Photocopier MFP Recommendations

[howartp]

However a lot of IT Managers have realized that 90% of the print within the education market place is A4, so why pay for an A3 devise when you don’t require it?

This is something I'm considering in my new tender - can anyone tell me what the cost differences are between A4 and A3 copiers? I've been told by one person that A4 isn't that much cheaper so you might as well have A3, but I am also looking at the desktop version of the same MFDs, some of which share common parts with the full size models if I get the right combinations.

 

I did a survey of our staff last week, and one of the questions was:

If we removed A3 capabilities from your nearest/regular photocopier, would you:

 

> Not even notice, you never print A3

> Realise after a couple of weeks when you come to copy something in A3

> Notice straight away - but you're happy to use the [print room] in future

> Notice straight away - you cannot possibly manage without A3

 

49% of responses said they would "realise after a couple of weeks" and 20% would "notice but use the print room in future" which in my mind is justification enough to remove A3 from most devices.

 

The print room, Art/Tech copier, and second admin area (other building) would still have A3, but everyone else can do without.

 

Peter

[tech_guy]

We're using a variety Konica Minolta MFDs with PCounter and it's all good.

[sonofsanta]

This is something I'm considering in my new tender - can anyone tell me what the cost differences are between A4 and A3 copiers? I've been told by one person that A4 isn't that much cheaper so you might as well have A3, but I am also looking at the desktop version of the same MFDs, some of which share common parts with the full size models if I get the right combinations.

 

One discussion I've just had with a potential new MPS supplier had these approximate capital figures:

Colour A4: £400

A4 MFD: £1300

A3 MFD: £3050

 

So yeah, not cheap at all. We only have one A3 printer, by our office, mainly for DT; about 10% of what it does is A3 (about 5000 copies a year) so we'll be paying our money for one.

 

This, of course, could be completely different depending on what manufacturer you're looking at.

[howartp]

One discussion I've just had with a potential new MPS supplier had these approximate capital figures:

Colour A4: £400

A4 MFD: £1300

A3 MFD: £3050

 

So yeah, not cheap at all. We only have one A3 printer, by our office, mainly for DT; about 10% of what it does is A3 (about 5000 copies a year) so we'll be paying our money for one.

 

This, of course, could be completely different depending on what manufacturer you're looking at.

 

Wow - that's even more cost difference than I was anticipating between the MFDs!

 

Thanks for the post!

 

Peter

[Printman]

Your staff are bang on, the only requirement for A3 in the education sector is usually art and reprographics ! The cost of an A3 devise is between 30-40% higher than A4 only, the main advantage is that you not only can deploy high speed A4 devises with additional paper supply fitted if required, it saves space whilst increasing productivity.

 

A3 manufacturers will tell you that there’s not much difference, but having compared the framework agreement pricing to what you would expect to pay for a high speed Lexmark A4 devise tells its own story. This strategy has been deployed in a number of new academies across the central belt with savings of between 15/20% against the framework pricing.