Sharp raises the bar for compact A4 multifunction systems

Latest A4 black and white MFP with colour network scanning capability brings high-end functionality within reach of every office and workgroup London, 24 September 2009 – Sharp meets the needs of any busy office with the launch of a new, super-compact black & white A4 MFP. The MX-B381, unmatched in its class, incorporates high performance features and superior versatility from Sharp’s popular range of A3 MFPs, making it ideal for all routine office work. IT managers can consolidate disparate printers more effectively using the MX-B381’s next generation multi-tasking MFP controller technology – similarly deployed in Sharp’s high end MFPs, which provides a uniform user experience across the range; ensuring consistency and enhancing productivity across the workgroup. The 38 pages-per-minute MX-B381 also features Sharp’s contemporary new look – a stylish grained exterior with attractive curves and chrome accents. Powerful yet compact The MX-B381 prints and copies at full speed – even at the maximum 1200 x 1200 dpi resolution and has been designed to deliver maximum performance to the workgroup in the smallest possible footprint. It even comes with a space-saving inner finisher to keep the total footprint as small as possible – a real bonus for crowded offices. “One of the biggest barriers to putting a really good, high performance MFP in a typical office – especially for small- to medium-sized businesses – is, quite simply, how much space is available,” said Marc Brion, MFP product manager, Sharp UK. “The MX-B381 breaks through that barrier. You can have functionality and flexibility that will benefit the whole team without sacrificing valuable office space.” Easy to use and administer Sharp has gone to great lengths to ensure ease of use and maximum productivity from the MX-B381 by offering various timesaving features and functions that are instantly and intuitively available to the user. Thoughtful design means that every office user can access its fast colour network scanning capabilities, advanced document filing and management functions with little or no training. In addition, it’s equipped with a large, 8.5” colour touch screen LCD display with on-screen buttons that can be customised to suit the preferences and work habits of individual users, giving them instant access to their most frequently used features. As well as building in ease of use, Sharp has taken steps to minimise the support burden, too. IT Administrators can monitor the status of the MX-B381 from across the network and even take control of its front panel controls. The Remote Front Panel utility, included as standard, allows support staff to see exactly what the end-user is seeing, with the ability to remotely change settings, show the user how to perform a function, and diagnose and often rectify problems without ever leaving the desk. Award-winning security features It also comes with the award-winning Sharp Security Suite, which can be further enhanced with data security kits that protect document data through encryption and secure data erasure. Residual data, documents and the device itself can all be protected through various layers of robust security such as IP/MAC address filtering, SSL Encryption, IPsec (IP Security) protection and access control with user authentication. Customisable Business Solutions with Sharp OSA® Technology The MX-B381 supports the new, third generation Sharp OSA (Open Systems Architecture) development platform which allows it to be fully integrated with network-based applications. Users can access the applications directly from the MFP and without the need to return to a workstation, saving time and minimising the number of steps it takes to complete a task.