Discounted Microfilm Scanning, Microfiche Scanning, Aperture Card Scanning, and Imaging Services

Is Your Microfilm or Microfiche Reader Printer Broken?

The Problem of Obsolete Technology

Many organizations have been contacting Generation Imaging recently about replacing, fixing, or finding an alternative solution to their broken microfiche or microfilm reader printers. There is a level of panic because without a microfilm or microfiche reader, the organizations are unable to service clients or perform their daily tasks.

microfiche reader

Microfilm reader printers have been great machines for many decades, and have helped many government agencies, libraries, researchers, and businesses, however in the 21st century they are archaic because new technology has taken their place.

Panic Attack

However there is a sense of urgency now because many of the original companies no longer support, maintain, or have the parts to fix these old reader printers. Or, of they do, the cost is too high. This is the main reason why organizations are having major issues and are reconsidering their current methods of using reader printers.

What Are Some Common Reader Printers?

Microfilm and microfiche reader printers are designed to view and print microforms. They have self-contained print engines that use dry toner and plain copy paper while others send the data to output on laser printers.

Popular microfilm or microfiche reader printers are made by Canon, Alos, Micro-Image,  or Minolta.

What Are Microfiche or Microfilm Readers Used For?

Organizations use microfiche or microfilm reader printers to find account numbers or documents which are currently stored on microform. A person must first find the microform, which may or may not be organized by a policy number or alphabetically, walk over to the reader printer, fast forward the roll film (or place the microfiche on the glass platen) and find the specific documents. Frames can be saved individually (one at a time) as a digital image, and be printed, faxed, or emailed.

Many insurance companies, government agencies, schools, financial institutions, and other organizations must deal with requests for records on a daily basis. Others just occasionally have a need to provide this service but must comply with these requests in a timely manner. It can be awfully embarrassing if these “pulls” are not satisfied, and in some cases there may be legal ramifications.

The Alternative to Microfilm Readers

Microfilm scanning (or microfiche scanning, the generic term is microform scanning) bypasses this entire reader printer method. An organization’s entire collection can be converted to digital image all in one shot. It it is much faster for Generation Imaging to scan an entire roll film collection in a short period of time and to give every image on every roll (or microfiche). The entire collection can be indexed or named by the specific fields and data needed to pull up an account.

Price of Microfilm Printer vs Microfilm Scanning Cost

The low cost of a microfilm conversion or microfiche scanning project may surprise you- well, at least the price from Generation Imaging (we can’t vouch for other microfilm scanning companies). Feel free to contact a Generation Imaging representative by phone, email, or office to request a free scanning conversion quote.

Then it’s time to calculate the cost of getting a new reader printer ($3200-$6000), fixing it,getting a used reader printer with no warranty, buying into a maintenance plan, and the current cost and time it takes employees to perform the task of pulling requested accounts.

Is It Time to Change Your Workflow?

Now even if your calculations show that the cost is around the same, you must consider “going forward” would you rather continue to deal with a machine prone to breaking down with the inconvenience of having someone manually look for an image, or have a fully digital and searchable collection that allows the request to be instantly made available?

What is Generation Imaging?

Generation Imaging is a microfilm scanning service bureau located in South Florida. Unlike some other microfilm scanning companies, G.I. Partners (Generation Imaging) does not subcontract projects to any other scanning company or use any overseas indexing service.

Generation Imaging was founded by Damian Hospital and Dan Gandul. Both men have decades of microform experience, and have worked together on all kinds of media, software, scanners, and have written numerous technical information, manuals, guides, bids, and standard operating procedures.

How to Contact Generation Imaging

Damian Hospital or Dan Gandul can be contacted directly via phone, email, or scheduled office appointment. All of the contact information is on this website. Most clients or potential clients use email to make initial contact, but any method is OK. Dan and Damian will work with you to get the necessary information to perform your scanning project.

Generation Imaging will not bait and switch your scanning quote. There are no setup fees (hidden or otherwise), and no pushy (or otherwise) sales pitches. There is no need to be shy or skeptical, contact Generation Imaging for a free microfilm or microfiche scanning quote today.

G.I. Partners

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