Printing & Imaging Blog

But look closer and you’ll realize that behind the green messaging Kyocera is also part of a growing number of hardware companies that are trying to capitalize end-user perceptions that consumables are overly expensive.

For example, the TCO calculator (available at www.kyoceraecopro.com) compares Kyocera brands with competitive models by factoring in page coverage rates, service lifetimes, and acquisition costs. You’ll quickly see that the upfront cost for Kyocera hardware often is higher than that other brands, but the Tracker charts Kyocera consumables costs that over the lifetime of the equipment can be much lower than competing products. This is due in part to designs that separate print drums from the toner in Kyocera devices. When consumables run dry, end users replenish toner levels without replacing any hardware.

For solution providers, higher acquisition costs for printers and MFPs promise better margins, which become even more lucrative when service and supply contracts are included in the sale. In today’s competitive business environment, OEMs and solution providers alike are taking multiple messages to the market to gain an edge. It’s a sign that even in an economic period when everyone is keeping a close eye on expenses, the one-dimensional high-volume, low-price strategy for moving hardware isn’t a long-term answer.