10 Multifunction Printer Vendors To Watch

MFP Growth

As businesses pursue cost efficiencies and improved management of their printing assets, multifunction printers (MFPs) are increasingly displacing single-function printers. MFP shipments surpassed single-function device shipments in 2016, and MFPs are expected to widen their lead over single-function printers in coming years, according to Keith Kmetz, program vice president for imaging, printing & document Solutions at IDC. Major printer industry vendors are capitalizing on the trend with a range of new additions to their MFP product lines.

As part of CRN's Printer Week 2017, we've rounded up the details on new MFP devices from 10 top vendors.

Brother

In February, Japan-based Brother announced two new color multifunction printers for its inkjet line, known as INKvestment. Aimed at small businesses, the MFC-J5930DW and MFC-J6935DW specialize in offering lower ink costs – with INKvestment Super High-yield cartridges that provide 3,000 black-ink pages for less than $30, or 1,500 color pages for less than $20.

Other multifunction printers recently introduced by Brother include the MFC-L6700DW, a laser printer aimed at business workgroups with features such as print/copy speeds of up to 48 pages per minute (ppm). The printer also includes a high-yield replacement toner cartridge along with network user authentication and other security features.

Canon

Japan-based Canon unveiled several new multifunction devices for its imageRUNNER ADVANCE portfolio in March. They include the imageRUNNER ADVANCE C3530i and imageRUNNER ADVANCE C3525i, which feature a focus on improved scanning. Specifically, Canon says the two MFPs offer 9X faster duplex scanning than previous models in the line.

Other recently introduced Canon multifunction laser printers include updates to the imageCLASS line, such as the MF249dw, MF247dw, and MF244dw. Those printers feature wireless direct connection and the ability to easily send scanned documents to email or a network folder.

Dell

In November, Round Rock, Texas-based Dell debuted a color multifunction laser printer, the S3845cdn, which comes with an emphasis on easy management. The MFP was introduced alongside new software, OpenManage Printer Essentials, that aims to offer quicker printer setup and more efficient fleet monitoring for businesses. Features include a dashboard with real-time information on printing within the fleet, along with better tracking of toner depletion and proactive firmware updates. The S3845cdn itself offers print speeds of up to 36 ppm (for color or black and white) and up to 1,200 x 1,200 dpi print resolution.

Epson

Japan-based Epson announced two A3 inkjet multifunction printers in March that are tailored to small and medium-sized businesses. The WorkForce Enterprise WF-C20590 features print speeds of up to 100 pages per minute for simplex printing, which Epson says makes the printer the fastest in its class. The MFP also includes a simpler design than comparable laser printers, according to the company, meaning that it needs to be serviced less frequently. Meanwhile, the new WorkForce Pro WF-C869R includes improvements around usability (such as dual-side scanning), print quality, serviceability and features print speeds of up to 24 ppm.

HP Inc.

In September, Palo Alto, Calif.-based HP Inc. rolled out a new lineup of A3 multifunction printers, across both HP's PageWide and LaserJet platforms. The MFPs come with an emphasis on security, with features such as self-healing Sure Start technology and run-time intrusion detection (for protecting devices while they're operational). Print speeds for the new MFPs range between 40 and 60 pages ppm, HP said.

Meanwhile, HP in September also announced a deal to acquire Samsung's printer business for $1.05 billion. The acquisition is expected to close by the fall of 2017 and will bring along printers such as the ProXpress C3060FW, which features high-capacity toner cartridges (for lower overall cost) and technology for sharper text and images.

Konica Minolta

Japan-based Konica Minolta launched three color multifunction printers in August to join the company's A3 lineup. The bizhub C658, bizhub C558 and bizhub C458 aim to boost efficiency (through easier integration of third-party software) along with enhanced paper capacity (up to 6,650 sheets). The MFPs also offer print speeds of up to 65 pages per minute and come with a 10.1-inch control panel.

Lexmark

Among the most recent new multifunction printers from Lexington, Ky.-based Lexmark is the CX825, an A4 color laser device that boasts print speeds of up to 55 pages per minute. The MFP includes strong toner capacity and less need for interventions (thanks to long-lasting parts), leading to "Lexmark's best-ever color total cost of ownership," the company says. The CX825 also features 1,200 dpi scan quality and a paper capacity of up to 4,500 pages.

OKI

Japan-based OKI Data has introduced several new multifunction printers for small and medium-sized businesses in recent months, including the MC363dn, a desktop color MFP that produces "HD quality" prints for graphics-rich documents. OKI also recently debuted the MC573dn, which offers high-quality prints by leveraging the company's LED print technology. Also, the MFP enables easier document management with new software for connecting to services such as Office 365, Google Drive and Dropbox.

Ricoh

In February, Japan-based Ricoh launched new black and white multifunction printers aimed at offering improved performance for a desktop MFP. They include the Ricoh SP 377SFNwX, which features print speeds of up to 30 pages per minute as well as a 35-sheet Automatic Reversing Document Feeder for fasting feeding of original copies. Meanwhile, in January, Ricoh debuted a small-footprint MFP, the Ricoh MP 601SPF, which boasts print speeds of up to 62 ppm.

Xerox

In March, Norwalk, Conn.-based Xerox announced what it described as the largest product launch in its 110-year history. Among the 29 new products debuted by Xerox were 10 new AltaLink multifunction printers, which are targeted for large workgroups and aim to offer a higher level of security than other MFPs through a partnership with McAfee. The new MFPs stand out with built-in apps (to help organizations create customized workflows); easy mobile printing and connections to cloud services such as Dropbox, Office 365 and Google Drive; and a customizable user interface.