It has signed a deal with Konica, which will see it launch a range of machines based on Konica technology by the end of the year.

This broadens our high-end offering and takes it into the low-end of print-for-pay beneath the HP Indigo, said Tom Codd, HP marketing manager for shared products. The robust technologies in their copiers are an ideal match for our print language and networking technology.

The computing giant first announced that it was targeting this sector, where it saw Xerox as the dominant player, last year (PrintWeek, 21 June 2002).

Konica has black-and-white machines up to 85ppm and colour up to 50ppm suitable for print-for-pay, while HPs current line-up goes up to 50ppm black-and-white and 21ppm colour and is designed for workgroup use.

The deal also includes the possibility of HP selling future machines developed by Konica. Konica already has a 60-70ppm colour machine under development (PrintWeek, 24 July).

The two firms have been in discussion since last summer. Konicas forthcoming merger with Minolta will not affect the deal.

It is not the first time HP has used Konica technology, its first colour LaserJet from the early 90s used a Konica engine.

Story by Barney Cox