PFU Limited (“PFU”), a Ricoh company, has launched three new production scanners designed to help organisations process large volumes of mixed and difficult-to-handle documents more efficiently.
The Ricoh fi-8600, fi-8700S and fi-8700 combine high-speed document capture with highly versatile paper handling and software that improves image quality and supports automated data capture.
Designed for documents that arrive in different formats
The range is designed for organisations where documents arrive in different formats, sizes and conditions and where preparing originals, correcting errors or switching between scanning devices can slow down operations.
Designed for low intervention, even if multitasking
The fi-8700S and fi-8700 feature an integrated A3 flatbed alongside an automatic document feeder (ADF), allowing operators to scan standard paperwork as well as bound, fragile and irregular documents within the same workflow. Across the range, production-class feeding and document protection technologies help organisations maintain throughput while reducing manual intervention.
Yasunari Shimizu, President and CEO PFU (EMEA) Limited, commented:
“Organisations don’t struggle with standard documents; they struggle with the exceptions that slow processes, increase costs and create manual workarounds. Reliably digitising and capturing analog documents serves as a crucial entry point for streamlining processes in the age of AI. These devices can help you achieve that both highly efficiently and at scale, regardless of the documents’ type or condition.”
One workflow for a wider range of documents
In high-volume scanning environments, not every document can be processed through a conventional feeder. Bound records, fragile originals, envelopes, thick media and oversized documents can require additional handling or separate equipment.
The fi-8700S and fi-8700 address this with an integrated A3 flatbed that allows operators to capture difficult documents without moving to another scanner. Their ADF assemblies can also slide from side to side and rotate through 180 degrees, allowing documents to be loaded from either side and giving organisations greater flexibility when positioning the scanners.
Across the range, support for paper weights from 20 to 413gsm and long documents up to 5,588mm enables operators to process a broad variety of materials. Intelligent Sonic Paper Protection and Lag Detection help prevent feeding problems and reduce the risk of damage to original documents.
The fi-8600 also supports an optional post-imprinter, which prints identifiers on the reverse of documents after scanning. This helps organisations maintain a link between physical originals and their digital records where document traceability is important.
High-speed capture
With a 300-sheet ADF and scanning speeds of up to 100 pages per minute and 200 images per minute (fi-8600 & fi-8700), the new range is designed to handle large document volumes with fewer interruptions. The fi-8700S performs single-sided (simplex) scanning at up to 75 pages per minute.
For documents requiring flatbed capture, the fi-8700S and fi-8700 can scan an A4 original in just 0.6 seconds or an A3 original in 1.2 seconds at 200/300dpi.
For these flatbed models, additional functions help reduce the time spent handling more complicated documents. Timer Scan automatically captures documents at set intervals, making it easier to scan bound materials, while Multi-Crop allows several items to be scanned together and saved as separate image files.
Continuous feeding and skew reduction further help maintain productivity during demanding scanning operations.
Supported by PFU’s PaperStream software
All three models are supported by PFU’s PaperStream software, which improves image quality and streamlines the extraction, validation and processing of captured information.
PaperStream IP optimises and enhances scanned images for optical character recognition (OCR), improving the accuracy with which printed information can be converted into searchable, usable digital data.
PaperStream Capture supports batch scanning, automated document separation, and the extraction of printed text and barcode data. It also provides tools for reviewing scanned images and information before they are released into downstream processes.
For organisations requiring more advanced workflows, upgrading to PaperStream Capture Pro Premium adds enhanced data extraction from registered forms, including barcodes, tick boxes and non-cursive handwritten text. While configurable data checks and recognition-confidence thresholds help operators identify information requiring review before release.
LAN connectivity and PaperStream Central Admin support scanning operations across individual departments, centralised capture facilities and distributed locations. The software enables centralised remote firmware updates, deployment of scan profiles and capture job settings, as well as monitoring of scanner status, errors and consumable replacement requirements.
By combining high-speed capture with highly versatile document handling and PaperStream software, this new Ricoh range helps organisations reduce the time spent managing difficult documents and deliver more accurate, usable information into their business systems.
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