycle’s club annual Ride to Remember. The event has raised $60,000 for the Jerry Parins Cancer Foundation, The Wisconsin Alliance for Fire Safety’s Burn Camp for Children and The Downtown Green bay Security Initiative.
As director of Customer relations for Advantage Office Solutions Inc., Heather comes from a team of strong community activist. “Without my employer, none of this would be possible, “she says. “They have completely empowered me to be a community advocate and socially responsible.”
Environmental Leadership
5/20/08
As part of our commitment to preserving the environment and reducing landfill waste, Sharp offers our customers a Toner Recycling Program for all Sharp Copier and MFP cartridges.
We encourage Sharp customers to recycle by providing a pre-paid UPS shipping label for the return of all used toner cartridges.
In addition, to facilitate bulk shipments and in order to help conserve resources and reduce energy use, Sharp provides a toner cartridge-shipping carton. This carton can be conveniently placed in the customer’s mailroom or near the copier for easy collection and shipment of up to 10 used cartridges.
Please visit www.sharpusa.com/recycle to learn more about the recycling program.
SHARP wins “Evergreen Award” from U.S. General Services Administration
3/12/08
In recognition of outstanding environmental practices and a commitment to a sustainable future, Sharp Electronics Corporation has been honored with the “Evergreen Award” from the U.S. Government’s General Services Administration, in the category of Technologies and Electronics. The Evergreen Award is granted to the government contractor that actively demonstrates the highest overall commitment to environmentally sound manufacturing and operating procedures. Sharp was one of only three companies awarded this year, as top environmentally conscientious business partners for their efforts in recycling, affirmative procurement and waste reduction.
Sharp’s copiers and printers are among the industries most energy efficient and all current models are energy star qualified. Sharp’s High-speed copier and printer products deliver energy efficiency and savings through external heat fusing technology that employs an external system to heat thin-walled steel fusing rollers. Sharp has further reduced waste by switching to reusable airbags for its packaging materials. As well, Sharp has eliminated the use of polystyrene as a packaging material for all products under 11lbs., and all service and owner’s manuals are printed on recycled paper.
Advantage Office Solutions, Inc. Named 2007 Business of the Year!
2/29/08
Advantage Office Solutions, Inc. Was recognized as the “John and Meredith Rose Business Award and community Involvement and Leadership” recipient at the 2008 Leadership Green Bay Annual All Class Breakfast on Valentines Day.
The honor was bestowed to the company because of exemplified standards of commitment and leadership. Under the direction of Sham and Paul, AOS has largely supported Leadership Green Bay through not only Sponsorships, donated items, and sending their leadership through the program, but by continuing to support the program after they’ve finished. Advantage has four graduates of the program who are all either Chairs or Vice Chairs (Sham, Gregg, Heather H. and Eric) who continually boost the Alumni.
Outstanding Achievement Award- The MX Series
1/25/07
5 star across the entire Color MFP line!!
Sharp, having the unprecedented status of being the first manufacturer to achieve ‘5-star Exceptional’ status across the entire color MFP line-up, is being recognized with BERTL’s prestigious Outstanding Achievement award. With the introduction of its departmental MX-550N/620N/700N series, Sharp has rounded out its office color MFP portfolio from 22ppm to 70ppm, all within an impressive 12-month time frame. Sharp’s design philosophy of applying user friendly, unified, open architecture device backbone across the entire range, coupled with versatile and flexible feature set is highly deserving of this critical acclaim by BERTL”S team of analyst.
www.berrl.com
