Issue November 2007
C-Drive for Aston Martin Lagonda
ScanPro 1000 Microfilm Scanner
E-timecapsule - Microfilm Storage
Equipment Service Division Expansion
National Library of Ireland Cabinets
PDF - Colour Image File Reduction
Digital Photos to Canvas & Cards
- Download this issue as a PDF
New DRIVE for Aston Martin Lagonda
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited parts operation, based in Milton Keynes, have just taken delivery of the new C-Drive X Aperture card scanner manufactured by Wicks and Wilson.
Aston Martin Lagonda has an archive of some 20,000 drawings held on aperture cards plus an additional 26,000 hard copy drawings, some of which will be microfilmed to aperture cards. Combined with a shortage of office space Aston Martin Lagonda needed to find a compact microfilm scanner for on demand scanning of aperture cards to their database. The Wicks and Wilson C-Drive X with the worlds smallest card scanner foot-print, fully integrated scan procedure and straight forward walk-up solution met all of their requirements.
Despite Aston Martin Lagonda having a lot of sophisticated electronic databases, they wanted to have a tried and tested archiving format which was future proof. They did not want to rely on frequent and expensive software migrations with all the potential risks involved with the loss of data. Space efficiency of microfilm enables them to deep store hard copy drawings. Those drawings that are in regular use will be scanned from aperture card to their database whilst retaining the back up on microfilm.
As the UK and Ireland distributor for the unique Book2net A2 book scanners, Genus is pleased to announce the launch of a brand new software product from Book2net which allows you to scan your books and then view them in 3D. This "Virtual Reading Room" software allows you to turn, and watch the pages turn, at the touch of a button – all in full colour!
Incorporated into your web site, the sophisticated 3D animation of the Virtual Reading Room software allows the user to turn the pages of your book in the same way as they would do with a real book. This allows an organisation to present its' books in a very realistic and personal way. This makes the solution especially interesting for:
• Publishers for presenting new publications on an internet platform
• Libraries to provide historical documents to a broader public in a very authentic manner
• Organisations and communities to release books and documents of special interest on the internet.
The age old dilemma for many public fronted organisations has been how to balance the need to allow the public to view as much information as possible with the need to preserve that information for ever (by not letting the public have access to that information!). With the new Book2net Virtual Reading Room software your valuable books only need to be scanned once, placed back in the Archives and then the public can view the digital version in full colour and 3D from anywhere in the world – the perfect solution.
As reported in the November 2006 Newsletter Genus has recently launched a Digital to Colour Microfilm Printing service. The service was properly launched at the CeBIT exhibition in Hannover. Since its official launch this service has attracted a lot of attention from Archives and Libraries who require high value digital images and collections writing down to 500 year life 35mm Colour microfilm and 105mm x 148mm Colour Microfiche.
In addition we can offer a full digital to Black and White Microfilm service as well – ideal for larger collections of office type documents. If you have a requirement for this service and would like to test some samples free of charge first then please contact us.
ScanPro 1000 Microfilm Scanner
The ScanPro 1000 has proven to be a big hit in the low volume on demand microfilm and microfiche scanning market.
The ScanPro 1000 benefits from the use of the very latest digital technologies. This allows for a very small footprint unit, taking up significantly less room that a conventional microfilm scanner/printer. In addition the ScanPro 1000 has no screen, instead using your PC screen to view.
Since our last Newsletter the ScanPro1000 has benefited from even more software upgrades to maximise ease of use. The Manufacturer’s have given considerable thought to ease of use by developing easy to understand software tools that really are “one touch”. With the added benefit of being able to lock conventional PC controls and just being able to use the ScanPro1000 software tools, the ScanPro1000 is ideal for public use.
Other features include:-
• One second scan time
• Single 7x – 54x Zoom lens to cover all micro formats in one unit
• Real time, live viewing on your PC screen
• 360 Optical Image Rotation and Digital Rotation
• E-mail, Network, Print, Save to CD right from your PC.
Available in 3 formats–Fiche/Jacket, Manual Universal and Motorised Universal.
We are very pleased to be involved in the creation of microfilm rolls,
from digital input via Archivewriter, for the Stonehenge e-timecapsule project that will happen in June 2008. Making use of the Internet and innovative microfilm archiving technology, the E-Timecapsule allows individuals, organisations or businesses to leave a unique message which will then be buried in a titanium time capsule at a location near the site of Stonehenge and left for 100 years.
E-Timecapsule Ltd, the company behind the project, has been given special permission by the National Trust to bury the capsule at King Barrow Ridge. The costs associated with the project will be shared among individuals, families, businesses or other organisations through a small entry fee or sponsorship contributions. Messages and pictures can be entered into the E-TimeCapsule via the website, which can be accessed at www.e-timecapsule.com.
E-Timecapsule founder Ian Ray, said: "This is a fantastic and unique chance for everyone to play an active part in history. Future generations will read the words written and pictures stored and get a real understanding of who we were and what we did. In past times, history has always focused on the rich, infamous or powerful. This project allows us to redress that balance."
Canadian-based archiving company Datawitness Online Ltd, provides the technology behind the E-Timecapsule. Glynis Evans, of Datawitess, said: "Writing the information to microfilm ensures its long-term security and will mean that the information entered in the E-Timecapsule will remain available for future generations to read. The historic importance of such a data base will be invaluable to future researchers and family genealogists, alike.” Microfilm has a shelf life of 500 years, making it the ideal storage medium for secure-long term archiving.
Paul Negus, Managing Director of The Microfilm Shop, said: "We are delighted to be involved in such a unique project. Once again, it can be seen that microfilm remains the premium format for long-term secure archiving. While other storage formats like floppy discs have quickly fallen into obsolescence, we can be sure that microfilm will still be readable in a century’s time or longer."
The last 12 months have been a busy time for our Micrographic and Scanner Equipment Service division with two acquisitions. In December 2006 we purchased the Micrographic Equipment Service division of Graphic Data Ltd based in Milton Keynes and in March 2007 we purchased the Micrographic Equipment Service Division of the EDM Group based in Wolverhampton.
These acquisitions plus natural expansion have significantly increased the size of our Equipment Service Division to five full time engineers based in Brighton, West London, Northampton, Manchester and Glasgow plus two part time engineers. Paul Negus, MD of the Genus Group commented - “The expansion of our Equipment Service Division has been a top priority for the Genus Group as we further our goal to significantly increase the range of Equipment that we distribute and support. With new ranges of Equipment being added to our portfolio all the time it is essential that we have our own service support in place, in addition to our existing and extensive spare part and consumable offering”.
The range of Equipment now supported and serviced by Genus include On demand Microfilm Scanners, Production Microfilm scanners, Book scanners, Document scanners, Large format printer/scanners, Microfilm production equipment, Digital to microfilm writers, Reader Printers and Document Management Software.
Genus can offer service contracts, warranty coverage and ad hoc call outs. Please call 024 7625 4955 for more details and prices.
We are pleased to announce the re-commencement of Methylene Blue Testing, another service The Microfilm Shop will now be performing in house in Nuneaton.
The Methylene Blue, or Residual Thiosulfate Test is a process used to check whether a microfilm processor conforms to industry standards in terms of processed film quality. To ensure the optimum Life Expectancy of your film you need to guarantee it is washed properly removing all residue of the processing chemicals and silver compounds. If any chemicals remain on the film after processing a general degradation of the information may occur over time leading to a potential loss of critical data.
It is perhaps in the current business climate that it is more important than ever that companies do everything within their ability to ensure important business information is not lost. By having a Methylene Blue test performed on a blank sample of your film on a periodic basis you can prove that you are doing all within your capacity to guarantee you or your clients' information. Please contact a member of the sales team on 024 7638 3998 for more information.
CeBIT Review - CeBIT - HANNOVER 15th - 21st March 2007
NEW Products on show at CeBIT were:
ScanPro 1000
New digital technology On Demand Microfilm/Microfiche Scanner with a very small footprint.
Clever User software and Library Use software.
Datawitness
Web hosted tracking of your electronic communications and documents with write to microfilm back
up for long term security.
C-Cube
New family of Electronic Document Management Software consisting of four modules – Capture, Lite,
Bureau and Enterprise.
Colour Microfilm
Digital to Colour Microfilm Service. Send us your colour digital images and we will convert them
to fully processed Colour Microfilm with a 500 year life span.
Library Show - NEC BIRMINGHAM 18th - 19th April 2007
NEW Products on show at the Library and Information show were:
SMA11
Very HIGH QUALITY and FAST full colour A1 Book and Document Scanner. NOW Available for demonstrations and on site trials – please call for details.
SMA21
Very HIGH QUALITY and FAST full colour A2 Book and Document Scanner.
NOW Available for demonstrations and on site trials – please call for details.
Colour Microfilm
Digital to Colour Microfilm Service. Send us your colour digital images and we will convert them to fully processed Colour Microfilm with a 500 year life span.
vPDF
New Image Compression software to significantly reduce the file size of your large images with minimum quality loss. Convert whole batches with one key stroke. SEE BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS
ScanPro 1000
New digital technology On Demand Microfilm/Microfiche Scanner with a very small footprint. Clever User software and Library Use software.
National Library of Ireland Cabinets
In March 2007 Genus installed a total of 140 microfilm storage cabinets to the National Library of Ireland in Dublin to store their collection of 35mm microfilms.
These consisted of 70 TMS10 10 drawer cabinets with 70 TMS5 5 Drawer cabinets that were fastened to the top of the 10 Drawer cabinets. This was a major installation of cabinets bespoke designed and won on tender.
If you have an unusual microfilm or digital media storage problem then please give us a call.
The KIP 5000 was launched at the end of 2006 and is the big brother to the revolutionary KIP 3000 with a monthly duty cycle of 12000 metres as opposed to 3000 for the KIP 3000. Just like the KIP 3000, the KIP 5000 is a multifunction device that can scan, copy and print up to A0 size monochrome documents in one small single foot print device.
The scanner head can scan in either monochrome or 24 bit colour at true 600 x 600 dpi resolution at speeds of up to 11.6m per minute for monochrome and 4m per minute for colour. The integral monochrome printer can also print at 600 x 1200dpi at speeds of up to 8 A1 prints per minute. In addition when linked to an external ink jet colour printer it can produce high resolution colour copies.
The KIP 5000 features a host of user and administrator benefits via the simple to use touch screen operating system.
vPDF - Honey I shrunk the PDF!!
Compress Colour image files to the same size as conventional Black and White Image file sizes. Genus has negotiated a distribution agreement with a leading British software developer that is in current negotiations for a multi-million pound US technology deal after making a revolutionary breakthrough in colour file compression.
The vPDF technology enables companies to scan everything in colour at the same size as black and white. Colour Scanning should now be the norm. The opportunity for scanning bureaux is that the vPDF technology will allow them to provide higher quality images for their clients. Why scan in black and white when you can scan in colour with no effect to the throughput speeds and crucially at the same file size as black and white!
3M G0-1 & G0-2 type film available through The Microfilm Shop
G0-1 type cartridge film is still available from The Microfilm Shop despite its discontinuation earlier this year by Imation, late of 3M. Used in 3400, 3401, EF5000 and 6600 camera systems, the removal of G0-1 film from price lists caused concern for the longevity of equipment which otherwise is still operating perfectly.
We invested heavily in the design and tooling for our own plastic cases and spools to ensure that we will be able to supply these cartridges for as long as there is a requirement from our customers.
The film is loaded in darkroom conditions by our staff in Nuneaton and we have been offering our own versions of this cartridge for over 10 years having earned a proven track record of success.
"We have seen a stong increase in the sales of this product since the original G0-1 was discontinued earlier this year" said Chris Elwell of The Microfilm Shop. "Sales in export markets has been particularly lively which reflects the amount of working units of this range of cameras still in use around the world".
The cartridges are availiable with either 100' film (G0-1) or 200' thin base film (G0-2) loaded. Please contact our sales department on 024 7638 3998 or info@microfilm.com for further details.
Digital Photos to Canvas, Greetings Cards, Posters and Calendars
In October 2007 the Graphic Press division of the Genus group launched a brand new product range. Aimed at the family market, Graphic Press can now take receipt of digital photos and digital images and convert them to a number of display materials for the home.
This is ideal for those favourite family photos or a scanned image of your child's school work. Graphic Press can turn these images into wall mounted canvases or posters. In addition, ready for Christmas and 2008 those same images can be printed onto sets of greetings cards and Calendars. These make ideal gifts or a change from standard Christmas cards.
Details of the full product range can be found on the Graphic Press web site – www.graphicpress.co.uk. As always, Graphic Press staff are on hand to talk you through the process to produce the best results from your images.
OITUK in the News
OITUK had an article and advert appear in the Business Intelligence section of The Times on Monday 17th September discussing the recent changes to legislation that impose more compliance restraints on organisations.
OITUK have developed a number of solutions to help organisations cope with this compliance burden to ensure an organisation properly manages its information.
C-Cube is the brand name for a full family of Electronic Document Management (EDM) and workflow software solutions marketed by The Genus Group. The C-Cube family of software products has been written and developed by OITUK Ltd, a member of The Genus Group. This allows The Genus Group quick and easy access to the software developers for any customisation or specific direct development. It also allows for the CCube family of products to be sold at a very competitive pricing level.
The C-Cube family consists of four modules:-
C-Cube Capture
An entry level application to capture documents from a number of TWAIN compliant sources - comprising scanners, digital cameras, e-mail systems, desktop applications, etc.
C-Cube Lite
Incorporating the features of C-Cube Capture, the Lite package is a full Electronic Document Management system allowing you to scan, import, index, retrieve and store your electronic documents. Supported files include Graphics Files, Word, Excel, PDF, etc. Package includes 10 freeconcurrent use licenses.
C-Cube Bureau
Ideal for Service Bureaux with a number of clients. Scan your clients’ files, index and then export to CD/DVD or an external media with a retrieval only version of C-Cube allowing clients access to index information and images. Full reporting included.
C-Cube Enterprise
This allows a client to expand their C-Cube Capture, Lite or Bureau application to a full Enterprise solution specifically designed and implemented to the client’s needs. Includes Workflow, electronic forms, web portal, records management and integration to your existing systems.
For further information on any of the topics or products covered in this Newsletter please call us on 024 7625 4955, fax us on 024 7638 2319, e-mail us at info@genusit.com or visit us at our web site www.genusit.com and fill in the online enquiry form in our Newsletter section.