FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Chris Florentz Barton Gilanelli & Associates 215.592.8601

chris@bartgil.com

PANASONIC MULTIFUNCTION DIGITAL SYSTEMS FIRST IN WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY
DP-3000E, 2500 and 2000 copiers designed to help meet new federal requirements governing the acquisition of electronic information and technology. SECAUCUS, NJ Panasonic Document Imaging Company (Panasonic) is redefining access in the workplace for many disabled employees with its DP-3000E, DP-2500 and DP-2000 digital copiers. These fully loaded multifunction devices were the first in Segments 1, 2 and 3 to give workers who are confined to a wheelchair access to the systems control panel and the use of online stapling. As a result, many disabled employees have a total office solution including copier, scanner and document management software, with optional Internet fax and network printer at their fingertips.
Panasonic multifunction copiers can help federal government agencies in particular satisfy the stand-alone and self-contained products requirement in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Section 508 pertains to the acquisition of electronic information and technology (EIT) products, and requires federal agencies to ensure that their procurement of EIT takes into account the needs of all end users, including workers with disabilities. The law specifically requires federal agencies that procure, maintain or use EIT (including copiers) to
ensure that the technology allows employees with disabilities to have access comparable to that of federal employees without disabilities. The imaging systems are part of the Panasonic WORKiO Series and can be easily
configured by authorized dealers for accessibility by wheelchair-bound office workers. The three models are unique in that access can be extended to include such finishing functions as sorting and stapling Panasonic is one of the first digital copiers that allows wheelchair-bound users to access the stapling function. In addition, the 3000E, 2500 and 2000 meet all Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) reach requirements. According to Paul Wharton, national marketing manager for Panasonics Copier and Multifunction Product Division, the DP-3000E, DP-2500 and DP-2000 enable employers to provide reasonable accommodation in the workplace. Under the ADA, reasonable accommodation isnt limited to ensuring that employees with disabilities have access to their place of employment, says Wharton. The ADA also requires that equipment be modified, where necessary, so that handicapped employees have the same tools available to do their jobs as do employees without disabilities. The DP-3000E is an upgraded version of the DP-2500, which was rated Outstanding by the Business Equipment Research and Test Lab (BERTL). It is one of the only out-of-the-box digital imaging systems that does not require add-on features to make it multifunctional. The system comes with digital plain-paper copier function, scanner function and Panasonic document management software. In addition to ensuring that employees with certain physical disabilities can access the imaging equipment they need to do their job, the DP-3000E, DP-2500 and DP-2000 have the distinction of being one of the first Internet-ready generation of digital copiers. The imaging systems enable the data or document workflow to be integrated into a single, virtually seamless process for increased efficiency and productivity for all users. Its a one-stop control center for input and output of all documents be they paper or digital. Fax and high-speed network printer functions are optional. The three models from the WORKiO Series have several important features for employees with vision, hearing and physical disabilities:
Vision Buttons are grouped by function and are tactilely discernable by shape and profile/height. Keypad has phone button layout and nib on the 5 key and the start button. Status warning tones indicate paper jam.
High-contrast LCD with adjustable contrast settings.
Hearing All warning/status tones are duplicated by large visual indicators. Volume control for tones and voice. Physical Wheelchair accessible, i.e., all controls are within 10" from the vertical plane. Controls do not require significant force or tight pinching, grasping or twisting of the wrist to operate. The WORKiO DP-3000E makes 33 copies per minute and also has a 33-page-per-minute (ppm) printing speed. The system features a fast, 3.8-second first-copy time. The WORKiO DP2500 and DP-2000 copy at 25 and 20 pages per minute (ppm), respectively and boast a 4.5second first-copy time. All three models have crisp, 600-dpi resolution. The WORKiO Series has a compact, wingless design that makes it an easy fit in most any office. Equipped with a 2,250-sheet standard paper capacity, the DP series of digital copiers includes such convenient features as 4-in-1 and 2-in-1 copying and Digital Sky Shot to speed document production. The high-speed workgroup copiers offer optional modules for expandability. When fully configured, a WORKiO turns into a network laser printer/scanner, dual-line Super G3 fax and Internet fax. Office workers both with and without disabilities have found these networking features to substantially increase their productivity. The optional parallel interface kit turns the WORKiO into a network-ready, 600-dpi PC printer and scanner that can handle up to ledger-sized paper and images. The optional network interface kit gives everyone on the LAN access to the WORKiO. With the Internet fax option, the WORKiO delivers true paperless faxing. The device converts paper documents into image files and transmits them as e-mail attachments via a LAN. Documents can be sent directly from a WORKiO to other Internet faxes, or even to multiple e-mail addresses worldwide, at the touch of a button. The WORKiOs optional high-speed,

Super G3 fax capabilities include 3-second-per-page transmission, dual-line communication, multi-access operation and quick memory transfer. For even greater efficiency, documents can be sent as both e-mail and faxes at the same time by using LAN and PSTN lines simultaneously. In the United States, Panasonic Document Imaging Company (PDIC), a Business Unit of Matsushita Electric Corporation of America (MECA), markets a broad line of office system products. Products available include Internet fax machines, digital and analog copiers, and multifunction devices. Headquartered in Secaucus, NJ, MECA is the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (MEI) (NYSE: MC) of Osaka, Japan. For more information, visit www.panasonic.com. ###
08/01 All brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. EDITORS NOTE: A product image of the 3000E digital system is available on Panasonics Extranet site at b2b.panasonic.com/pdic. Username: images. Password: images. Select Marketing Materials, Select a Product Category and click on Image Gallery. For a product demo/review contact Chris Florentz at (215) 592-8601 (chris@bartgil.com); or Charlie Sassaman at (215) 592-8601 (charlie@bartgil.com). Please do not publish the editorial contact telephone number. End users may obtain sales information by contacting PDIC at 1-800-742-8086 or 201-348-7000, or by visiting Panasonics home page @ http://www.panasonic.com/office. Panasonic is GSA-listed. To purchase Panasonic copier equipment refer to GSA contract number GS-26F-1011B.