We sell Ricoh, and we will not hide that. So we put the numbers down from their sources, said what each brand is stronger at, and left the verdict to you.
In 2015 Ricoh launched the Pro C9110. At the same time the Konica Minolta C1100 and the Xerox Versant were competing for the same customer: the print shop that wants high volume without quality dropping.
In 2016 the C9110 received the BLI Pro Award as the outstanding high-volume production press, from BLI, the organisation that tests printing equipment under real operating conditions.
| Ricoh Pro C9110 | Ricoh Pro C7100X | Konica Minolta C1100 | Konica Minolta C1085 | Xerox Versant 2100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed (A4 pages per minute) | 130 | 80 | 100 | 85 | 100 |
| Print resolution (dpi) | 4800 × 1200 | 4800 × 1200 | 1200 × 1200 | 1200 × 1200 | 2400 × 2400 |
| Maximum paper weight | 400 gsm, duplex | 360 gsm | 350 gsm | 350 gsm | 350 gsm |
| Drum charging | Corona | Charge roller | Corona | Corona | Charge roller |
| Drum life (A4 pages) | 900,000 | 900,000 | 300,000 | 300,000 | about 100,000 |
| Fusing belt life (A4 pages) | 1,200,000 | 1,000,000 | 300,000 | 300,000 | the shortest here |
| Fifth colour | No | White · clear · neon | No | No | No |
Part life is in A4 pages for genuine parts, from the manufacturers’ figures. An SRA3 sheet is roughly two and a half A4 pages. Ricoh drum lives here are the same figures as in our parts catalogue.
Corona charging spreads the charge evenly over the drum, so solid backgrounds come out smooth and toner consumption is lower.
Resolution is 1200 × 1200, so fine detail is weaker, and the drum and fusing belt last about 300,000 pages.
2400 × 2400 resolution, competing with Ricoh on quality and detail.
Spare parts wear faster, and the drum life is the shortest in this comparison.
It combined the corona advantage (smooth solids) with 4800 × 1200 resolution, feeds paper by air up to 400 gsm duplex, and its drum lasts 900,000 pages and its fuser 1,200,000.
It is a high-volume press: if your work is smaller than that, the C7100X or the C5200S may suit you better.
A press is an investment of years, not a one-off sale. Whatever the brand, a machine without service, spare parts and technical support close to you will stop your work. So before you ask about the price, ask: who will service it? Where are its spare parts? And what does a sheet cost on it, on your own work?
No brand is better at everything. Konica Minolta is strong on smooth solids and toner consumption, Xerox competes on quality with its 2400 × 2400 resolution, and the Ricoh C9110 combined corona charging with 4800 × 1200 resolution and paper up to 400 gsm duplex, with the longest part life in this comparison. What matters most is that the brand you choose has service and spare parts close to you.
Because the drum and the fusing belt are among the most expensive parts you replace. The C9110 drum lasts about 900,000 A4 pages, against about 300,000 on the Konica Minolta C1100, so you change it less often and your cost per sheet comes down.
Up to 400 gsm, automatic duplex, thanks to vacuum (air) feeding. One of our customers in Saudi Arabia prints 400 gsm paper-cup stock on it, both sides, every day.
Ask us for a feasibility calculation: it works out toner, spare parts, paper and labour on your actual volume, in a normal month, in season, and in a slow month.
Tell us what you print and how much. We will work out the cost per sheet with you.
