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More than 1,000 Kyocera and Copystar employees, dealers and guests attended KYOCERA Document Solutions America’s FY14 Pan-American Dealer Meeting April 8 through 10 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. Celebrating Kyocera’s 40th year in the Americas, President and CEO of KYOCERA Document Solutions America (KDA) Norihiko Ina proudly announced that for the second year in a row, the fiscal year’s consolidated sales represent the highest revenue the company has ever achieved.

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BLI recently visited Konica Minolta’s U.S. headquarters to present the company with BLI’s highest award, 2013 A3 MFP Line of the Year.

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Fujitsu Laboratories Limited recently introduced technology that may change the way we scan documents. Instead of controlling the scanner actions through the control panel or dedicated computer-based software, you’ll be able to scan using your finger and a projected user interface. The system projects scan controls on a flat surface, similar to the projection technology currently being used to replace keyboards. However, with the Fujitsu system, users can actually digitally move objects or scan images with the movement of a finger.

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After nearly four years of deliberation, the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) has established environmental criteria for document imaging devices under the designation IEEE 1680.2. The certification originally covered PCs and monitors. For document imaging devices, the certification involves meeting 33 required criteria and 26 optional criteria from 10 categories:

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By Tracie Hines, Senior Editor & Competitive Analysis Reports

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Historically, inkjets have been slower than laser devices, and although high-capacity cartridges were available for business-class inkjets, the yields were generally lower than those available for business-class laser machines. Of course, the inkjets cost less and many offered a comparable cost per page, making them a good choice for low-volume environments. But those slower speeds and relatively low yield cartridges didn’t make them a good fit for higher-volume business environments. Until now, that is.

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In 2013, the landscape for MFPs will continue to evolve, with the industry focusing more on providing complete end-to-end solutions for business and less on traditional speeds and feeds. BLI’s survey of major MFP and printer manufacturers revealed a continuing trend away from page volume and toward software, services and connectivity that enables information to be manipulated more easily, whether from the MFP itself or from other input sources (such as mobile phones and tablets). Indeed, mobile printing apps were in place from virtually all manufacturers by the end of 2012, and in the next year the trend toward solutions-based marketing will result in increased offerings for numerous vertical markets as well as in managed print services.

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Whether through buying ENERGY STAR-qualified electronics or more fuel-efficient vehicles, the effects of climate change have many people changing their day-to-day activities. And the trend continues to spread despite economic constraints. But in addition to checking for eco-labels and reading BLI Environmental Test Reports to identify the most energy-efficient printers and MFPs, users can also change their printing habits for the better by using eco-friendly printing solutions.