Kyocera Canada has recently introduced a four unit series of new colour network laser printers. These new models represent the latest in a long series of constantly upgrading colour printers for the office market place which started several years ago with the FS-C1516 model.
These new printers range in speed from 23 ppm, FS-P6021cdn to 37 ppm, P7035cdn. In between these two are the 28 ppm P6026cdn and the 32 ppm P6030cdn. Each model comes with standard duplex (automatic double sided) printing, 500 sheet paper drawers (250 sheet in FS-P6021cdn) and the ability to add additional 500 sheet drawers, 2 for the 23 ppm model and 3 for the faster units.
These printers are designed to handle multiple types of letter or legal paper. They come with standard 512MB memory upgradeable to 1.5 GB. Hard drive options include 32GB and 28GB SSD drives.
Kyocera printers have always been targeted to volume printing in busy offices and generally these units are designed to maintain that trend. They use long life imaging units with the P2026 and P6032 having a rated 200,000 image life and the P7035 300,000 image life. Because of this Ecosys technology, the operating costs of these units is lessened since the imaging drum is not replaced with each toner change as in cartridge based units.
One of the key things to consider in purchasing or leasing a colour laser printer is the overall operating costs which you will incur. Lower cost printers usually have higher operating costs and at times it works out that if you pay more for the printer, the yields associated with consumables will offset the capital cost through lower operating costs. Using the rated yields of toner and imaging unit for the FS-P7035cdn the estimated all in operating cost would be between $0.086 and $0.090, eight point six or nine cents per page.
When you compare this to the entry level unit the FS-P6021cdn you see an estimated operating cost of around $0.18 or eighteen cents per page. In between the P6026cdn comes in about $0.11 per page and the P6030cdn actually approaches the bottom rate at $0.087 per page. When you factor in the purchase price differences you will see that if you do any volume at all the higher priced and higher performance models will provide a better overall value. MSRPs are $1225, $1955, $2429, and $3310 as you go up the speed scale.
My calculations show that the value point for these units (unless you just have to have maximum speed) comes in with the P6030cdn. Giving the best overall cost when capital and operating costs are combined.
There is a wireless option available which permits an untethered print capability and the units come standard with 10/100/1000 base ethernet and high speed USB ports.
Each printer supports Apple Airprint which permits driver less printing from iOS and OS X devices and Kyocera Mobile Print permits driver less printing from other mobile devices such as Android tablets or smart phones. Also a Kyocera utility, COMMAND CENTER RX, permits users to view toner levels, paper availability and device status via users’ Web browser. As with all Kyocera brand print devices, Kyocera's Prescribe command language is available to enable advanced forms control and other specialized printing capabilities.
Colour printing has become a standard in most offices as the price of units has dropped while the speeds and features have improved. These latest models permit a choice to be made to match the demands of your office without having to break the bank either for capital acquisition or for operating costs.
If you have been holding off on installing a colour printer or if you are ready for a replacement of one which has gotten long in the tooth the new Kyocera models could just be right for you.
What are you using for colour? Is a printer or a colour enabled MFP right for you?
Lee K
