Versatile devices are among sector's most innovative offerings

In the continuing quest for double-digit margins, many solution providers will be looking to the expanding choices among color multifunction products (MFPs) for new sales opportunities in 2007.

The appeal of these devices goes beyond just the color printing, copying, scanning and faxing components that are hallmarks of the category. For a growing number of solution providers, MFPs provide the foundation for lucrative solutions sales, including those that focus on printing consolidation and "rightsizing," per-page leasing arrangements, document-management systems, and multi-year services and supplies contracts.

The market will be especially enticing for solution providers because some of 2006's biggest leaps in innovation-and price/performance ratios-occurred among MFPs.

New Choices

For example, Xerox launched the WorkCentre 4150 MFP Series, which it's targeting for solutions at small and mid-sized companies or enterprise workgroups and branch offices.

The base model 4150, priced at $2,499, prints at 45 ppm. The $4,999 4150xf adds faxing to the printing, copying and scanning capabilities. It also includes finishing options and additional paper trays. Both models can print on two sides of a page and can copy dual-sided ID cards onto one sheet of paper. Password protection is standard for document security.

Hewlett-Packard also released a handful of new devices that address the needs of enterprises, mid-sized businesses and small companies. For workgroups, the HP LaserJet M3035 MFP offers 35 page-per-minute (ppm) print speeds and traditionally high-end features like a built-in stapler and a touch screen user interface for setting up print jobs and performing troubleshooting. Prices start at $1,999.

The HP LaserJet M4345 MFP, a refresh of HP's existing 4345, offers optional faxing and advanced digital sending and new paper-handling features. The base price is $2,599.

Customers that require advanced printing features such as fast speed in a wide-format chassis can take advantage of the HP LaserJet M5035 MFP. The $3,999 and up device also offers optional faxing and stapling capabilities, digital sending and the touch screen interface.

HP LaserJet CM1015 MFP, which HP calls the market's smallest color laser MFP, uses HP ColorSphere toner for high-quality color output. Prices start at under $500.

Mid-Range Solutions

Late in 2006, Ricoh Corp. began shipping two new MFPs to expand its mid-range color offerings. The Aficio MP C3500 prints both color and monochrome jobs at 35 ppm. The faster Aficio MP C4500 produces color documents at 40 ppm and black-and-white jobs at 45 ppm. Both high-capacity MFPs hold more than 3,000 sheets of paper.

The devices also come with standard features that aid service-contract and document-management solutions. For example, utilities display consumables levels and allow end users to send jobs to different locations and set the timing of when the job will run. An optional DataOverwriteSecurity System (DOSS) automatically overwrites latent data on the C3500's or C4500's hard disk drive after each scan, copy, fax and print job to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information. Built-in utilities can also restrict color printing to assure the capabilities aren't being misused.

Ricoh's suggested retail prices are $13,995 for the Aficio MP C3500 and $17,250 for the Aficio MP C4500.