WEST CALDWELL, N.J., Dec. 6 -- Ricoh Corporation, the leading provider of digital office equipment, and Contex, the leader in wide-format imaging technologies, today announced Contex's entry into the Ricoh Technology Alliance Program. As a result of the alliance, Ricoh and Contex can offer their customers a more extensive range of printing and scanning capabilities. Utilizing an organization's Information Technology network, Contex's G Series line of wide-format scanners seamlessly integrate with Ricoh's wide- format printers: the Aficio 240W, Aficio 470W and Aficio 480W. By connecting a Contex scanner and a Ricoh wide format printer, users are able to perform both printing and scanning functions at one location, saving time and reducing costs. The highest performance scanners on the market, the G Series scanners, flawlessly capture technical documents, drawings and other media in order to view, edit, archive, convert, file, or print the data for various applications and jobs. In addition, Contex's scanners provide solutions for a variety of industries, including reprographics, graphic arts, CAD, GIS photography, document archival, copy shops, POP/exhibit providers, pre-press and sign and billboard production. "Aligning with Contex reinforces our goal of providing channel customers a full range of document management solutions and services to help streamline operations and reduce costs," said Hede Nonaka, senior vice president, Document Solution and Services Division, Ricoh Corporation. "We look forward to broadening our relationship in order to develop further benefits for Ricoh and Contex, as well as our customers." "We are pleased to align our G Series monochrome & color scanners including our 'NET' scanning and copy software, with Ricoh's line of wide-format printing systems," said Malcolm Lane, V.P, Sales & Marketing for Contex North & South America Operations. "This alliance brings together the leaders in wide-format scanning and printing, providing our channels with the best possible technologies to meet their performance and productivity needs via our distributors." Ricoh's Alliance Program encourages leading hardware and software companies, content management systems integrators and consulting companies to work together with Ricoh to provide innovative and effective hardware, software, digital imaging and content/document management solutions for the business community. The Alliance Program was created for companies whose products and technologies can integrate with and support the competitive stance of Ricoh products and solutions in the marketplace. There are two divisions within the Alliance Program, the Technology Alliance Program and the Strategic Alliance Program. Contex has joined the Technology Alliance Program, which is comprised of hardware and third party software companies who specialize in niche solution offerings that complement Ricoh hardware and software technologies.