An open track scanner is a production-grade document scanner designed to process massive volumes of paper quickly and efficiently. Unlike closed-path scanners, which move paper through an enclosed transport mechanism, open track scanners use a visible, exposed track. This design offers several advantages:

Operators can load new documents while the scanner is still running.

Paper jams are visible and can be cleared quickly.

The machine can handle mixed paper sizes in a single batch.

With rated speeds of 200–300+ pages per minute (PPM) and duty cycles in the millions of pages per month, open track scanners are built for continuous, industrial workloads.

Open track scanners are not for every organization. They are specifically designed for high-volume scanning environments, where speed, reliability, and cost per page matter most. The best candidates for open track scanners include:

Service bureaus that digitize millions of pages for clients.

Government agencies digitizing records and archives.

Healthcare systems converting patient records to digital EMRs.

Banks and financial institutions handling checks, contracts, and loan documents.

Large enterprises undergoing digital transformation with massive backlogs of paper.

For small and medium-sized businesses that only scan a few thousand pages per month, open track scanners are typically overkill. Departmental or production-class closed-path scanners are often more cost-effective.

Open track scanners: Built for speed and volume, handle mixed paper sizes, allow easy jam clearance, require more space. The biggest difference lies in design and use case:

Open Track Scanners

• Rated for 200–300+ PPM
• Handle mixed-size batches
• Exposed track allows for fast jam resolution
• Built for 24/7 industrial use
• Large footprint, higher noise levels

Closed-Path Scanners

• Rated for 20–150 PPM
• Best for uniform paper sizes
• Jams require stopping and opening panels
• Compact and quieter
• Ideal for office or departmental use

In short, closed-path scanners are well-suited for office environments, while open track scanners shine in high-throughput, production workflows.

Closed-path scanners are more compact, quieter, and designed for small-to-medium office environments, but slower and less efficient at scale.

Most open track scanners run at speeds between 200 and 300+ PPM. That translates to 10,000–18,000 pages per hour. However, it’s important to note that rated speed is only one part of the equation. Real throughput depends on:

• Document preparation (removing staples, unfolding pages).
• Operator efficiency.
• Image processing (OCR, color correction, compression).
• Quality control and rescans.

For example, a scanner rated at 200 PPM may achieve 10,000 usable pages per hour in real-world conditions once these factors are considered.

Open track scanners excel at processing mixed batches of documents without the need for pre-sorting. They can handle:

• Small items such as checks, receipts, and tickets.
• Standard office paper (A4/letter).
• Legal-size and oversized forms.

This makes them particularly valuable in industries where document formats vary widely, such as banking, healthcare, and government.

!!! One limitation: fragile or historical documents may not be suited for open track scanning. For those, flatbed or book scanners are recommended.

The short answer is, yesI 

Open track scanners are almost always paired with advanced capture software that enables:

OCR/ICR recognition, onverting scans into searchable text.

• Barcode indexing – Automating file separation and metadata assignment.
• Automated classification – Sorting documents by type (invoices, forms, contracts).
• PDF/A compliance – Ensuring scans meet long-term archival standards.

This combination of hardware speed and software intelligence makes open track scanners a central part of intelligent document processing (IDP) workflows.

Open track scanners do require skilled operators to maximize efficiency. Staff must be trained to:

• Manage high-volume batch preparation.
• Clear jams quickly.
• Adjust settings for mixed paper types.
• Oversee quality control.

That being said, once trained, operators find open track scanners intuitive. Many of the functions are designed to minimize downtime, allowing skilled staff to run long shifts with minimal interruptions.

Open track scanners are powerful, but they come with trade-offs:

• High Initial Cost – Prices often range from $60,000 to $150,000+.
• Large Footprint – They require dedicated space, not just a desktop.
• Noise Levels – Louder than office-grade models.
• Maintenance – Exposed tracks require frequent cleaning.
• Overkill for Small Workloads – Too much capacity for offices scanning only a few thousand pages a month.

For organizations that don’t require industrial throughput, the costs may outweigh the benefits.

Throughput is the most important metric for evaluating scanner efficiency. It is calculated as:

Throughput = (Usable Pages Scanned ÷ Total Time) × 60 minutes

For example:

A scanner rated at 200 PPM processes 30,000 pages in 5 hours.

After accounting for downtime, rescans, and processing, only 28,800 pages are usable.

Throughput = 28,800 ÷ 5 hours = 5,760 pages/hour.

This formula reflects real-world productivity, not just rated speed.