Ricoh IM350 Printer Review and Specifications
1. Overview & Positioning
The Ricoh IM 350 is a compact, black-and-white multifunction laser MFP designed for workgroup environments. It supports printing, copying, scanning, and optional fax. According to specs, it prints at 35 pages per minute (ppm) and provides a balanced mix of productivity, compact footprint, and intelligent features for modern offices.
It’s part of Ricoh’s “smart MFP” lineup, featuring a 10.1-inch Smart Operation Panel, which gives a tablet-like UI for users to control jobs and workflows.
This model is well-suited for small to medium offices, branch locations, or departments that need reliable mono document output, but also want scanning and document workflow capabilities built-in.
2. Key Specifications & Features
Here are the major specs and distinguishing features:
General & Performance
-
Print / Copy Speed: 35 ppm (mono)
-
Warm-up Time: ~22 seconds.
-
First-Output (First Copy / Print): ~5.4 seconds.
-
Memory: 2 GB standard (max 2 GB).
-
Storage / HDD: 320 GB built-in hard disk.
-
Processor: Intel Atom “Bay Trail” 1.46 GHz according to its user manual / spec sheet.
Copy / Scan
-
Copy Resolution: Up to 600 × 600 dpi.
-
Copy Capacity: Up to 999 copies per job.
-
Zoom / Scaling: 25%–400%, in 1% increments.
-
SPDF (Single-Pass Document Feeder): 50 sheets.
-
Scan Speed: According to Ricoh spec, up to ~80 images per minute via SPDF.
-
Scan Resolution: Up to 600 dpi (per spec) for optimal quality scans.
-
Scan Destinations: Scan to folder (SMB, FTP), email, USB / SD, PDF, searchable PDF, etc.
Printing
-
Print Resolution: Up to 1,200 × 1,200 dpi for high-quality monochrome output.
-
Print Languages: Supports PCL5e, PCL6, PostScript 3 (emulation), PDF Direct (emulation) as standard. Optional: genuine PostScript 3, IPDS, PDF Direct from Adobe.
-
Network Interfaces: Standard – Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000), USB Host; optional – wireless LAN (802.11 a/b/g/n), second NIC, etc.
-
Duplex Printing: Automatic double-sided (duplex) printing supported.
Paper Handling
-
Standard Input Capacity: 500-sheet main tray (per some specs) but some sources say up to 2,100 sheets with options.
-
Supported Paper Size: A4, A5, A6, B5, and custom sizes; paper weight: 52–220 g/m² (per spec sheet).
-
Output Capacity: ~250 sheets typical (depends on configuration).
Physical / Power
-
Dimensions (W × D × H): ~476 × 442 × 510 mm.
-
Weight: Approx. 30.5 kg.
-
Power: 220–240 V, 50–60 Hz.
Security & Workflow
-
The 10.1-inch Smart Operation Panel provides a flexible UI for users to access workflow apps, document management, and “one-touch” functions.
-
Supports secure printing (HDD job storage), user authentication, and optional data overwrite / HDD encryption modules.
-
Has optional finishing / add-ons: extra paper trays, offline stapler, fax unit, IPDS unit, data overwrite security options.
Consumables
Here are some relevant components:
-
Compatible Toner Cartridge for Ricoh IM 350 — Compatible toner.
-
Genuine Ricoh Drum / Developer Unit (IM 350) — Drum / developer replacement for IM 350.
3. Performance & Real-World Use
Productivity
-
At 35 ppm, the IM 350 offers solid output for many mid-sized office tasks (reports, internal documents, scanning).
-
First-page-out (5.4s) and warm-up time (~22s) give good responsiveness; not instant, but very usable for shared office.
-
With 2 GB of memory + 320 GB HDD, the device can handle complex jobs, store frequent jobs, and support scan-to-HDD workflows effectively.
Copy / Scan Efficiency
-
The SPDF (50-sheet feeder) enables reasonably fast scanning or copying of multi-page documents.
-
The zoom range (25–400%) and good copy resolution make it flexible for scaling tasks (e.g., reducing large originals, enlarging).
-
Scanning to different destinations (PC, email, folder, USB) helps integrate with digital workflows and document management processes.
Connectivity & Integration
-
Built-in Gigabit Ethernet, plus optional Wi-Fi, means the IM 350 can be shared on a network easily.
-
It supports a range of print languages (PCL, PostScript, PDF) which helps with compatibility across different user devices.
-
The Smart Operation Panel (10.1") improves usability: users can preview, choose scan targets, or configure jobs without relying on a PC.
Cost & Maintenance
-
As a monochrome laser, its cost per page for black-and-white printing tends to be lower than for color devices.
-
The large HDD allows for job storage and review — useful for departments that reuse scan or print jobs.
-
Power consumption in operation is moderate; the model’s design includes energy-saving modes.
-
Consumable yield is decent: according to Ricoh’s own spec sheet, its starter toner is around ~14,000 prints.
4. Business Use & Deployment Fit
Ideal Use Cases
-
Workgroup Shared MFP: Good for a team of 5–20 people needing reliable mono printing, copying, and scanning.
-
Document-Intensive Departments: Useful for legal, finance, HR — departments that generate many scanned or printed documents.
-
Small / Branch Offices: Compact footprint (30.5 kg) makes it usable even where space is constrained.
-
Secure Print Environments: With HDD-based job store and security options, suitable for offices that manage sensitive documents.
Limitations & Trade-offs
-
No Color Printing: Only monochrome, so not suitable for colour graphics or marketing materials.
-
Scan Feeder Size: The SPDF is only 50 sheets; for very high-volume scanning, a larger feeder would be preferred.
-
Power Draw: While energy-saving, it uses a fair amount of power under load.
-
Finishing Options: The base model may not include advanced finishers — users may need to add optional modules.
5. Strengths & Weaknesses – Summary
Strengths:
-
Reliable 35 ppm mono printing/copying.
-
Large HDD (320 GB) for document storage & job management.
-
Modern Smart Operation Panel (10.1") for ease of use.
-
Flexible connectivity (network, USB; optional Wi-Fi).
-
Robust memory (2 GB) — can handle complex jobs and multitasking.
-
Compact design for an MFP with good capabilities.
Weaknesses:
-
No built-in colour capability.
-
SPDF capacity is moderate (50 sheets).
-
May require optional modules for full paper capacity or finishing.
-
Power usage under heavy load; standby or sleep modes must be optimized.
-
Consumables / maintenance cost depends on usage type.
6. Deployment Tips & Recommendations
-
Estimate Monthly Volume: Evaluate how many monochrome pages/month you’ll print to determine whether this device’s TCO makes sense.
-
Leverage HDD & Scan-to-Folder: Use the built-in HDD to set up “Favorites” or “Scan-to-folder/email” jobs so users can quickly send documents without configuring settings every time.
-
Use Energy-Saving Mode: Configure the MFP to go into low-power standby during idle times; this helps reduce energy cost.
-
Stock Consumables: Keep spare toner and potentially replacement maintenance parts (like drum) for better uptime.
-
Optional Add-Ons: Consider adding wireless LAN, or extra paper trays if your office needs more flexibility in paper handling.
-
Train Users: Educate staff on using the Smart Operation Panel, and how to use scan/copy presets to improve efficiency.
-
Secure Jobs: Enable secure printing or job-password protection if document security is a concern.
7. Final Verdict
The Ricoh IM 350 is a strong, efficient monochrome MFP for modern offices that need reliable print, copy, and scan, but don’t require color output. Its smart panel, built-in storage, and solid speed make it especially appealing for workgroups and business environments where document workflows matter.
-
✅ Recommended for: Small to medium teams, shared office environments, departments with moderate to high mono document flow, and offices that want a modern, compact MFP with good scalability.
-
⚠ Consider alternatives if: You need color printing, very high-speed scanning, or minimal power consumption devices.
PCL 6 Driver Pour Windows (64-bit) – 27,282 KB : Download
TWAIN scanner driver
Network WIA Driver – 5,249 KB : Download
Driver-Product Installation Software (macOS) – Printer Driver
Compatible avec :- Mac OS X 10.15 (macOS Catalina)
Ricoh IM350 Driver and Software Installation instructions
- Click the Download button
- The software will automatically begin to download to your computer.
- Double click the Panasonic file you just downloaded to launch the Panasonic Installer for your product.
- Follow any on-screen instructions.

Comments
Post a Comment