Colortrac releases next generation SmartLF Gx+ 56 / Gx+ T56 extra-wide format scanners

St Ives, Cambridge, UK.
12th March 2009.

  • This new 56" image width large format scanner is the widest sheet feed scanner available in the market.
  • Colortrac's technically advanced, instant-on, bi-directional LED illumination system and ENERGY STAR® compliance reduce energy requirements and environmental impact.
  • SmartLF Gx+ 56 scanners capture high definition line detail and high fidelity color for technical and color graphics applications in one flexible, multi-purpose system.

Colortrac, the leading wide format scanner innovator, will begin shipping the extra-large format SmartLF Gx+ 56 / Gx+ T56 (Thick media) scanner range during March. With a 56" image width and 60" (five foot) media width, 600 dpi optical high definition (HD) resolution and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity these scanners provide maximum document handling flexibility and the capability of fast network distribution of color, greyscale or monochrome images.

The combination of fast high fidelity color graphics scanning and the ability to resolve fine line detail in technical documents is targeted at the aerospace, aeronautics, automotive and reprographics industries where the ability to capture non-standard, oversize 1:1 scale documents, as well as poster or billboard-size advertising artwork, is a common requirement. The ability to scan A0, E-size and architectural E-size documents in landscape, right reading with no time-consuming post-scan rotation can also be very useful when creating digital archives for large volumes of CAD drawings, maps, plans and other landscape orientation technical documents, or when copying documents to the wider LF printers.

The major new innovation in the SmartLF Gx+ 56 scanners is the Colortrac designed and manufactured bi-directional (2D) LED illumination system.

Most large format scanners with CCD image sensor technology use relatively expensive, high specification fluorescent tubes with a useful working life of approximately 8,000 hours. They also contain mercury, degrade over time, are comparatively energy inefficient and require between one and two hours warm-up time before their light stabilizes and therefore before the scanner can be used for color critical work.

Colortrac's use of LED technology is a major benefit to customers who will enjoy instant-on color calibration, lower ENERGY STAR qualified running costs, lower consumable / service / disposal costs and greater reliability from the solid state digital LED design. Compared with previous generation SmartLF CCD scanners, SmartLF Gx+ 56 uses 30% less power in operation (the LEDs are only on when actually scanning, between scans they are switched off) 94% less when idle and the estimated working life of the LED system is 50,000 hours, that equates to 6 years constant operation 24 hours per day, 7 days per week - with no vacation time!

This, and other innovations like Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, give the SmartLF Gx+ 56 / Gx+ T56 scanner range a significant productivity and cost advantage over competing scanners using fluorescent tubes and lower specification connection interfaces.

With "exceptional value for money" as its core principle, Colortrac makes the SmartLF Gx+ 56 / Gx+ T56 scanners available in affordable monochrome (m), color (c) and express (e) color scanner models. Their options and prices ensure the best value for money for every buyer in any application. The SmartLF Gx+ 56m model has an MSRP of US $18,950 rising to US $23,950 for the SmartLF Gx+ T56e, these prices include the ready-to-run SmartLF All-in-One scan, copy and email software. SmartLF monochrome (m) and color (c) models can be quickly and easily upgraded on-site from an "m" to a "c" or "e" etc by exchange of emails. Colortrac's customers benefit from the unique ability to buy a mono or color scanner that meets their current requirements knowing that they can protect their investment and upgrade should their needs change in future. SmartLF Gx+ cannot be upgraded to Gx+ T.

END

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The Colortrac Gx+ 56 - the World's Widest large format scanner.
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For further information contact:

Peter de Winter-Brown,
Sales and Marketing Director,
Colortrac Limited.
Tel: +44 (0)1480 464618
Email:
Web: www.colortrac.com

About Colortrac ...
Founded in 1989 Colortrac Ltd is a dedicated manufacturer of large format scanners and scanning software based in St Ives, Cambs, UK, a region of British excellence in science and technology. As an acknowledged wide format innovator and industry leader, Colortrac can claim a number of notable "firsts", most importantly the development of the first large format color scanner. Not bound by doctrine or technology, Colortrac was the first wide format scanner manufacturer to recognize the individual merits of CIS and CCD sensor technology. Colortrac use both technologies to provide practical solutions that meet the divergent needs of the Graphic Arts, AEC, CAD, GIS, EDM and FM technical documents scanning markets to best effect. The Colortrac range of SmartLF large format scanners, now in their fifth generation, excel in meeting the specific requirements of these markets while offering unrivalled price and performance benefits. Colortrac Ltd also has offices in Beijing & Suzhou in P.R. China and in Golden CO, USA.