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Epson, long known for its consumer and photo printers, is moving into the business printer market with two new color printer models aimed at corporate workgroups and small to medium-size businesses.
The WorkForce Enterprise WF-C20590 multifunction printer prints across an entire page using a series of side-by-side, direct-spraying ink heads rather than a single moveable ink head; the WorkForce Pro WF-C869R multifunction printer integrates a replaceable ink pack system to reduce printing costs for businesses.
Epson announced both machines on March 20 as the company looks to capture more of the business printing market with devices that target offices with multiple users. The new printers aim to provide color printing for offices at lower costs than color laser printers, according to the company.
The WF-C20590 printer uses Epson’s new PrecisionCore Line Head Technology, which essentially shoots ink across a page using a line of side-by-side ink jets to create a printed page without a moveable ink head. The machine will print up to 100 pages per minute.
The WF-C20590 operates using a standard 110-volt outlet and consumes less power than a color laser printer while offering a 2,350-page paper capacity. Also available is an optional 3,000-sheet accessory paper holder and an optional finisher for collating and stapling documents after printing. The printer cartridges are expected to provide up to 100,000 black pages and up to 50,000 color pages before needing to be replaced, according to Epson.
The WF-C20590 also comes standard with PCL/PostScript, fax and wireless capabilities and has a full array of security features, including PIN number certification for job release, and user control access customization and configurable printer and network settings via Web Config using the printer’s IP address.
The smaller WF-C869R printer uses Epson’s replaceable ink pack system, which is expected to yield up to 84,000 printed pages before requiring replacement. Print speeds of up to 24 prints per minute in black and color can be expected, while scans can be made at a rate of about 25 images per minute. The machine also includes 13-by-19-inch printing, a 1,830-sheet paper capacity, auto-duplexing capabilities and workflow integration with Epson Open Platform applications. The WF-C869R is a four-in-one unit that prints, copies, scans and faxes, with wireless, Ethernet and PCL/PostScript capabilities.
The Epson WorkForce Enterprise WF-C20590 will be available in this summer, while the WorkForce Pro WF-C869R will be available this spring.
“By leveraging Epson’s high-speed production inkjet technology, we were able to solve a long-time challenge for SMB and large workgroups: making color printing in the office accessible to all, at an affordable cost,” Mark Mathews, the commercial vice president of marketing for Epson America, said in a statement. “Delivering 100 pages per minute, the WorkForce Enterprise WF-C20590 is the first in a new class of Epson printers that integrate PrecisionCore Line Head Technology to unleash unrestricted and cost-effective color printing in the office.”