*NEWS*GLOBAL MFP MRKT TO GROW BY 8%, O5

Toner News Mobile Forums Latest Industry News *NEWS*GLOBAL MFP MRKT TO GROW BY 8%, O5

Date: Wednesday August 31, 2005 10:34:00 am
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    Global printer, MFP market to grow by 8 per cent this year

    Worldwide printer,
    copiers and multifunction products (MFP) shipments are projected to
    surpass 124.7 million units in 2005, a 7.8 per cent increase from 2004
    shipments, according to IT consultancy Gartner Inc.

    Gartner said the global revenue for these products is forecast to
    surpass $59.7 billion (U.S.), up 4.5 per cent from last year. But is it
    still wishful thinking on behalf of printer OEMs that all companies are
    moving en masse towards color printing?

    According to Peter Grant, research vice president in Gartner’s digital
    document and imaging group in Stamford, Conn., it’s a mixed story. Some
    companies say ‘no’ to color printers in the office, while others adopt
    it on an as need basis.

    “If color laser printers can provide monochrome printer performance
    (speed and cost per print) then more businesses will standardize on a
    high-speed workgroup color printer that provides all the monochrome
    without a cost penalty and provide great business color output,” he
    said.

    Manufacturers are focused on transitioning their customers from
    monochrome devices to color. The color laser printer market and the
    color laser MFP segments will be the high growth areas, official said.
    The consumer has already gone color for the most part due to
    inexpensive ink jet printers and all-in-ones being color devices.
    Monochrome laser printers are still the mainstay in the office. Only
    six per cent of the pages printed in the office are color. Mono still
    has legs, he said.

    “Vendors need a broad family of color products to replace the large
    installed base of monochrome printers, copiers and MFPs,” he said. “The
    monochrome to color transition will be a significant event, as large
    vendors fight to keep their installed base, while other vendors look to
    grow their business with color offerings.

    “There has been and will continue to be a battle between printer
    vendors and copier vendors fighting for pages in the office. HP has
    already tried to alter the copier game with their LaserJet 4345mpf that
    is getting placed as a printer replacement but can print, copy and scan
    for about a third of the price of a similar speed copier.”

    In the consumer segment, digital photography is driving demand for color devices.

    “Higher resolution cameras, more sophisticated users, and the desire to
    print in the home have many manufacturers improving their product
    offerings to provide easier to use, faster photo printers, and lower
    prices,” he said. “Consumers have adopted color (ink jet) and some have
    gone back to low end mono laser printers to save on supplies costs. A
    new segment called A4 color MFP in the 1-10 page per minute range is
    emerging and could take ink jet customers away.

    “Many users prefer the look of color laser for business documents
    versus color ink jet. Color laser makes them look like a big business;
    more professional.”

    Worldwide sales of printer, copiers and MFPs will continue steady
    growth through 2009. By the end of 2009, global shipments are expected
    to surpass 148.9 million units, while revenue will exceed $60.7
    billion, officials said.

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