BUYERS L AB A Comprehensive BLI Laboratory Evaluation · can each contain 10 scan profiles for...

Lab Test Report

BLI RECOMMENDATION

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BuyersLab.com © 2016 Buyers Laboratory LLC. Duplication in any manner is illegal and strictly forbidden without written permission from Buyers Laboratory. Violators will be prosecuted. To purchase reprints, contact BLI at [email protected].

A Comprehensive BLI Laboratory Evaluation MARCH 2016

The Panasonic KV-S2087 gave a very good overall performance during BLI’s evaluation thanks to its faster than average speeds, flexible bundled solution and easy to use design. The scanner’s 200-sheet ADF has an unlimited maximum paper size limit, allowing for the processing of a variety of document types, including plastic ID cards and rice paper. A straight paper path for scanning delicate or oddly shaped documents is also provided. The unit comes bundled with Panasonic Image Capture Plus, which lets users create up to 10 user groups that can each contain 10 scan profiles for frequently used operations. In addition, the solution’s Auto Rescan feature provides previews of settings changes. Users can also separate batches by control sheet, patch code detection, blank-page detection or barcode detection. The software also includes a variety of image processing tools, such as automatic colour detection, de-skew, de-speckle, reverse image, shadow removal, torn paper correction and dog-ear detection. Panasonic provides some options to further customize the device, including an imprinter accessory and an A4-size flatbed. Based on the unit’s better than average functionality, BLI highly recommends the KV-S2087 for departmental scanning environments looking for a fast A4 scanner able to process up to 10,000 pages a day.

Panasonic KV-S208785 PPM (170 IPM)

Test duration: Two weeks, 75,000 scans

Daily duty cycle: Up to 10,000 scans

Reliability ............................................................... ExcellentMedia Handling .................................................... Very GoodEase of Setup ......................................................... ExcellentDrivers/Utilities ..................................................... Very GoodWorkflow Analysis ...........................................Not applicableImage Quality ....................................................... Very GoodHardware Ease of Use ...................................................GoodEase of User Maintenance..................................... Very Good Productivity ........................................................... Very GoodFile Size .......................................................................... FairOCR Performance ................................................. Very GoodFootprint .......................................................................Good

BuyersLab.com ©2016 Buyers Laboratory LLC. Reproduced by permission of Buyers Laboratory LLC. Any duplication of this report without the written permission of Buyers Laboratory is unlawful and violators will be prosecuted. To purchase reprints, contact BLI at at [email protected].

Lab Test Report Panasonic KV-S2087BUYERS LAB

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2 BuyersLab.com © 2015 Buyers Laboratory LLC. Duplication in any manner is illegal and strictly forbidden without written permission from Buyers Laboratory. Violators will be prosecuted. To purchase reprints, contact BLI at [email protected].

STRENGTHS

• Highly reliable

• Faster than average multi-page speeds in black-and-white, colour and auto colour modes

• Large than average ADF capacity

• Ability to handle a wider than average range of paper sizes

• Better than average OCR accuracy for BLI’s Black and Red test documents

• Auto Rescan feature lets users adjust settings on the fly

• Standard three-year warranty

• Optional letter-size flatbed

• Panasonic Image Capture Plus

• Simple install process helps end users get up and running quickly

WEAKNESSES

• Large than average colour files sizes at 200 and 300 dpi

• Higher than average suggested retail price and estimated total cost of ownership

• Accepts a smaller than average range of paper weights through the ADF when using the U-turn paper path

RELIABILITY EXCELLENT

The Panasonic KV-S2087 experienced only one misfeed while running 75,000 impres-sions during BLI’s durability test.

Panasonic offers a three-year limited warranty for the KV-S2087, which is better than average for the group.

Tested Model Competitive Average

Meter count (beginning of test) 0 0

End of test period 75,000 35,000

Total misfeeds/misfeed rate 1/Not applicable 1/Not applicable

Total Malfunctions 0 0

, — and represent positive, negative and neutral attributes, respectively.

TEST RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS



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MEDIA HANDLING VERY GOOD

The Panasonic KV-S2087 features an automatic document feeder (ADF) with a capacity of 200 sheets, which is larger than average for the group.

The unit’s ADF handles paper sizes from 48 mm x 70 mm to 216 mm x an unlimited maxi-mum length, which is a wider than average range for the group.

The unit comes with a straight paper path for scanning delicate or oddly shaped documents, for example. Prior to scanning, users must switch a lever on the right side of the scanner to toggle to the straight paper path.

The ADF accepts paper weights from 20 to 160 gsm when using the U-turn paper path, which is a smaller than average acceptable paper weight range when compared with the competition. However, when scanning documents manually using the straight paper path, the unit can handle documents up to 546 gsm.

Media Types Scanned During Testing

Business cards Yes

Cheques Yes

Credit cards Yes

Embossed cards Yes

ID cards Yes

Long documents Unlimited

Carbonless forms Yes

Wrinkled paper Yes

Tri-folded documents Yes

Hole-punched documents Yes

A4-size documents Yes

Rice paper Yes

BLI scans each test document unless otherwise prohibited by product documentation.

The KV-S2087 has multi-feed detection, which is typical of competitive units tested to date.

The scan utility provides a feature to continue scanning after the batch completes.

The KV-S2087 offers batch separation via programmable control sheets provided by the company, patch codes, barcode recognition or by detecting a blank page in between batches.

In BLI’s tests, the device handled a mixed batch of different sizes, types and weights of media without misfeeding.

This unit scanned BLI’s vertical market batch, a medical history form, an ID card and an insurance form, without any errors.



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The document feeder offers face-up scanning in portrait orientation.

The Panasonic KV-S2087 can handle a virtually unlimited maximum paper length. (U.S. model pictured)

EASE OF SETUP EXCELLENT

The KV-S2087 comes with one install disc that includes Panasonic Image Capture Plus, the scan button settings utility and the Panasonic user utility.

Installing the utilities and software took five mouse clicks, which is fewer than average for the group.

Users have to restart the computer during the install.

The machine comes fully configured upon delivery; no trays or consumables need to be installed.

To finish the installation, users must insert the AC cable into the power inlet, then con-nect the AC cable to a power outlet and connect it to a PC via a USB cable.



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DRIVERS/UTILITIES VERY GOOD

TWAIN, WIA and ISIS drivers are included.

The drivers are Microsoft-certified.

BLI technicians noted above average overall ease of use from the scan utility. Although the settings window contains 12 tabs, most of the scan settings can be selected from the first two.

Image Capture Plus includes multiple ways for users to customize workflows and settings. When using the Default Scan Mode, users can create up to 50 scan profiles that can be accessed from the software. The profiles can be viewed in list format or as icons. For control panel access to profiles, users can program scan settings and job settings individually. While the scan settings profiles can include the typical round of profile settings, such as image enhancements, paper type, scan type, resolution, etc., the job settings profiles can include the batch separation type (blank page, patch code, etc.), file format and destination settings. In addition, an administrator can designate up to 10 groups that can each contain 10 profiles equipped with both scan and job settings. Each group and job setting can be custom named for easy access at the control panel. This may come in handy for organisations with multiple operators or companies that process multiple workflows related to specific groups or departments within an organisation.

Panasonic Image Capture Plus Image Preview Window (U.S. model pictured)

To create a new scan profile, users simply open the scan settings window from Image Capture Plus, choose their settings, select Save Settings and then name the profile. To create a new job profile, users click the Job Settings button from Image



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Capture Plus, un-select “Set to Simple Scan Mode” and click the Add button. The Job Settings window appears with two tabs: Scan and Output. Users then choose batch separation settings, the file type and destination; click Save Setting; and name the job profile. The Output tab also allows users to link a scan profile to the job profile. Users then navigate to the Application Settings window to name and define groups. Once configured, an administrator can also lock settings so that end users can no longer modify profiles.

Through the Scan Button Setting Tool, users can either choose Single-Touch Scanning or Touch-Free Scanning. For Single-Touch Scanning, users load their documents in the ADF, use the left/right arrows on the control panel to select the proper group, and the up/down arrows to select the proper profile and select the OK button to initiate scanning. For Touch-Free Scanning, users first select the group and profile in the same manner as noted above and then place the documents in the ADF. The device will begin scanning without requiring activation via the OK key.

Image Capture Plus has an Auto Rescan feature that will display nine versions of a scanned image, each with different settings. The recommended scan image will be out-lined in red. However, users can adjust settings by using a slide bar on the right side of the window. And once the desired adjustments have been made, users can save the document without having to manually rescan. Once users choose a desired image, the solution will save those settings for all documents within the batch. Should a scanned document in a batch differ in quality or need further attention, the solution automatically places a notification icon next to the document’s thumbnail image.

Four notification icons are available: Binary/Colour, which appears when the amount of coloured space is close to the user-adjustable “automatic binary/colour distinction” judg-ment value; Binary Image, which appears when the solution detects the need to change settings; Blank Page, which appears when the amount of blank space in a document is close to the user-adjustable “blank page removal” judgment value; and Unique Page, which appears when a unique document is detected among other documents of similar layout.

After scanning a document to Image Capture Plus, users can re-orient pages, change the page order, delete pages and move pages between documents prior to routing.

This unit also comes with control sheet templates that users can access and print from the installation disk. Control sheets have bar codes on them that, when read by the scanner, automatically change the scan settings to those encoded in the sheet. For instance, a user can feed 20 sheets in duplex black-and-white, and then have it switch to colour simplex by placing a control sheet with the correct bar code in front of the colour simplex job. While nine of the control sheets can be pre-configured via the Image Capture Plus software, 11 others are pre-programmed for frequently used jobs such as colour or binary scanning.

— There are no pre-set scan profiles available (complete with settings and destinations), which is unlike most competitive scanners tested. However, the scan utility provides some preset scan settings.

A Help file with very good information is available for the driver via the Help button on the Basic tab.



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Image Capture Plus provides a scan preview at the PC and a page count while scanning.

Pop-up error messages are displayed at the PC indicating a paper jam, for example.

Destination

Network folder Yes

Connected printer Yes

Local folder Yes

Email application Yes

Integrated USB port No

Scan to cloud No

Microsoft SharePoint Yes

Other Not applicable

File Type

PDF Yes

Encrypted PDF No

Searchable PDF Yes

Single-page TIFF Yes

Multi-Page TIFF Yes

JPEG Yes

Other PDF/A, Searchable PDF/A, BMP, JPEG2000

WORKFLOW ANALYSIS NOT APPLICABLE

As mentioned, the unit comes with Panasonic Image Capture Plus software; no other third-party solutions are provided.

IMAGE QUALITY VERY GOOD

Panasonic Image Capture Plus includes a variety of image processing features, such as automatic colour detection, auto crop, blank-page removal, de-skew, noise removal, smoothing, reverse image, background removal, RGB adjustments, border removal, dynamic threshold, automatic image rotation and shadow removal. Users can adjust the brightness and gamma settings Additional features include dog-ear detection, length control, automatic image emphasis, torn paper correction, white level balance and background colour correction.



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The unit’s colour drop-out function enables users to drop out red, green, blue or a custom colour to allow for improved OCR accuracy. In addition, users can choose to keep dark or black colours within a document. Multiple colours can be dropped out as well, and settings can be saved for future workflows.

The KV-S2087 scans at resolutions ranging from 100 to 1200 dpi, which is competitive for the group.

When digitally reproducing colours, the unit experienced a higher than average colour shift for warm red, green and blue. The unit’s magenta and yellow colour shifts were competitive for the group. And the unit’s cyan colour shift was lower than average.

Colour Shift Reading

Pantone Originals Tested Model Delta E Shift

Pantone Process Cyan 25.56

Pantone Process Magenta 17.32

Pantone Process Yellow 20.58

Pantone Warm Red 27.35

Pantone Green 35.69

Pantone Blue 41.00

The colours for the tested model are based on the RGB values of the original Pantone images after being scanned at 300 dpi and saved in TIFF format using default settings. The closer the Delta E number is to zero, the closer the scanned colour is to the original Pantone image.

HARDWARE EASE OF USE GOOD

The KV-S2087 control panel features a large multi-digit display that provides scan profile information. Skip, Start/Stop, Up/Down/Left/Right arrows, OK and Power buttons are also provided. The Left and Right arrow keys let users scroll through the various active groups and the Up/Down arrows let users select a scan job.

BLI technicians noted that loading paper is simple and on par with most other units tested in that both side guides slide simultaneously.

The ADF provides paper size and orientation indicators, as well as warnings against scanning documents with paper clips or staples.

BLI technicians found misfeed removal procedures to typical of most competitive units tested thanks its easy to open clamshell design. However, a graphical descrip-tion pops up when a misfeed occurs that helps to walk users through the misfeed removal process.



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Misfeed Access Area (U.S. model pictured)

EASE OF USER MAINTENANCE VERY GOOD

The unit comes with two user-replaceable consumables: the double feed roller and the feed roller. Each roller has a rated life expectancy of 350,000 scans, which are higher than average yields when compared with the competition.

According to BLI technicians, replacing the feed roller is a simple task thanks to the bright green handle on the left side of the roller shaft and the easy access to the feed module. Once the scanner jam access door is opened, users lower then green handled to remove the feed module.

Replacing the double feed roller is comparable to competitive units tested. Once the jam access door is opened, users must remove the black cover that encloses the double feed roller, then push the tab on the left side of the roller shaft further to the left and up to release the roller.

While the double feed roller must be removed for cleaning, the feed roller can remain installed for cleaning.

The scan utility provides a total scan count and a roller counter to help track mainte-nance schedules.

The user utility provides a Clean Mode that rotates the exit and feed rollers when the start button is pressed to ease roller cleaning.



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Roller Replacement Process (U.S. model pictured)

PRODUCTIVITY VERY GOOD

With a rated speed of 85 ppm (170 ipm) in black-and-white and colour modes, the KV-S2087’s tested scan speeds are faster than average in black-and-white, colour and auto colour modes at 200 and 300 dpi when measuring hardware throughput and soft-ware processing times.

The unit’s efficiency rates (the percentage of the rated speed at which it operates) are competitive with average in black-and-white, colour and auto colour modes when mea-suring hardware throughput and software processing times.

Tested Multi-Page Portrait Speed in PPM | Competitive Average

Hardware Software200 dpi

Black-and-white 88.7 80.3 86.0 76.4

Colour 88.8 73.6 86.3 69.0

Auto Colour 88.9 80.1 86.4 75.6

300 dpi

Black-and-white 89.4 77.9 86.8 73.8

Colour 89.1 68.6 86.3 63.9

Auto Colour 89.2 73.0 86.5 69.1

Tests were conducted using U.S. letter-size paper; A4 results may vary slightly.



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Multi-Page Hardware Efficiency Rate Multi-Page Software Efficiency Rate

Tested Model

Competitive average

Percent

0 25 50 75 100

104.3Black

108.2

Colour104.5

107.6

Auto Colour104.5

107.9

125

Percent

0

101.2Black

102.9

Colour101.6

101.0

Auto Colour101.6

101.8

12550 75 10025

The efficiency rate is the percentage of the rated speed at which the unit operates at 200 dpi for both black and colour scan modes. The closer the rate is to 100%, or if it exceeds 100%, the more efficient the unit.

% Decrease* In Hardware Scan Speed At 300 dpi Versus 200 dpi

Tested Model

Competitive average

Percent

0-2 42

Black

Colour

Auto Colour

-0.8

3.1

-0.3

8.6

-0.3

8.7

106 8

* Note that a rate of 0% or less indicates that there is no slowdown or an increase in speed when increasing the resolution.

% Decrease* In Software Scan Speed At 300 dpi Versus 200 dpi

Tested Model

Competitive average

Percent

-2 2 4 6 80

-0.9Black

3.6

Colour0.0

9.1

Auto Colour-0.1

8.4

10

* Note that a rate of 0% or less indicates that there is no slowdown or an increase in speed when increasing the resolution.




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O When increasing the resolution to 300 dpi, the unit’s speeds when measuring hardware throughput and software processing times exhibited virtually no slowdown in black-and-white and colour modes, which is competitive for the group.

O BLI compared the unit’s speeds before and after disabling auto crop and de-skew to gauge whether the device maintains its rated speed after changing settings. When mea-suring hardware throughput and software processing times, the unit exhibited virtually no speed fluctuations, which is also competitive for the group.

O The unit did not slow down when duplex scanning in black-and-white and colour modes, which is also competitive for the group.

The unit’s single-page scan speeds are competitive when measuring hardware through-put and faster than average when measuring software processing times in all modes tested.

Tested Single-Page Portrait Speed in Seconds | Competitive Average

Hardware Software200 dpi

Black-and-white 0.85 0.89 4.38 5.92

Greyscale 0.92 0.88 4.56 5.91

Colour 0.84 1.02 4.50 6.12

Auto Colour 0.97 1.02 4.53 6.10

300 dpi

Black-and-white 0.88 0.94 4.48 6.04

Greyscale 0.90 0.86 4.50 6.04

Colour 0.88 1.16 4.56 6.48

Auto Colour 0.91 1.15 4.56 6.55


FILE SIZE FAIR

— When scanning multi-page documents using default settings, file sizes are competitive with the average in black-and-white mode and larger than average in colour and auto colour modes at 200 and 300 dpi.

When tested using the unit’s compression technology, multi-page colour and auto colour file sizes reduced by about 80% and 82%, respectively, at 200 dpi. At 300 dpi, colour and auto colour file sizes reduced by about 81% and 82%, respectively.

O Tested file sizes when scanning single-page documents are competitive with the aver-age in black-and-white, colour, auto colour and greyscale modes at 200 and 300 dpi.



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Tested File Size in KB | Competitive Average

200 dpi 300 dpi

Single-Page Black 27 59 42 106

Single-Page Greyscale 276 225 512 412

Single-Page Colour 285 251 597 502

Single-Page Auto Colour 316 212 601 404

Multi-Page Black 721 1,684 1,034 2,858

Multi-Page Colour 6,400 5,878 13,107 12,106

Multi-Page Auto Colour 6,861 5,572 13,209 11,133

OCR PERFORMANCE VERY GOOD

When using the unit’s searchable PDF function, its OCR accuracy was higher than average while running BLI’s Black and Red test documents at 200 and 300 dpi, and BLI’s Green test document at 200 dpi.

O The unit’s OCR accuracy while running BLI’s Blue test document at 200 and 300 dpi, and BLI’s Green test document at 300 dpi were competitive for the group.

OCR Accuracy in Percent | Competitive Average

200-dpi Accuracy 300 dpi-Accuracy

Black 87.3 76.8 93.1 84.3

Red 90.6 83.3 97.2 89.1

Blue 89.5 85.3 93.8 90.5

Green 88.8 81.2 91.6 87.2

Note that for OCR testing, BLI compares the unit’s bundled OCR software results with those of other scanners tested. When OCR software is not provided, BLI tests OCR using Nuance OmniPage 18 Professional.

OTHER FEATURES NOT RATED

ENERGY STAR-qualified and RoHS-compliant.

Panasonic provides an 216 mm x 297 mm flatbed option and a printer accessory.

Users can also purchase carrier sheets for passport scanning.



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FOOTPRINT GOOD

O Weighing 9.0 kg and measuring 350 mm wide x 319 mm deep x 242 mm high, the KV-S2087 offers a slightly larger than average storage footprint (trays closed). With trays extended for operation, the depth and height increase to 521 mm and 241 mm, respec-tively, which is competitive for the group.



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Test Environment: This product was tested in BLI’s 929-square-metre test lab, in an environment monitored by a Honeywell Temp/RH chart recorder, which replicates typical office conditions.

Test Equipment: A PC running Microsoft Windows 7 Professional, based on a 3.3-GHz Intel Core CPU with 4-GB memory and a 74-GB hard drive. The scanner is connected to the PC via a USB cable.

Test Duration: A single product is tested for two weeks, one week of which consists of a reliability test during which the product is run at its manufacturer-rated duty cycle.

Tested Configuration: Panasonic KV-S2087 base unit.

Test Procedures: The test methods and procedures employed by BLI in its lab testing include BLI’s proprietary procedures. An industry-standard KATUN test original, as well as BLI’s 6% coverage original, are used in the speed tests. BLI’s test is designed to replicate real-world use over an eight-hour workday, and as such includes a mix of various types and sizes of documents, colour and black-and-white, lsingle-sided and double-sided. Tested originals include lightweight invoices, cheques, business cards, heavier card stocks, credit cards, ID cards and embossed cards, when supported. Speed tests are conducted in black-and-white, greyscale and colour modes using a single page and a stack of pages that is equal to double the unit’s manufacturer-rated scan speed. Speed tests are performed at 200-dpi resolution using single-sided pages and default settings. Additional tests are conducted to check for any slowdowns in duplex mode or after increasing the resolution to 300 dpi, or when enabling/disabling automatic scan features (auto de-skew, auto crop, auto orientation). The scan processing/transmission speed is measured from the time the technician initiates scanning from the scan software to the time it takes for the scanned image to appear at the PC or to be accessed from the PC (depending on the functionality of the utility). To measure the hardware speeds, technicians add an extra page to the batch to warm up the scanner, but only measure the speed from the time the second page begins scanning to when the trail edge of the last document exits the feeder. OCR tests are performed with all pertinent image processing features enabled at 200 dpi and 300 dpi using four clean, good-quality test documents in black, red, blue and green font colours. Each document contains the same pangram repeated in various font sizes and types. Tests are conducted using U.S. letter/ledger paper; A4/A3 results may vary slightly.

About Buyers Laboratory LLC: Buyers Laboratory LLC (BLI) is the world’s leading independent provider of analytical information and testing services to the document management industry. For over 50 years, buyers have relied on BLI to help them differentiate products’ strengths and weaknesses and make the best purchasing decisions, while industry sales, marketing and product professionals have turned to BLI for insightful competitive intelligence and valued guidance on product development, competitive positioning and sales channel and marketing support. BLI also offers private, for-hire testing services that help manufacturers develop and market better products and consumables.

Note: This report is based on BLI testing one representative test sample at a specific point in time. BLI is not responsible for differences in performance that may be the result of lot-to-lot variation, changes in production and machine modifications implemented by the manufacturer, service issues or any other reason beyond BLI’s control. Test unit serial #: G7959LA0032.

SUPPORTING TEST DATA

BUYERS LABORATORY LLC • North America • Europe • Asia

Gerry Stoia, CEODeanna Flanick, CROBrian O’Connor, CFO

EDITORIAL

Daria Hoffman, Managing [email protected]

HARDWARE

Dr. Simon Plumtree, European Managing [email protected]

Tracie Hines, Senior Editor, Competitive Analysis [email protected]

George Mikolay, Senior Product Editor, A3 [email protected]

Marlene Orr, Senior Analyst, Printers and A4 [email protected]

Lisa Reider, Senior Product Editor, Scanners and [email protected]

Carl Schell, Senior [email protected]

Kaitlin Pendagast, Associate [email protected]

Priya Gohil, Senior [email protected]

Andrew Unsworth, Associate [email protected]

SOFTWARE

Jamie Bsales, Senior Product Editor, [email protected]

Lee Davis, Research [email protected]

Robert Watts, Research [email protected]

LABORATORY

Pete Emory, Director of U.S. Research and Lab Services

David Sweetnam, Director of EMEA Research and Lab Services

COMMERCIAL

Gerry O’Rourke, Director, BLI International

Mike Fergus, Vice President of Marketing

T.R. Patrick, Art Director


DateGerry Stoia, CEO

BUYERS LABORATORY LLC

The Leading Independent Office Products Test Lab and Business Consumer Advocate

North America • Europe • Asia • BuyersLab.com

©2015 Buyers Laboratory LLC. Duplication without permission is prohibited.

















Awarded to

Panasonic System Networks Co., Ltd.for the performance of the

Panasonic KV-S2087in BLI’s in-house durability test

March 2016

This is to certify that when subjected to a 75,000-scan Buyers Lab durability test, the Panasonic KV-S2087

proved to be a highly reliable product.

©2016 Buyers Laboratory LLC. Reproduced with permission.

BUYERS L AB A Comprehensive BLI Laboratory Evaluation · can each contain 10 scan profiles for...

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