Sharp Office
Sharp History
For 50 years, Sharp has been dedicated to revolutionising the printing industry with the most sophisticated and innovative technology.
In 1972, Sharp officially entered the photocopier business by bringing to market the SF-201, the first wet-type electrostatic copier! What a throwback!
Through the years and decades, Sharp has continued to lead the way in printer and copier innovation, consistently delivering solutions to improve office efficiency and product. Not to mention, developing the world’s first COS electronic calculator incorporating LCD!
Sharp Office Newcastle has also recently celebrated 50 years in business.
As an authorised distributor of Sharp copiers and printers, we’d like to take a moment to celebrate and recognise the industry-leading organisation’s 50-year history. Here we look back at some of the most prominent and outstanding moments over the last half a century.
1972
Sharp enters what is then called the photocopier business and releases the first wet process copier, the SF-201.
1973
Development of the world’s first COS electronic calculator incorporating on LCD.
1974
SF-710 – Sharp‘s first plain-paper copier.
1979
Sharp SF-740 – The industry’s first copier to enable printing onto postcards and became a best-selling machine!
1984
Z-60 – The world’s smallest copier, one that was small enough to be considered for personal use, had innovative features including a developing unit that could be easily replaced by users themselves.
1985
SF-9500 – Sharp’s first high-speed model served to complete a full lineup – from the smallest personal models to high-speed machines.
1989
Sharp introduces its first full colour analog copier that achieves high-quality colour copying.
1991
SD-2075 – Sharp released a high-speed copier that could output 76 copies per minute. In the same year, Sharp copiers started producing 500,000 units a year.
1994
AR-5040 – Sharp introduced the digital copier which made physical copies after first storing the original image on a built-in hard drive.
1995
Sharp adding facsimile functions marking the dawn of the MFP (Multifunction Printer)
1998
AR-F280R – A 3-in-1 unit is born. The combined copier, fax, and printer provided multifunction and saved on space.
2005
Sharp MX-2700FG – Full colour digital MFP.
2008
Sharp MX-C381 – Sharp’s first A4 colour copier – BLI Pick of the Year Award.
2013
Sharp MX-7500N – Sharp’s first flagship colour MFP for light production environments.
2019
Sharp BP-20C25 – A compact, sleek and award-winning MFP released to fit in any work space, ideal for remote employees and home offices.
2022
50th Anniversary of Sharp
