Vision
Every document processed and delivered flawlessly.
Mission
To be the technology partner of choice by delivering imaginative automation solutions and by creating continuous value for our customers in addressing their document management needs.
Values In Action
- We are…a company committed to our customers.
- We believe…integrity = success.
- We strive…for knowledge, improvement, excellence.
- We create…practical, affordable, sustainable solutions.
- We will be…leaders by example and by results.
History
Bell + Howell has a long history in the development of imaging technologies starting with the design and manufacturing of cameras and evolving into document imaging and document processing technologies.
- 1907 – Bell & Howell founded in Chicago by Donald J. Bell and Albert S. Howell.
- 1908 – Introduced the 35mm film perforator.
- 1910 – Bell & Howell introduced its first cinematograph camera. It was made entirely of wood and covered with black leather.
- 1912 – Produced the first all-metal movie camera, the 2709. Production of this camera continued through 1958.
- 1923 – Introduced the first 16mm spring-wound camera.
- 1934 – Produced the first 8mm movie projector.
- 1946 – Bell & Howell entered the microfilm business.
By the end of the decade, Hollywood was nearly 100 percent equipped with Bell & Howell products.
- 1953 – Awarded an Academy Award for its pioneering and basic achievements in advancement of the motion picture industry.
- 1962 – Bell & Howell employees awarded an Oscar for the design and development of a new and improved automatic motion picture additive color printer.
- 1975 – Awarded an Oscar for the engineering and manufacture of a computerized tape punching system for programming laboratory printing machines.
- 1980 – Bell & Howell employees awarded an Oscar for the development and manufacture of a modular continuous contact motion picture film printer.
Given Bell & Howell’s expertise in developing and manufacturing cameras, the company was poised to enter the imaging industry.
- 1986 – Entered the scanner business with the acquisition of Image Peripherals, an Acton, Mass.-based subsidiary of Correlative Systems International (Brussels, Belgium).
- 1986 – Released the Copiscan I scanner line.
- 1988 – Introduced Copiscan 2115 and the higher-speed 2118 with automatic document feeder.
- 1989 – Bell & Howell scanner unit became part of Bell & Howell Document Management Products Company (DMPC).
- 1990-92 – Introduced the Copiscan II Series of scanners including the company’s first desktop, mid-volume 6338 duplex and 3338 simplex scanners.
- 1991 – Launched a proprietary image enhancement technology called ACE (Adaptive Contrast Enhancement) for the Copiscan II Series models 6338, 3338A, 2135A, 2137A and 2138A.
- 1993 – Introduced a SCSI interface and high capacity, 500-page auto-feeder, ADF500, for all models.
- 1994 – Introduced enhanced versions of Copiscan II Series (simplex/duplex) with color dropout.
- 1995 – Launched the 1000 FB flatbed scanner, the first of the FB Series scanners, and the Copiscan II Imprinter feature.
- 1996 – Opened Bell & Howell office in Malaysia.
- 1996 – Launched the PS Series high-volume scanners and introduced the AccuFeed and AccuFeed Plus automatic document feeders for the Copiscan II Series. ·
- 1997 – Introduced the Copiscan 4040D entry-level scanner and the Copiscan II industry-specific scanners.
- 1998 – Launched the Copiscan 8000 Series high-end scanners and the 500 FB flatbed scanner.
- 2000 – Launched the Copiscan 8000 Plus line with automatic document feeders, page lamp sensors and the first hardware VirtualReScan (VRS) for mid- to high-end scanners.
- 2001 – Opened new Bell & Howell office in the UK.
- 2001 – Supplied 1,000+ scanners to FedEx to help create the largest distributed scanning system in the world.
- 2001 – Launched service program to allow third-party service companies and VARs to receive Bell & Howell factory training for its scanner products and earn revenue by offering service on those products.
Bell & Howell revitalized by the support of its new parent company, Böwe Systec AG.
- 2002 – Böwe Systec AG acquired 50 percent stake in Bell & Howell to form the present-day Böwe Bell + Howell.
- 2002 – Launched the Big Picture Partner Program and International VAR Focus program to support U.S. and international resellers.
- 2002 – Launched federal government program to support growing market for imaging in the government sector.
- 2003 – Launched Copiscan 8000 Spectrum Series scanners for medium and high volumes with color option, ultrasonic multifeed detect, VRS 3.0 and “everything in the box” connectivity.
- March 2004 – Enhanced Spectrum color scanners with the addition of Auto Color Detect and Color Background Saturation and Dropout.
- March 2004 – Launched all-in-one-box, entry-level document management solutions — the Sidekick 1200 (workgroup) and 1400 (departmental) color scanner bundles.
- July 2004 – Moved headquarters to new Chicago-area location equipped with modernized product design/engineering resources, a dedicated showroom and upgraded IT systems.
- August 2004 – Böwe Systec AG announced a 100 percent acquisition over five years. September 2004 – Opened Böwe Bell + Howell office in Beijing.