Multifunctional WORKio range is a high-speed copier, network printer, scanner and fax all-in- one

Sep 18, 2004

Panasonic, the leading global manufacturer of consumer electronics and home appliances, will introduce two unique Office Automation products, the multifunctional DP-180 WORKiO and the Panaboard UB-5325G Electronic Whiteboard at GITEX Dubai 2004. The exhibition will be held at Dubai International Exhibition Centre (DIEC) from October 3 to 7, 2004.

Hitoshi Shigetomi, Manager, Systems products, Panasonic Marketing Middle East FZE, Dubai said, "The new ranges of Office Automation products are ideally suited to meet modern business needs. The multifunctional WORKiO combines the functions of a digital copier, a network-enabled laser printer and scanner, a lightning-quick Super G3-Fax and an internet-fax, making it the complete office solution. The Panaboard UB-5325G is an easy-to-install Electronic Whiteboard with USB connectivity that is ideal to display or share information during meetings or training programs as well as print in an instant. Both products are compact and easy to use tools that have been specifically designed to fit into an office environment."

The Panaboard Electronic Whiteboard can be used in a range of environments from conferences to courtrooms. Using the Panaboard in a meeting, ideas and information such as notes, charts, graphs can be captured and printed immediately saving the trouble of retyping or reformatting. With its PC interface, the Panaboard UB-5325G can be controlled from the connected PC. PC Documents can be printed on the Panaboard's printer, and notes and graphics written on the whiteboard can be captured digitally for easy distribution via the PC.

With the new USB 1.1 (B connector) interface, information on a Panaboard can be copied directly to a connected PC (IBM PC/AT or compatible with CD-ROM drive and 40+ MB of free space); saved in a variety of image formats, such as TIFF, BMP, PNG and PDF; and distributed to multiple recipients as an e-mail attachment. An included printer driver enables printing from the host PC.


"The addition of USB connectivity makes these whiteboards a very user-friendly communication tool," added Shigetomi. "With USB, all that is needed, is a cable and port eliminating the need for an interface kit. Information is efficiently and accurately shared within and among groups of people in an instant"

The DP-180 WORKiO is a copier, network printer, scanner and fax all-in- one, designed to deliver high speed performance in a single, space-saving device.

The warm-up time of the WORKiOs is only 15 seconds, following which the first printouts are available within 10 and 7 seconds respectively. Accordingly the powerful digital copiers copy at a speed of 18 page printouts per minute. Supplied with 16 MB Memory, up to two copy jobs can be identified in the job memory and up to 12 individual copies can be produced simultaneously. Moreover, all models enable different electronic sorting of copies. Via the N-on-1 copying mode, several one-sided originals can be copied onto one sheet. For example, if required, the double exposure copies both sides of a document such as an identity card or a driving licence next to each other onto an A4 sheet. When copying with the lid open, the Digital Skyshot feature prevents black edges occurring on the copy. Using the margin mode, material with a binding margin can also be copied without any problems.

The WORKiO's output is an efficient 15/18 printouts per minute. Thanks to the laser printing procedure and the resolution of 1,200 x 600 pixels, it also provides an exceptional print quality.

In addition to the high-quality digital copier and the network-enabled laser printer, the WORKiO DP-180 is also a standard A4-format scanner, fax and internet fax. As a high speed colour scanner it can read image data with a maximum of 300 dpi. This data can then either be stored on the PC or transferred directly to the server via FTP. The Super G3-Fax works with a maximum of 33.6 kbps. This means that an A4 document is transmitted at lightning speed in 2.7 seconds. With the help of the Quick-Memory Transfer, once the first page has been read in, the device immediately selects the outstation. Whilst the remaining pages are still being read in, the transfer is in full swing. Faxes directly read from a book are easy for the high-speed device.

The WORKiO comes with Panasonic Document Management Software, which assists with clear archiving of documents and the reduction of paper mountains. Both Office Automation products are available through Panasonic's UAE distributor, Al Futtaim Panatech, part of the Al Futtaim Group.

-Ends-

Editor's Note:
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., (MEI) best known for its Panasonic brand, is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronics products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company posted consolidated sales of US$71.92 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004. For more information, visit the Matsushita web site at http://www.panasonic.co.jp/global/top.html. Panasonic Gulf FZE (PGF) is MEI's first subsidiary company in the Middle East, followed by Panasonic Marketing Middle East FZE (PMM), which is the regional marketing headquarters of MEI for operations in the Middle East and African countries.

For further information, please contact:
Suraj Padukone
Panasonic Marketing Middle East FZE
Manager, Advertising & PR
P.O.Box 17985,
Jebel Ali,
Dubai,
UAE
Tel: +971 4 8819880
Fax: +971 4 8814311

© Press Release 2004