Epson: Inkjet is the future of business printing

Epson is not holding back in proving the Inkjet printer is not dead. Furthermore, it could even be more eco-friendly and more cost effective than laser.

Epson is perhaps better known for its industrial and consumer printing operations but it also has a keen eye on the enterprise space.

Back in September (how time flies) I was at the launch of a variety of products that will certainly give the likes of Canon, Sharp and Ricoh cause for concern.

Inkjet

Epson has thrown its weight behind Inkjet printing technology. This might at first appear a strange thing to do given the typical Laserjet systems often seen in many business printers today.

However, Inkjet technology does not result in heat, pressure or ozone being emanated. That adds up to a better working environment for staff.

Furthermore, this means less chance of breakdown or maintenance required of the printer itself. Moreover, you don’t have to handle messy toner cartridges.

Flexibility

Epson believes that Inkjet printing can be a far more flexible solution for enterprises. Especially on the points of providing benefits to efficiency and energy usage.

The company states that Inkjet printing offers a 92% saving on waste, and 94% less CO2 emissions.

Epson’s existing consumer Workforce printers have given it a strong position in the market

Reasoning from Rob Clarke

Reaching out to Rob Clark, senior vice president, Epson EMEAR, he had this to share:

The past decade has seen great leaps in technology and innovation. Technology has advanced our lives and how we work in ways that we could never have imagined ten years ago. If we look further back, today’s workplace is in many ways unrecognisable to that of the generation before us – and tomorrow’s workplace will change further still. But through all the change, some technologies manage to have incredible staying power, while others come and go. If we take inkjet printing as just one example, this technology has been extensively developed and re-developed for over 65 years, and today, my focus lies on having inkjet take a greater share of the €38 billion EMEA business printing market.”

Betting on Inkjet

He goes on to add:

Epson has invested €400 million in new inkjet production facilities in Japan and other markets, and we’ve made a commitment to invest a further €185 million over the next three years, specifically to further develop our PrecisionCore printhead technology. Incremental innovations in inkjet over time have already responded to many of today’s demands in the workplace, and the technology is so flexible and adaptable that it will continue to meet future needs.

I don’t believe that laser technology, for example, has the same staying power. It will likely one day be among the ranks of VHS recorders and typewriters. As a technology it was introduced almost 30 years after inkjet, and for a time it brought improved business benefits in terms of cost and speed. But the benefits of other technologies are fast overtaking the limited improvements laser is able to offer, and the once ubiquitous technology is now losing ground.”

That last statement does seem rather strong. However, it is backed up by real figures.

Industry analyst firm, IDC, has indicated that the overall business inkjet market is expected to grow at a rate of 10.2% (CAGR) by 2020.

Inkjet is expected to account for 34% of the total business printer market in Europe by 2019.

Tanks not cartridges

I realise that things move on but I hadn’t realised just how far Inkjet has come. I still buy cartridges, when needed. However, I was quite taken by Epson’s EcoTank solution.

Most of Epson’s printers pack these refillable tanks.

EcoTank printers offer an ultra-low cost per page that could reduce your printing costs by 74% on average.

That’s not surprising when you discover that they come with up to three years’ worth of ink included in the box.

Certain EcoTank printers enable you to print up to 14,000 pages in black and 11,200 in colour in one fill.

There is, of course, the added bonus of not having to find a place to dump your used cartridges safely. Epson’s inks come in recyclable plastic bottles.

I am certainly considering buying an Epson printer next.