WINDSOR, Conn., Feb. 19 -- Konica Business Technologies, Inc. (Konica), the innovation leader in digital imaging solutions and a subsidiary of Konica Corporation, introduces Simitri Color Polymerized Toner (Simitri) for its color document systems, developed through a breakthrough process that enables control of the exact size and shape of each toner particle -- down to a billionth of a meter. Featured on Konica's new 8020 and 8031 Color Imaging Systems, this advanced toner delivers significant performance and environmental advantages. By maintaining toner particle uniformity, Simitri produces more consistent output, improved dot and line reproduction, and better halftone definition and solid fills, than traditional pulverization methods, achieving clean, crisp 600 x 600 dpi resolution. Through the use of wax-based additives, Simitri removes the need for conventional fuser oil -- even in high-speed devices -- allowing for enhanced glossy color image output. Additionally, Konica's environmentally friendly manufacturing process reduces the carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and sulfur oxide emissions by 30-40%. "Despite all the progress made in the development of document processing systems over the years, the technology behind the development of toner has remained relatively the same -- until now," said William H. Brewster, vice president, marketing, Konica Business Technologies, Inc. "With Konica's revolutionary Simitri toner, the bar has been raised. Our ability to control the exact size and shape of each toner particle combined with our high-quality printers/copiers equals offset-like output with digital speed and efficiency time after time." The Technology Konica's Simitri Color Polymerized Toner is produced using an emulsion polymerization process that synthesizes core resin particles in an aqueous solution to create toner particles. The particles are then chemically coagulated and fused in precise ratios, which control their size and shape. This unique process creates extremely small (about 3 micrometers) spherical toner particles of uniform size and shape, which produce output with an offset-like look. As a result of this revolutionary process, Konica's digital imaging systems featuring Simitri require a lower fusing temperature, reducing end- user energy consumption and producing unsurpassed image output. Simitri is unlike conventional toner, which is created by an energy-intensive process of kneading and pulverizing toner components into smaller particles that vary widely and cannot be precisely controlled or predicted. With Simitri, documents are able to retain superior quality throughout generations of printing/copying, making output clearer and sharper than ever. Simitri Color Polymerized Toner Features: Image Quality -- Efficient reproduction of thin lines and dots -- Increased detail without the need for higher resolution -- Outstanding sharpness -- Smooth gradations in halftones Fusing Process -- Exact control of charge -- Lower fusing temperature -- Lower energy usage Yield -- Higher toner yield Environmentally friendly production process -- Reduction of carbon dioxide -- Reduction of nitrous oxide -- Reduction of sulfur oxide Konica's Commitment to the Environment Konica is committed to protecting the environment through the development and use of environmentally friendly products, supplies and packaging. As a charter partner in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Energy Star program, Konica products conserve energy from reduced power consumption, while lowering operating expenses. Konica's Simitri toner polymerization process is environmentally friendly, as it requires fewer steps and utilizes less energy than the conventional toner production process, and generates less waste.