Ricoh MP 4055 — Features, specifications, performance, and business use

The Ricoh MP 4055 is a black-and-white A3 multifunction printer (MFP) built for busy offices and distributed print environments that need reliable monochrome output, high-speed scanning and flexible finishing options. Positioned in Ricoh’s mid-range office lineup, the MP 4055 balances raw throughput, a modern user interface and a generous set of optional modules so teams can tailor the device to departmental workflows — from mailrooms and finance teams to branch offices and education centres. 

What the MP 4055 is designed to do

At its core the MP 4055 aims to be the daily workhorse for organizations that primarily print and distribute black-and-white documents: contracts, reports, invoices, internal communications and forms. Where colour MFPs are needed only occasionally, a mono workhorse like the MP 4055 provides lower cost-per-page, faster engine speeds and simplified consumable management. Ricoh keeps the platform modular — you buy the basic MFP and add feeders, finishers, extra paper trays or security bundles as required, which is attractive for growing or budget-conscious IT departments. 

Key features — what stands out

• Fast monochrome output: Rated at up to 40 pages per minute, the MP 4055 delivers quick first-page-out time and steady throughput for typical office documents. This speed keeps short-turnaround print jobs moving and reduces user wait time. 

• High-resolution engine: The system supports print resolution up to 1200 × 1200 dpi, producing crisp text and clean greyscale graphics suited for professional documents and fine-line diagrams. 

• 10.1-inch Smart Operation Panel: A large, tablet-style touchscreen provides an intuitive UI for job setup, shortcuts, and apps; it supports swipe, pinch and programmable buttons so non-technical staff can perform complex tasks quickly. 

• Powerful scanning: The MP 4055 family offers high-speed scanning via a single-pass document feeder (SPDF) in many configurations — the SPDF can scan at very high images-per-minute rates to accelerate conversion of paper files to searchable PDFs and electronic workflows. OCR options can make scanned archives searchable.

• Flexible paper handling and finishing: Out of the box it supports multiple paper trays and bypass feeding; optional trays and finishers expand capacity and add staple/shift/offset finishing so the same device can serve reception-level one-offs as well as departmental print runs. Some configurations allow total paper capacity up to several thousand sheets. 

• Security and fleet management: Ricoh includes authentication, tray locking and network security features that help protect confidential output and integrate with enterprise print management tools for auditing, quotas and firmware control. 

Important specifications (concise summary)

• Print speed: Up to 40 ppm (A4). 

• Maximum print resolution: 1200 × 1200 dpi. 

• Scanner: Colour-capable SPDF (single-pass) and flatbed; high-speed scanning up to the hundreds of images-per-minute in duplex modes depending on configuration. 

• Standard paper capacity: Varies by model and options — typical base configurations include two 550-sheet cassettes plus a 100-sheet bypass; optional trays and large capacity feeders increase that to multi-thousand-sheet totals.

• Supported paper sizes: Up to A3 (ledger/tabloid) plus many custom sizes and weights depending on trays and bypass. 

• Control panel: 10.1" Smart Operation Panel with app framework. 

• Network: Standard Ethernet with PostScript3 emulation and PCL support; optional wireless in some variants and secure print release features.

(Exact SKU-level details — e.g., whether a specific unit includes SPDF vs ARDF, supplied hard drive size, or built-in wireless — depend on the chosen configuration and regional model. For procurement, confirm with the local datasheet.) 

Real-world performance — speed, quality and reliability

Throughput and everyday speed

In practice, a 40-ppm mono engine like the MP 4055 is well-suited for departmental demands: steady single-sided and duplex jobs complete quickly, and the device’s warm-up and first-page times are engineered to reduce idle waits. When configured with an SPDF and OCR software, teams converting archives or processing multi-page client packets benefit from batch scanning speeds that far outpace manual flatbed capture.

Print quality

At 1200 × 1200 dpi the MP 4055 renders small fonts, barcodes and fine line-art sharply. The mono engine handles halftones and greyscale with solid, predictable tone — ideal for forms, manuals, legal documents and technical drawings where readability and scanability take priority over photographic reproduction. 

Scanning and document capture

Ricoh’s single-pass duplex scanning captures both sides of multi-page documents in a single pass, dramatically reducing feed errors and improving throughput for document capture projects. Optional OCR converts images into searchable, indexed PDFs for integration with document management systems; this capability is critical where quick retrieval and text search is required. 

Reliability and serviceability

Ricoh builds these MFPs for continuous office use. Serviceability, modular consumables (toner, developer, drums), and widely available field service make uptime achievable for busy locations. For high-volume environments Ricoh and partners offer service contracts and supply management programs that help optimize total cost of ownership.

Where the MP 4055 fits in a business environment

• Mid-size workgroups and departments: The MP 4055 is ideal for groups that produce regular, large mono print runs — legal firms, finance departments, HR, municipal offices and educational departments — where reliability, speed and secure handling matter. 

• Centralized print/branch offices: With optional finishers and heavy paper capacity, the machine can serve as a centralized departmental printer or a satellite hub for branches that require consistent output quality. 

• Document digitization projects: High-speed SPDF scanning plus OCR make the MP 4055 an effective tool for records digitization, archiving and workflow automation projects that need searchable electronic records. 

• Regulated environments: Security features (authentication, locking trays, secure print release and audit logs) suit industries with confidentiality requirements — finance, legal, health care — when combined with strong network controls. 

Deployment advice and cost considerations

1. Right-size paper handling: Forecast daily volumes and choose optional trays/large capacity feeders only if needed. Extra trays reduce user interaction but add capital cost and footprint. 

2. Optimize for scanning workloads: If your main need is document capture, prioritise SPDF and OCR options rather than expensive finishing modules. This keeps the ROI focused on searchable archives and automated workflows. 

3. Monitor consumables & service plans: Mono MFPs are economical per page when you use high-yield toner and Ricoh’s supply programs. A service contract can be cheaper than ad-hoc repairs for mission-critical locations. 

4. Security posture: Enable user authentication and secure print release where confidential documents are printed, and ensure firmware is updated as part of IT patch cycles. For regulated industries, implement print auditing and encryption features available on the platform.

Pros and cons — quick view

Pros:

• Fast, dependable mono printing suited to heavy departmental use. 

• High-resolution printing with robust scanning/OCR options for digitization projects. 

• Modular architecture lets organizations pick only the capabilities they need. 

Cons:

• Monochrome only — organisations needing regular colour output will require a separate colour device. 

• Configuration complexity — because options are modular, procurement must be precise to avoid buying a unit lacking necessary features (e.g., SPDF, finishers). Verify the exact SKU and options before purchase. 

Conclusion

The Ricoh MP 4055 is a pragmatic choice for businesses that need high-volume, high-quality monochrome printing with strong scanning capabilities. Its 40-ppm engine and 1200 × 1200 dpi output deliver the speed and clarity most departments require, while an extendable platform of feeders, finishers and security functions makes it flexible enough to cover a variety of workflows. For organizations focused on document capture, secure printing and predictable cost-of-ownership in black-and-white, the MP 4055 is a compelling, workmanlike performer.