Buyers Laboratory Inc. recognises Canon's newly introduced print platform for its ease of use, scanning capabilities and ability to provide seamless workflows

The Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE platform provides improved efficiency, security, cost savings and lower environmental impact

Dubai, 18 January 2010: Canon, world leader in imaging solutions, has been recognised by Buyers Laboratory Inc. (BLI) with two "Outstanding Achievement Awards" for its recently launched Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE print platform.

Launched to the Middle East market in November, the award winning imageRunner Advance platform caters for organisations of all sizes, from SMEs to large corporates, helping companies across the region become more efficient through easier integration into their document workflows as well as achieving lower operating costs, improved document security and a lower environmental impact.

BLI, the world's leading independent evaluator honours the most innovative products and solutions in the market with its seasonal "Fall 2009 Outstanding Achievement Awards", and recognised the Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE platform for its "ease of use" and "outstanding scanning capabilities".

BLI European Laboratory and Research Manager David Sweetnam said, "The process of converting hard-copy documents into digital files has never been quicker or easier than with the imageRUNNER ADVANCE platform. As softcopy and hardcopy convergence continues to be a mission-critical workflow for companies, Canon has raised the bar for scanning features on its next generation imageRUNNER ADVANCE print platform."

BLI recognised Canon's imageRUNNER ADVANCE platform for its usability; enabling users to store their own personal workflows and processes, including all settings and destinations, as a single one-touch button. The new QuickMenu greatly enhances ease of use as personal workflows are linked to the user account and can be accessed via the console control panel. BLI also felt the control panel more intuitive than ever before, aided by a large touch screen.

Canon was also recognised for the host of new scanning. The new platform enables users to scan paper documents quickly and to a multitude of destinations. Incorporating new file formats which include Adobe® PDF, Office Open XML and Reader Extensions, Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE makes it easy for users to work effortlessly with hardcopy documents, mark-up and apply notes, insert annotations or save documents for long term archival.  

Nicholas van Santen, CBS Marketing Manager, Canon Middle East comments, "Documents are the lifeblood of any organisation and handling hard copy and electronic documents is an integral part of office life. By automating paper-intensive document processes through powerful scanning functionality and a new user-friendly interface, Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE enables workforces to become more productive."

Van Santen continues, "We see the Canon imageRUNNER ADVANCE as a truly groundbreaking technology and are excited that BLI has already acknowledged its ease of use, and shown that this range of devices can simplify the way organisations work in the future."

Test reports are in progress and will be available upon request.

-Ends- 

About Canon Middle East
Canon Middle East, a subsidiary of Canon Europe, is the operational headquarters for Canon in the Middle East and North Africa and is based in Dubai, UAE.

Founded in 1937 with the specific goal of making the best quality camera available to customers, Canon's tireless passion for the Power of Image has since extended its technology into many other markets and has established it as a world leader in both consumer and business imaging solutions. Its solutions comprise products, ranging from digital compact and SLR cameras, through broadcast lenses and portable X-ray machines, to multi-function and production printers, all supported by a range of value added services.

Canon invests heavily in R&D to deliver the richest and most innovative products and services to satisfy customers' creative needs. From amateur photographers to professional print companies, Canon enables each customer to realize their own passion for image.

Canon believes that considering the interests of society and the environment is an integral part of good business practice. This is embodied in its corporate philosophy Kyosei - 'To live and work together for the common good'.

Further information about Canon Middle East is available at: www.canon-me.com

About BLI
Since 1961, Buyers Lab has been the leading independent office-equipment testing lab and business consumer advocate. In addition to publishing the industry's most comprehensive and accurate test reports on office document imaging devices, each representing months of exhaustive hands-on testing in BLI's US and UK laboratories, the company has been the leading source for extensive databases of specifications and pricing on copiers, printers, fax machines and multifunctional products. The company's databases cover over 10,000 products and have a long-standing reputation for being the industry's most trustworthy and complete source for global competitive intelligence. They are available to BLI subscribers online via the company's bliQ competitive information service. This encyclopedic resource also provides quick and easy access to BLI's First Look Reports, Field Test Reports, Lab Test Reports, Solutions Reports, and BLI-produced articles.

In addition to the testing of office equipment for its subscribers, Buyers Lab provides consulting services to buyers and a vast array of confidential for-hire private testing services that include document imaging device beta and pre-launch testing, performance certification testing, consumables testing (such as toner, ink and photoconductors), software and solutions and print media testing (including virgin and recycled papers).

For more information on Buyers Lab, please call +44(0) 118 977 2000, visit www.buyerslab.com, or e-mail info@buyerslab.com

For media enquiries, please contact:
Rijosh Joseph
d'pr
t: +971 50 2818849
e: rijosh@d-pr.ae  
 
Ahmed Sherbini  
Canon Middle East
t: +971 4 391 5050
e: ahmed.sherbini@canon-me.com

© Press Release 2010