Printers aren’t exactly the most forwarded thinking piece of equipment in our homes and offices. For years it has been the same tale of buying new hardware, refilling it with ink and starting the process over again after a few cycles around the sun.
Epson is setting out to change all of that, not with some special new technology, but by giving you a whole ton of ink up front. The new EcoTank line of printers plans on flipping the whole industry on its head by providing a new way of filling up those ink tanks. In fact, Epson states that it will take you multiple years to get through one.
All told, Epson has five new EcoTank printers that are set for release in September. Ranging in price from $379 up to $1,199, these are certainly more expensive than traditional options you’d see at Amazon. Epson’s new models are still all-in-one options with much of the same technology that we’ve seen in recent years from them. The difference lies in the four large chambers that store enough ink to last you two years, according to Epson. That number is based on printing roughly 150 pages per month with the lower level models and up over 800 for the WorkForce rendition.
In the past, printer manufacturers would cut their profit margins on printers with the goal of making that money back over an extended period of time with ink refills. Online retailers are now offering third-party alternatives which are undercutting official cartridge prices, taking that money along with them. This has caused Epson to reconsider its model of doing business. When these new EcoTank printers run out of ink, a refill will cost consumers about $52 for all the colors or $12 individually. Epson claims that it would take over 20 individual cartridges to print the same number of pages. Although the upfront costs are more, the long term outlook is costs less if you’re committed to this style of printer.
Epson will be releasing five different models all together, covering consumers to small office needs along the way. The pricing is as follows: Expression ET-2500 EcoTank ($379), Expression ET-2550 EcoTank ($399), WorkForce ET-4500 EcoTank ($429), WorkForce ET-4550 EcoTank ($499), and the WorkForce Pro WF-R4640 EcoTank ($1,199). Epson will release these printers in September at select retailers online including Amazon.
We’d still recommend a laser printer, like the $95 model from Brother, for most at home printing needs. Particularly if you’re not needing many color prints, this is likely the most economical way to go.
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New “Supertank” Category of Printers Features Large Ink Reservoirs Setting New Standards of Convenience and Value for Color Printing
Epson is transforming the $40 billion North American printing market¹, addressing one of the biggest pain points for small businesses and consumers: running out of ink. Under its new EcoTank™ brand, Epson today unveiled five new all-in-one color printers featuring large ink reservoirs – what Epson defines as the Supertank category – that come loaded and ready for up to two years of prints without replacing the ink².
EcoTank color printers combine the high-quality printers Epson is known for with dramatic in-box cost savings and ultra-low ink replacement costs. In addition, EcoTank printers eliminate the common frustration of running out of ink at inevitably the most inopportune time. Less ink refills also means less waste. When comparing EcoTank to a traditional printer, the ink included with the EcoTank is equivalent to about 20 sets of ink cartridges³ or more, depending on the model.
“The introduction of EcoTank marks a fundamental shift in the way we think about using color in business and in the home,” said Keith Kratzberg, Executive Vice President, Epson America. “Epson® EcoTank sets a new standard for color printing, convenience and value. We believe that our new EcoTank printers are well-positioned to take a large bite out of the small business printer market.”
Unleashing Color Printing
About 90 percent of the pages printed in the United States are printed in black-and-white, not color4. Two-thirds of those pages could be in color. Previously, a major barrier to color printing has been the cost of ink replacements. EcoTank printers are loaded and ready with up to two years of ink² – and when replacement ink is needed, the cost will be as low as $12.99 per bottle, or $52 per set of bottles. For example, a standard home printer requires approximately 20 sets of cartridges to print the same number of pages included with the equivalent EcoTank printer³.
“Epson’s EcoTank launch represents a sea change in today’s printer market,” said Barbara Richards, senior consultant, InfoTrends. “Establishing a new printer category – Supertank – Epson is positioning itself for significant market expansion. The appeal of low-cost, hassle-free color printing in business and in the home has potential to capture a significant share of the market.”
EcoTank printers are part of the Supertank category, and combine the latest in advanced MicroPiezo® printhead technology with a large ink reservoir to create an entirely new printing system. EcoTank is available in five models for the home and small-to-medium business, offer a two-year limited warranty with registration5 have built-in wireless for easy printing from tablets and smartphones6 across a range of operating systems, as well as through Epson Connect™ solutions.
WorkForce® Pro WF-R4640 EcoTank All-in-One, powered by PrecisionCore® – for the small business, with an in-box ink yield of up to 20,000 black and 20,000 color pages7 and print speeds of up to 20 ISO ppm (black) and 20 ISO ppm (color)†. The WF-R4640 delivers Performance Beyond Laser™, producing print-shop quality prints with up to 70 percent lower total printing costs vs. color laser8. It features a 580-sheet capacity, auto 2-sided printing, copying, scanning and faxing and a 4.3” color LCD.
WorkForce ET-4550 EcoTank All-in-One, powered by PrecisionCore – for the home office, with an in-box ink yield of up to 11,000 black and 8,500 color pages9, high-speed, laser-quality black text, and print speeds of up to 13 ISO ppm (black) and 7.3 ISO ppm (color)†. The ET-4550 features 2.2” LCD, auto 2-sided printing, a 30-page Auto Document Feeder, and a 150-sheet paper capacity.
WorkForce ET-4500 EcoTank All-in-One – for the home office, with an in-box ink yield of up to 4,000 black and 6,500 color pages9 and print speeds of up to 9.2 ISO ppm (black) and 4.5 ISO ppm (color)†. The ET-4500 features a 30-page Auto Document Feeder, a 100-sheet paper capacity and a 2.2” LCD. It also includes built-in Wi-Fi Direct®10, and easy printing from iPad®, iPhone®, tablets and smartphones6.
Expression® ET-2550 EcoTank All-in-One – for the home, with an in-box ink yield of up to 4,000 black and 6,500 color pages9 and print speeds of up to 9.2 ISO ppm (black) and 4.5 ISO ppm (color)†. The ET-2550 features a 1.44” color LCD, PC-free photo printing with a built-in memory card slot11, and a 100-sheet paper capacity. It also includes built-in Wi-Fi Direct10, and easy printing from iPad, iPhone, tablets and smartphones6.
Expression ET-2500 EcoTank All-in-One – for the home, with an in-box ink yield of up to 4,000 black and 6,500 color pages9 and print speeds of up to 9.2 ISO ppm (black) and 4.5 ISO ppm (color)†. The ET-2500 offers easy one-touch copying to get high-quality copies fast, and a 100-sheet paper capacity.
Pricing and Availability
The Epson Expression ET-2500 EcoTank ($379 MSRP), Expression ET-2550 EcoTank ($399 MSRP), WorkForce ET-4500 EcoTank ($429 MSRP), WorkForce ET-4550 EcoTank ($499 MSRP) powered by PrecisionCore, and the WorkForce Pro WF-R4640 EcoTank ($1,199 MSRP) powered by PrecisionCore will be available September 2015 through major computer, office and electronic superstores, mail order, including Staples, Best Buy, Office Depot, Amazon, Microcenter, Costco.com, Samsclub.com, Target.com, Walmart.com and www.epsonstore.com. For more information and availability, please visit epson.com/ecotank.
About Epson
Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to driving innovations and exceeding customer expectations in printing, visual communications, quality of life and manufacturing. Epson’s lineup ranges from inkjet printers, printing systems and 3LCD projectors to industrial robots, smart glasses and sensing systems and is based on original compact, energy-saving, and high-precision technologies.
Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises nearly 70,000 employees in 94 companies around the world, and is proud of its contributions to the communities in which it operates and its ongoing efforts to reduce environmental burdens.
Epson America, Inc. based in Long Beach, Calif. is Epson’s regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. To learn more about Epson, please visit:www.epson.com.
You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Epson), Twitter (http://twitter.com/EpsonAmerica) and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/EpsonAmerica).
†Black and color print speeds are measured in accordance with ISO/IEC 24734. Actual print times will vary based on system configuration, software, and page complexity. For more information, visit www.epson.com/printspeed
1. IDC WW HCP Tracker_FinalHistoricalPivot_2015Q1 and North America Ink Jet Cartridge Forecast July 2014
2. Based on average monthly print volumes of about 150 pages (ET-2500, ET-2550, ET-4500), 300 pages (ET-4550), and 800 pages (WF-R4640).
3. Cartridge sets estimate based on print yields of the included Black and color ink bottles as compared to standard-capacity ink cartridge sets for similarly-featured cartridge printers as of March 2015.
4. InfoTrends, Inc. U.S. Page Printer and Copier Marking Materials Forecast 2012-2017
5. WF-R4640: 24 months of standard limited warranty. ET-2500, ET-2550, ET-4500. ET-4550: 12 months of standard limited warranty. For an additional 12 months (total of 24 months), register your product and use Epson genuine ink bottles.
6. Most features require an Internet connection to the printer, as well as an Internet- and/or email-enabled device. For a list of Epson Connect enabled printers and compatible devices and apps, visitwww.epson.com/connect
7. Ink pack yields are estimated based on ISO/IEC 24711 test in Default Mode printing continuously. Ink pack yields vary considerably for reasons including printed images, print settings, temperature and humidity. Yields may be lower when printing infrequently or predominantly with one ink color. All ink colors are used for printing and printer maintenance, and all colors have to be installed for printing. For print quality, part of the ink from the included ink packs is used for printer startup and a variable amount of ink remains in the ink pack after the “replace ink pack” signal. For details, see www.epson.com/cartridgeinfo
8. Total costs of printing with the ink included with the WF-R4640 printers and replacement ink compared with the costs of printing equivalent ISO pages with the best-selling similarly-featured color laser printers (per NPD April 2015). Costs based on manufacturers’ ISO yields and online pricing. Actual savings will vary based on usage conditions.
9. Yields based on the ISO/IEC 24712 pattern with Epson’s methodology. Actual ink yields will vary considerably for reasons including images printed, print settings, temperature and humidity. Yields may be lower when printing infrequently or predominantly with one ink color. All ink colors are used for printing and printer maintenance, and all colors must be available for printing. For more information, visitwww.epson.com/cartridgeinfo.
10. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™; level of performance subject to the range of the router being used. Wi-Fi Direct may require printer software.
11. Adapter may be required.
Specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. EPSON, Expression, MicroPiezo, PrecisionCore and WorkForce are registered trademarks, EPSON Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark and ECOTANK and Epson Connect are trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation. Performance Beyond Laser is a trademark of Epson America, Inc. iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Wi-Fi Direct® is a registered trademark and Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ is a trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance®. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks.
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