WEST CALDWELL, N.J.--Nov. 3, 2003-- Ricoh Corporation, the leading provider of digital office equipment, today introduced the Aficio 2022/2027 digital imaging systems, designed to simplify document creation and production while enhancing distribution and management of hardcopy and electronic files. The Aficio 2022/2027 series provides fast, 22 page-per-minute and 27 page-per-minute professional digital copying output speeds respectively with crisp 600-dpi resolution. The Aficio 2022SP/2027SP versions offer the same productive features as the Aficio 2022/2027 but includes standard network scanning and printing functionality right out of the box. Both systems provide numerous advanced document management capabilities that can greatly impact productivity for companies and workgroups. "Ricoh designed the Aficio 2022/2027 series to help businesses meet their ever growing need for document management and production demands," said Hede Nonaka, Vice President of Marketing for Ricoh Corporation. "This series is an affordable, versatile solution for businesses looking to improve worker efficiency, reduce costs, and monitor system performance." The new series is based on the very successful design of the Aficio 1022/1027 series, and it has added new features such as embedded scan to email, LDAP support with SMTP and POP before SMTP authentication, scan to folder (SMB), and scan to FTP server. The Aficio 2022SP/2027SP models also come equipped with server-less network scanning functionality, requiring no additional software, and provides a host of efficiency-enhancing benefits. Embedded Scan-to-Email allows for seamless scan, capture, and delivery of documents to an email address either stored in an address book, manually entered, or through LDAP. The embedded Scan-to-Folder feature ensures fast distribution of documents up to 2 GB in size via SMB/FTP protocols using existing network infrastructures. For businesses looking to reduce costs and paper overflow at facsimile machines, the Aficio 2022/2027 series includes a paperless fax feature, allowing users to set up the system so that it does not print faxes. Faxes are stored on the Hard Disk Drive where users can view the fax, download it, or print it to the device. Faxes can also be routed directly to the recipient's email address. The Document Server, standard on the Aficio 2022SP/2027SP configuration, allows for easy management of documents stored on Ricoh's Web Image Monitor, allowing users to access and manage documents from the system's control panel or from client workstations; find and/or prioritize documents by File Name, Scan Date or User ID; combine documents without having to rescan; keep confidential print jobs secure by preventing access without the proper user code; and re-print, re-fax or digitally re-distribute data to any network-connected user. The Aficio 2022SP/2027SP feature a powerful 400MHz processor and Network Interface Card accepting print jobs from multiple networked users without delay. To ensure further flexibility for users, the Aficio 2022SP/2027SP feature a standard Ethernet interface, and optional 802.11b wireless, USB, Bluetooth, and IEEE 1394 interfaces, which can support specialized connectivity needs. Advanced finishing options ensure professional-quality output with the optional 500-sheet Finisher with one-position stapling or the 1,000-sheet version with multiple staple positions. The series also includes a Shift/Sort Tray that will sort document sets on paper up to 11" x 17" or customers can utilize the standard electronic rotate/sorting feature to cut the expense of a mechanical sorter. The suggested retail price of the Aficio 2022 is $5,245 and the suggested retail price of the Aficio 2027 is $6,585. The suggested retail price for the Aficio 2022SP/2027SP is $7,125 and $8,465 respectively.