Scanning Equipment FAQ’s

Q: Are Crowley and Mekel the same company?

A:In 1989, Mekel Technology introduced the first microfilm scanner to the world, followed closely by its first microfiche scanner. Today Mekel Technology, owned by The Crowley Company since 2003, continues to be an industry leader in capture technology and develops, manufactures and OEM’s a variety of cutting-edge products for the future of data preservation. The Crowley Company has chosen to preserve the strong brand name and key personnel of Mekel Technology, which is identified worldwide for its engineering and performance excellence.

Q: Some of my operators don’t have strong PC skills. How difficult is it to set-up and use your scanners?

A:The Crowley line of manufactured and distributed scanners is among the easiest in the industry to use. There are no complicated set-up wizards and each are designed so that a new operator, even one with limited PC skills, can use the scanners in minutes. With every scanner sold, The Crowley Company provides hands-on on-site installation and training. Additionally, we will help set the templates and image quality settings that are best suited for an owner’s conversion requirements. The Crowley goal is to make sure the operators/administrators have the equipment and software knowledge and understanding to ensure successful conversion efforts.

Q: I only have a small batch of film or fiche. Is it wise to purchase equipment or are there other options?

A:At Crowley, it’s understood that client’s needs vary widely and our representatives are trained to help determine the most cost effective solution available. Depending upon a customer’s individual situation, recommendations range from offering full-service scanning either on-site or at one of Crowley’s two imaging bureau locations to providing all the necessary hardware and software for a complete solution. For smaller-project scanning, The Crowley Company provides short-term rental to long-term leasing options to fit all scanning, processing and completion timeframe requirements.

Equipment Maintenance

Q: Is it true that Kodak also services The Crowley Company’s Mekel and Zeutschel scanning equipment?

A:Yes. The Crowley Company’s service agreement with Kodak is solely a customer benefit as our agreement allows for a quicker turnaround on minor repairs or regular maintenance in cases where there is a Kodak office closer in geography than one of our Crowley offices. Nothing changes from the client end – The Crowley Company is still your only contact. All Kodak personnel within the agreement are trained on the specific brands that The Crowley Company distributes including Mekel Technology, InoTec and Zeutschel.

Manual Book/Large-Format Scanners

Q: Other than true 600dpi x 600dpi optical resolution at full A2 and A1 sizes, what other advantages does the 14000 Series over the 12000 Series Zeutschel book/large-format scanners?

A:The 14000 Series Zeutschel units are at least twice as fast, offer bi-directional scanning to again increase throughput, offer interchangeable table/book cradle designs and offer parallel scanning and saving due to 64-bit technology and multi-threading. With the 14000-series’ 64-bit technology, an operator does not have to wait for a file to save before starting the next scan. Therefore, scan time + save time (usually referred to as cycle time), is truly only scan time, making for a very fast system. The 14000-series Zeutschel scanners were selected by the U.S. National Archives & Records Administration for their ability to meet and/or exceed NARA’s high quality and throughput requirements.

Q: What is Zeutschel’s Perfect Book technology?

A:Zeutschel’s Perfect Book technology employs a line scan camera as well as a matrix camera. The image obtained from both image sources is converted into a 3D equivalent. With this, the "Perfect Book" corrects the distortion of characters near a book spine/center and automatically recognizes the page sizes. The result? The compressed characters near the book fold are accurately aligned in the scan, the pages are automatically divided and scanned in the correct format, the book is deskewed using the gutter information and thumbprints are even removed from the image if needed to hold down the book during scan time. OCR recognition is considerably simplified, resulting in a notable increase in the recognition rate. Due to its true 3D data, Perfect Book does not depend on image margins for format recognition and determination of position. Instead, margin recognition is carried out using the height of the side profile on the right, left, and center of the book. The book is automatically and accurately aligned, which significantly facilitates the process for the user, saves time, and prevents damage to the material. This takes place during scan time without decreasing throughput or processing time. For an in-depth review, view the Perfect Book video. Perfect Book is only available on Zeutschel 12000- and 14000-series book/large-format scanners and walk-up patron bookcopy machines.

Q: Does Zeutschel have an entry level series of book scanner?

A:In Zeutschel’s line of scanners, the 12000-series book scanners and walk-up patron bookcopy machines are considered to be the most basic; however, these units bring the archival/preservation image and lighting accuracy to the price range of everyday scanners. The 12000-series Zeutschel scanners offer the perfect mix of image quality, throughput and automation, creating an “entry-level” scanner that stands in a class of its own. Call your Crowley Sales Representative or Crowley direct for more details.

Microfiche Scanners

Q: What is the difference between the Mekel Technology Mach VI and the Mach VII?

A:Speed. The MACH VII microfiche scanner provides twice the throughput as that of a MACH VI microfiche scanner. All other feature/functionality offerings are identical. The MACH VI can be upgraded to a MACH VII should the owner’s throughput and/or volume requirements change.

Q: Are the Mekel Technology microfiche scanners auto-load only or can they be manually loaded as well?

A:The Mekel microfiche scanners were not only the first production-level microfiche scanners on the market, they remain to this day the only tried and true production auto loading microfiche scanner in the world. That said, not all microfiche will auto-load correctly, particularly those worn or torn from years of use. Adapting to fiche disparity, the Mekel microfiche scanners also allow for easy manual load. Even when manually loaded, the Mekel MACH-series microfiche scanners are still the fastest production microfiche scanners on the market today. There are imitations, but none which can boast a seventh generation model that has matured without rival.

Q: Can I only scan standard 105mm (ie. 4 in x 6 in) microfiche on the Mekel Technology microfiche scanners?

A:Not only can the Mekel VI and VII microfiche scanners digitize small fiche and/or larger tab-length microfiche, they can also scan aperture cards without issue.

Q: Do the Mekel Technology microfiche scanners come with the Quantum software package?

A:Quantum software is currently under development for the Mekel MACH-series microfiche scanners. The good news is that many of the throughput and quality control benefits Quantum software euips MACH roll-film scanners with are already built into the current FastFiche software solution bundled with the Mekel MACH VI and MACH VII microfiche scanners. Contact your Crowley sales representative or hardware@thecrowleycompany.com for details.

Microfilm Scanners

Q: What are the differences between the Mach III, MACH IIIQ and the MACH V?

A:Speed and software offering. The MACH III roll-film scanner comes with FastFilm software for traditional edge/blip detection roll-film scanning at a throughput rate at 60% of the MACH V roll-film scanner. The MACH IIIQ offers the same, but is also bundled with Crowley’s industry-leading Quantum software package for strip-roll film scanning and quality control to ensure 100% image capture. The MACH V roll-film scanner comes with FastFilm and Quantum Software packages as does the MACH IIIQ, but offers throughput at up to 350 pages per minute for traditional scanning or only six minutes a roll for Quantum strip scanning. The MACH III and MACH IIIQ can be upgraded to a MACH V should an owner’s throughput and/or volume requirements change.

Q: My microfilm is on 1,000 foot rolls. Can Mekel Technology microfilm scanners handle that? What about 3M cartridges?

A:The Mekel MACH-series roll-film scanners can scan the following as “standard:” 16mm, 35mm, 100’, 215’, 1,000’ and 3M/ANSI cartridges. No expensive additional add-on options are required.

Robotic Book Scanners

Q:Is there an automatic page turning solution for large-volume book scanning that is reliable and won’t damage the pages?

A:Yes. The Crowley Company is pleased to be the exclusive U.S. distributor of the only true production-level robotic 2-in-1 book scanner on the market today: the Qidenus RBS Pro TT tabletop unit.

Q:How do Qidenus robotic book scanners compare to the competition?

A:Important differentiators/advantages include:

• Glass plate page-flattening mechanism which guarantees no curvature of text/data near spine
• Complete workflow software
• A sole mechanical method which means no harmful vacuum mechanism
• Double-page turning detection which guarantees only one page is turned at a time
• Intelligent double-page control (self adaption)
• Fully-automatic and/or manual page turning modes
• Ability to easily scan front and back book covers
• All inclusive pricing: includes scanner, camera systems, capture workflow software, installation/training and a full 12-month replacement guarantee. Qidenus and The Crowley Company stand firmly behind their equipment.

Q:Is there a guarantee that the Qidenus automatic page-turning robotic scanner will only turn one page at a time?

A:The Qidenus RBS Pro units have self-regulating page thickness and turning devices that self learn expected page thicknesses to auto detect if more than one page is being turned at a time. The system will smartly retry a few times as designated by the operator in the system. If it cannot turn a page, it will alert the operator in the room via audible and visual light signal. A quick adjustment is made and the operator can place the unit back into production mode. This is in direct contrast to competitor scanners which use unreliable ultrasound and vacuum techniques which may be harmful to original material. For more details, view the Qidenus gentle-touch video.