Selecting the right production press for your business is essential for boosting operational efficiency and enhancing your adaptability in a competitive market. But, how do you know which brand to select for your in-plant production shop? Some people love Konica Minolta, or Canon, or Ricoh – while some people might tell you the exact opposite. The right press is the one that will move the needle for your business’ print quality, workflow, and overall productivity.
As the largest privately-owned managed print provider across the US, we are often asked for our opinion between production print devices. We pride ourselves in serving as thought-leaders in our industry, so we decided to compare three popular production print devices of comparable quality. Because we are brand-neutral provider, we can provide our recommendations free of any brand loyalty bias.
In this piece, we present a detailed comparison of three popular options in the digital production press market: the Konica Minolta AccurioPress C7100, the Canon imagePRESS V1000, and the Ricoh Pro C7210 Series - using data collected from bliQ - a third-party research firm offering the most comprehensive source of independent research and data in the industry.
Printer Terms for You Know:
- DPI - "dots per inch," a measure of print resolution that quantifies how many individual dots of ink or toner a printer can produce within a one-inch span. The higher the DPI, the more detailed and crisp the printed image will be.
- GSM - "grams per square meter," a measurement of paper weight. It indicates the density of the paper, with higher GSM numbers representing thicker and heavier paper. For example, standard office paper is usually around 80-90 gsm, while cardstock can range from 200 to 300 gsm or more.
- Duty Cycle - the maximum number of pages that a printer can print in a given period (usually a month) without causing excessive wear and tear or reducing its lifespan
Konica Minolta AccurioPress C7100 Review
If you’re looking for a reliable, high-quality digital printing workhorse, the Konica Minolta AccurioPress C7100 will more than meet your expectations. Here are some of its key qualities:
- Print Quality: The AccurioPress C7100 offers super sharp print quality at 2400x3600 dpi, ensuring every detail in your prints is crisp and clear. This level of resolution is ideal for professional documents, marketing materials, and intricate graphics.
- Speed: Capable of printing 100 pages per minute, the AccurioPress C7100 is ideal for businesses that need to produce large volumes of prints quickly.
- Paper Types: This device can print on a wide range of paper types, from thin to thick paper (52 to 400 gsm). Whether you’re printing lightweight flyers or heavy cardstock, this machine can accommodate your needs.
- Maximum Print Size:
- Single-sided: Up to 51 inches long, suitable for banners and larger posters.
- Double-sided: Up to 35 inches long, perfect for booklets and other double-sided prints
- Finishing Options: The AccurioPress C7100 can fold, staple, and trim your prints, allowing you to complete a variety of projects in-house without needing additional equipment.
- Special Feature: It features an Intelligent Quality Optimizer (IQ-501) that automatically adjusts color and alignment, ensuring consistent quality and reducing the need for manual adjustments.
Ideal For:
- Busy In-Plant Production Print Shops: Do you have a high-volume printing environment? Then you’re sure to find this machine a valuable asset.
- Dedicated Office Print Departments: Ideal for print rooms in law firms, health providers and other organizations with substantial printing needs, from reports to presentations.
- Design Studios: Its high resolution and finishing options make it a favorite for designers who require top-quality prints with various finishing touches
Canon imagePRESS V1000 Review
The Canon imagePRESS V1000 is famous for its precision and versatility. Here is what it offers you:
- Print Quality: With a resolution of 2400x2400 dpi, the imagePRESS V1000 ensures high clarity and sharpness in every print, great for detailed graphics and text.
- Speed: It matches the AccurioPress C7100 with a speed of 100 pages per minute, enabling quick turnaround times for large print jobs.
- Paper Types: This press handles a broad range of paper types (54 to 400 gsm), accommodating everything from light paper to heavy cardstock with ease.
- Maximum Paper Capacity: Holding up to 11,100 sheets, it minimizes downtime spent reloading paper, allowing more time for uninterrupted printing.
- Maximum Print Size: The imagePRESS V1000 can automatically print on long sheets up to 51 inches, making it ideal for banners and other large formats.
- Technologies: It features advanced technologies such as POD-Surf fixing, Dynamic Image-Transfer, and Precision Registration Technology, ensuring consistent color and sharpness for professional-quality prints.
Ideal For:
- Commercial Printing: Delivers high quality for professional jobs, making it suitable for commercial printing businesses.
- Print Service Providers: Supports various media types and high output, perfect for businesses handling diverse printing tasks.
- Schools and Universities: Versatile enough to meet the varied printing needs of educational institutions, from flyers to reports.
Ricoh Pro C7210 Series Review
The Ricoh Pro C7210 Series stands out for its exceptional print quality and versatility. Here are its key features:
- Print Quality: It boasts the highest resolution among the three, with 2400x4800 dpi, providing unmatched detail and clarity in prints.
- Speed: At 95 pages per minute, it is slightly slower than the other two but still very fast, making it a reliable choice for high-speed printing needs.
- Paper Types: This press handles thin to medium-thick paper (52 to 360 gsm), perfect for most everyday printing requirements.
- Maximum Print Size: With the banner tray option, it can print up to 52 inches, making it suitable for large-format prints and banners.
- Features: You’ll find this machine offers automatic color consistency and various finishing options, ensuring your prints look consistent and professional. It also offers options for booklet making and punching, adding to its versatility.
Ideal For:
- Small to Medium Digital Production Print Shops: For your modest or startup production print shop, you’ll find this versatile device delivers high quality in small or large runs.
- Corporate Offices: Supports the printing needs of large organizations, perfect for in-house production of reports, brochures, and other documents.
- On-Demand Printing Services: Reliable for varied customer orders, from one-off prints to larger jobs, making it a dependable option for on-demand services.
When choosing the right digital production press, consider your specific needs and priorities. Each option excels in different areas of print quality, speed, and paper handling.
- Print Quality: The Ricoh Pro C7210 leads with the highest resolution (2400x4800 dpi), making it the best option if absolute print detail is critical. The Canon imagePRESS V1000 (2400x2400 dpi) and Konica Minolta AccurioPress C7100 (2400x3600 dpi) also offer excellent print quality, suitable for high-quality professional prints.
- Speed and Productivity: Both the Canon imagePRESS V1000 and Konica Minolta AccurioPress C7100 lead with 100 pages per minute, ideal for high-volume jobs. The Ricoh Pro C7210, at 95 pages per minute, is slightly behind but still very capable.
- Paper Handling: The Canon imagePRESS V1000 is able to print on long sheets up to 51 inches, making it perfect for banners and large-format prints. The Konica Minolta AccurioPress C7100 supports a wide range of paper types. While it is more versatile, it requires more manual adjustments
Choosing the right digital production press ultimately comes down to your specific needs and priorities. For high-quality prints and ease of use, the Canon imagePRESS V1000 is an excellent choice, offering minimal manual work and professional quality with consistent color and advanced automation.
If high resolution is your main concern, the Ricoh Pro C7210 is a strong pick, delivering sharp, vibrant prints with a resolution of up to 2400 x 4800 dpi and supporting a wide range of media types and sizes.
For robust features and high-volume printing, the Konica Minolta AccurioPress C7100 stands out as a strong contender, with fast print speeds, a high monthly duty cycle, and advanced finishing options like booklet making and perfect binding.
Consider what aspects are most important to your business—whether it's print quality, media versatility, automation features, or finishing capabilities—and choose the machine that best fits your needs. Each production printer reviewed in this article has unique strengths, ensuring that whichever is selected will be well-equipped to meet your printing demands effectively.