ibml
Birmingham-based provider of high-volume intelligent document processing with 30+ years heritage, serving 80% of world's top mailrooms across 48 countries.
Overview
ibml, majority-owned by Ares Management since 2007, operates as a consolidator in high-volume intelligent capture automation with 250+ staff globally. The Alabama-based company strengthened its market position through the acquisition of Exela Technologies' IntelliScan Smart Scanning Solutions in June 2023, expanding its scanner portfolio and North American maintenance operations.
CEO Martin Birch emphasized the acquisition would "provide our customers with a more diverse portfolio of best-in-class high volume intelligent scanning solutions." The company's products appear in over 80% of the world's top mailrooms, with core divisions spanning document scanning hardware, business process outsourcing, and production mail automation.
In April 2023, ibml launched the FUSiON HD scanner claiming industry-fastest 122ppm throughput at 600DPI while maintaining FADGI 3 Star compliance. CTO Pete Rudak noted the system "enables customers to achieve high productivity while simultaneously meeting the most rigid Image Quality standards for archival storage."
Key Features and Benefits
- FADGI 3 Star Compliance: Government-grade image quality standards at multiple resolutions for archival applications
- Industry-Fastest Processing: 122ppm at 600DPI with the FUSiON HD scanner launched in 2023
- Mailroom Market Dominance: Deployed in 80%+ of top global mailrooms with production mail equipment
- Acquisition-Expanded Portfolio: IntelliScan solutions added through 2023 Exela acquisition
- BPO Division Capabilities: Multimillion-dollar document conversions with around-the-clock processing
- Third-Party Integration: ibml Capture Suite integrates via TWAIN drivers with partner hardware
Use Cases
Government and Archival Processing
Government agencies deploy ibml's FADGI-compliant scanners for digital transformation initiatives requiring archival-quality imaging. Birch noted that "sophisticated customers, including many government agencies, are looking for fast, high-quality scanners that also meet the FADGI standards." The FUSiON HD processes historical documents, legal records, and compliance materials at 122ppm while maintaining quality standards.
Large-Scale BPO Conversions
ibml's BPO division handles complex document conversion projects using integrated hardware and software solutions. Director Erik Thimaras emphasized that specialized scanners are essential for profitability: "without the Colortrac scanners added to our processing capabilities, we would not have been able to complete the project effectively for our customers and profitably for ibml."
Banking and Financial Services
Financial institutions leverage ibml's 95%+ customer retention rate in mission-critical remittance processing, check imaging, and payment automation where accuracy and uptime are non-negotiable.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Flagship Scanner | ibml FUSiON HD (2023): 122ppm at 600DPI, FADGI 3 Star compliant |
| Previous Generation | ibmlFUSiON (2020): "World's fastest" ultra-high-volume with FADGI certification |
| Software Platform | ibml Capture Suite with TWAIN driver integration |
| Acquisition Assets | Exela IntelliScan portfolio (acquired June 2023) |
| Global Deployment | 48+ countries, 250+ employees |
| Market Position | 80%+ of top global mailrooms |
| Ownership | Majority-owned by Ares Management (since 2007) |
| Customer Retention | 95%+ in banking, financial services, healthcare, government |
Resources
Company Information
Headquarters: Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Employees: 250+ worldwide
Operating History: 30+ years
Global Presence: 48 countries