Book2net Spirit A3 Advance Book Scanner
In short: An A3 overhead scanner built to replace the photocopier in a public library, office or reading room. A scan takes about a fifth of a second, and exposure, focus and colour calibration are set automatically before each capture — so an untrained walk-up user gets a usable result first time.
Built by Microbox GmbH in Bad Nauheim, Germany. Micrographics Data installs and services the Book2net range in Singapore. For daily production volumes step up to the Profi A2; for preservation-grade capture see the Ultra A2.
Point, press, done — in under a second
The volume lies open on the platen and the operator presses scan. Dynamic sensor monitoring reads the scene and sets light intensity, shutter speed, focus and colour calibration before the exposure, so nobody has to understand the settings to get a correct file.
An 8 cm depth of field keeps a thick or uneven spread sharp without pressing it flat under glass, and a real-time full-image video preview lets the user position the page before committing. Quality control runs in real time, so a bad capture is caught at the machine rather than in the batch.
Open
Volume lies open on the platen; no glass plate, no clamping.
Preview
Real-time full-image video preview for positioning.
Capture
Automatic light, shutter, focus and calibration; scan in about 0.2 seconds.
Deliver
True-colour file to PDF, searchable PDF, TIFF or JPEG.
Spirit A3 Advance brochure and video
Manufacturer video from book2net.
Specifications, options and configurations as published by the manufacturer.
Spirit A3 at a glance
Figures from the manufacturer's published specification. Confirm current options and configuration with our quotation.
The Book2net range
Choose by how far the binding safely opens, the largest format, and how much material there is.
For preservation masters or fragile bindings, the Spirit is the wrong tool — use a V-shape or glass-plate model
Government buyers procure through GeBIZ, where Micrographics Data is a registered supplier.
What is the Book2net Spirit?
An A3 overhead book scanner for offices, public libraries and archive reading rooms, positioned as a sustainable alternative to a copier system. Capture takes about 0.2 seconds and the machine sets its own exposure, focus and colour calibration before each scan.
How much does the Book2net Spirit cost?
It is quoted per configuration — software, workstation, self-service options, training and support all change the figure. Micrographics Data issues a written quotation, and a GeBIZ quotation for government agencies and statutory boards.
Can members of the public use it unsupervised?
That is the intent. The interface is designed so an inexperienced user gets a good result in under a second, because the machine sets light, intensity, shutter speed and colour calibration itself before each capture rather than exposing those choices.
Does it press the book flat?
No. The volume lies open on a platen with no glass plate, and an 8 cm depth of field keeps a thick or wavy spread sharp. That makes it gentler than a copier, though for genuinely fragile bindings a V-shape model is the correct choice.
How does it compare with the Profi A2?
The Profi is larger (A2), has a deeper 12 cm depth of field, selectable 300, 400 or 600 dpi and Book Fold Optimization, and is built for sustained daily production. The Spirit is an A3 machine for lighter, more public use. If a queue forms at the scanner, you want the Profi.
Is it suitable for OCR?
Yes, for ordinary printed material. Output is true colour with automatic exposure and focus, which is what OCR accuracy depends on most. For dense or degraded originals the Profi’s lower signal noise gives better OCR results.
What does it output?
Searchable PDF and PDF/A, TIFF and JPEG, with 24-bit external colour. Files go to the network or USB depending on how the unit is configured.
Should we buy or use your bureau?
Buy where readers and staff need to scan continuously and unpredictably — that is exactly the copier-replacement case. Use the bureau where the goal is to digitise a defined collection once, to a preservation standard.
Replacing a photocopier, or starting a digitisation programme?
Tell us the setting and daily volume; we demonstrate on your own material and quote the configuration.