Konica Minolta South Africa targets small and mid-sized offices with cost efficient yet versatile bizhub MFPs

| 8 December 2015

Konica Minolta South Africa, a division of Bidvest Office (Pty) Ltd, has announced the launch of three new multi-functional products (MFPs), specifically intended for small and mid-sized offices and departmental use. The new products, namely the bizhub 367, bizhub 287and bizhub 227, can easily adapt to tackle diverse work styles, including standard web browser and Open API support to connect to specialised applications and easy access to mobile connectivity.


The featured mobile connectivity supports a wide range of devices, including smartphones and tablets that are NFC (Near Field Communication) capable. Konica Minolta's INFO-Palette control panel design rounds out the package for a unified user experience across its office product line.

bizhub 367

The robust feature set and outstanding black & white output quality of this new MFP are only the beginning of the story. A 36ppm machine, the bizhub 367 offers innovative solutions to address a wide range of customer needs. Newly added functions include a mobile connectivity area built into the control panel, alongside the Open API solution platform, full panel customisation, and support for NFC.

bizhub 287 and bizhub 227

Both of these monochrome MFPs are exceptionally cost efficient, bridging the gap between compact (A4) MFPs and traditional mid-volume office MFPs. The bizhub 287, a 28ppm machine, and the bizhub 227, which runs at 22ppm, have many eco-friendly attributes that differentiate them from other products. These features include:

  • Low energy consumption;
  • Use of recycled materials in the manufacturing of the machine; and
  • Energy Star and EPEAT certifications.

"With these new product launches, Konica Minolta continues its legacy of developing great efficient and energy saving multi-functional products with a special focus on mobile printing - products that offer a new level of efficiency and flexibility," says Greg Griffith, product manager: business solutions at Konica Minolta South Africa. "Konica Minolta continues to demonstrate its commitment to provide new tools that will empower our clients and optimise their workflow, all packaged within award winning designs."

The company was awarded the Good Design Award 2015 by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion (JDP) for its bizhub 367/287/227 and its mobile application bizhub Remote Access. It received high recognition for its hardware and software, both distinguished for their well-balanced design. The Good Design Award is a comprehensive system of design evaluation and commendation in Japan, which has been awarded since 1957. For more than 55 years, the Good Design Award has been given to outstanding designs reflecting the culture of a new era, aiming at the pursuit of prosperity and industrial development.

With respect to the bizhub 367/287/227, the jury pointed out the symbolic white plate on the MFPs' front side, which stood in stark contrast to its black body. Since user contact points are concentrated here, it can be intuitively recognised by users as an operation and control component. Its smart design delivers enhanced usability and higher productivity along with improved user guidance. Text and multi-touch icons on the touchscreen panel of the monochrome A3 MFPs' panel are widened properly while retaining equal visibility and operability: They are easy for users to understand, and its multiple functions are easy to operate. In addition, the MFPs achieve the top class 0.5 W power consumption ratio during the sleep mode, and users are able to comply with environmental concerns by looking at power consumption and eco-level, which are displayed on the panel.