Xerox 'sticks' to cheap colour printing

New Xerox printers include the firm's solid ink technology

Xerox has launched two printers using its solid ink technology, which the firm claims makes colour printing as affordable as black and white.

The Phaser 8860 colour printer and Phaser 8860MFP colour multifunction printer use the latest version of Xerox's solid ink.

The new technology increases the total number of colour pages that the ink sticks produce, which in turn reduces the price of colour printing, according to Xerox.

"Our customers told us that they need high-quality colour printing to support their business, but that price was a barrier," said Darren Cassidy, director and general manager of the Office Group at Xerox UK.

"By focusing our research on solid ink, price is no longer a barrier. Xerox colour printing is now as inexpensive as black and white."

The new printers are aimed businesses or workgroups which print between 1,000 and 10,000 pages per month.

Xerox claims that solid ink also offers environmental benefits. The crayon-like ink sticks do not use cartridges, require minimal packaging, and generate 90 per cent less waste than comparable laser printers, the firm said.

Each of the three colour ink sticks is one-third the cost of the black supplies, and offers the same yield, according to Xerox.

The Phaser 8860 and Phaser 8860 MFP are priced at £1,699 and £2,919 respectively. The black ink, with a claimed yield of 14,000 pages, is £144. Each colour ink stick, which also yields a claimed 14,000 pages, retails at £48.