Epson details plans for growth within the business printing market
Epson has outlined its plans for growth within the business printing market, and the products developed to enable it. Leveraging its industrial inkjet print head technology, PrecisionCore, Epson has developed the WorkForce Pro RIPS (Replaceable Ink Pack System) range, to offer businesses a series of inkjet products that deliver uninterrupted printing for up to 75,000 pages without the need for a consumables change. The new products are expected to help Epson further accelerate the shift from laser to inkjet within the business printing market.
The Replaceable Ink Pack System has been developed to address the impact of printer downtime and maintenance issues within the workplace. The products are also designed to help businesses take advantage of the convenience benefits of a localised printer fleet, but with the predictable costs of a centralised model.
The RIPS range includes an A3 model that addresses a gap in the market for A3 business inkjet printers. The full product range is the result of a €125 million investment into production facilities in Japan, enabling Epson to move high-end industrial print head technology into the volume market.
Andrew Semple, head of business imaging, Epson Europe said: “This is the next generation of Epson Inkjet technology, and offers more flexibility and potential than laser, meaning superior scope for development and the ability to evolve in-line with changing market needs.”
Epson’s belief in inkjet technology was given credence by market insight from IDC, that outlined the continued growth of the business inkjet market and the technology’s increasing adoption into business.
Phil Sargeant, program director, IDC, said: “As a whole the business inkjet market is growing year on year, maintaining growth even in years when laser sales have declined. Business inkjet products are expected to account for 25% of the business printer and multifunction market by 2017.”
Alongside the new WorkForce Pro RIPS, Epson also launched a range of new business inkjet models that bring improved speed and reliability to the business inkjet market. Both the new business inkjets, and the new WorkForce Pro RIPS, strengthen an already robust business inkjet line-up that boasts up to a 50% reduction in cost per page and a 80% reduction in power consumption when compared to comparative laser products.
