Ricoh Launches New Color Printer, Virtually; Virtual Product Models From Kaon Illustrate Key Product Features

Business Wire, Jan 28, 2003

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

MAYNARD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 28, 2003

Ricoh Corporation and Kaon Interactive Inc. announced the launch of the new Ricoh Aficio CL5000 printer using virtual product representation technology from Kaon.

"At Ricoh, we constantly search for new tools to improve the way we demonstrate and sell our products. With Kaon's 3D virtual product display technology, we are able to educate our dealers without the benefit of the actual product, as well as provide a virtual demo over the Internet to remote customers," commented Ron Potesky, Director, Workgroup Systems Marketing. "The virtual product models from Kaon are supplementary tools to brochures and collateral material that can help our dealers and customers better understand the product and its capabilities."

Tim Palmer, Kaon Vice President of Marketing said, "Kaon helps global companies like Ricoh in their efforts to achieve greater product sales and profitability with a dynamic sales medium that eliminates the need for real product demonstrations. Moreover, Ricoh can extract enormous value from their initial investment in a Kaon virtual product. In addition to using virtual product models of the CL5000 printer in training and sales presentations, Ricoh can re-purpose the model on their Web site without a plug-in. The models can be used as the source for video clips that can be exported into Flash or other video media."

About Ricoh Corporation

Ricoh Corporation, headquartered in West Caldwell, N.J., is a subsidiary of Ricoh Company Ltd., the 66-year-old leading supplier of office automation equipment and electronics, with fiscal year 2001 sales in excess of $14 billion.

Ricoh Corporation is a leading provider of multifunctional document systems, including color and black & white digital imaging systems, facsimile products, printers, scanners, digital duplicators and wide format engineering systems.

Information about Ricoh's complete range of products and services can be accessed on the World Wide Web at www.ricoh-usa.com.

About Kaon Interactive Inc.

Kaon helps global companies reach new product profitability faster by changing the way they use images to launch new products. With ultra-high resolution and geometric precision, Master Models from Kaon can be used to quickly and inexpensively extract still images, video clips, and virtual product models for use in a broad range of marketing, sales, training and service applications. Kaon customers include Cisco, Dell, Hitachi, Nokia, Panasonic and Sony. For more information visit www.kaon.com.