In an effort to reduce preventable failures and warranties, laser printer parts manufacturer Metrofuser (www.metrofuser.com) has announced a warning for business users of laser printers. Removing certain parts when the printer is turned on can harm the device irrevocably. The company’s research reveals as much as 10% of failures can be traced back to improper handling of these devices.

Metrofuser has issued the warning for all makes and models of Laser Printers and MFPs. A Company spokesperson said this is not an engineering or design problem but more of a failure to follow best practices. A significant portion of the failures are occurring when end users are clearing paper jams and/or investigating service errors while the device is turned on.

This problem is so widespread it ranges from devices with older hot roller technology all the way up to the latest instant-on technology. Fault shows up as error codes referencing damage to the fuser, power supply or other electrical components.

The place we live is in danger. You wouldn’t let your home fall into complete disarray, so why do we treat the planet as we do? If we all made small changes to our business and personal lives, we could prevent some of the inevitable disasters in the future from ever happening. We can’t wait for everyone else to change before making the switch ourselves. By setting an example in your business, you are helping to set in motion a much-needed change in the way we all live our lives.

What does it mean to make the switch to eco friendly printing? Many companies believe this to be an expensive, drawn out process that involves too many factors to be worthwhile. However, this is not the case. Eco friendly printing will actually save your company money while helping to save the planet. It is important to be educated on how you can become a part of the solution. Especially if your company is losing money by not helping the good fight.

Another term for eco friendly printing is smart printing. Your company can save on paper, ink, toner, and maintenance. Just remember this simple mantra: reduce, reuse, recycle, and renew. You can even invest in eco friendly printers that will help you save more money in the long run.

The fist step is education. Many of us print documents without thinking of how necessary it really is. You would be surprised by how much you save just by making sure we only print what we need. Proofreading documents before printing will also help to cut down on print expenditures. Duplex printing is another method to implement in your company; by printing on both sides you can cut up to 50% of your companies print output.

There is no doubt that most businesses are concerned about the state of the environment. Our resources are severely limited and we need to ensure we are taking steps to ensure the earth flourishes for generations to come.

Green printing can actually help minimize your costs within your print environment. By creating a green printing strategy you will save money on paper and ink use and reduce your energy usage. However, many businesses don’t realize that a green printing strategy can also help entice prospective clients.

By George Mikolay, Senior Product Editor, A3/Copier MFPs, September 1, 2010

When one of our subscribers asked us about how cost per page has changed over the last five years, we decided to do a little digging of our own regarding trends not only in per-page costs, but monthly volumes as well. Here’s what we found out.

“Since the recession began, the industry has seen declining volumes in each segment of product over the last few years,” said Thomas Walter, director of aftermarket sales for Toshiba’s Marketing and Operations. Indeed, he observed, it seems the historic volume pattern of a successor model always printing a little more than its predecessor model has now been completely inverted.

According to Larry Hunt of Larry Hunt Publications, which conducts a wide range of user surveys on document imaging issues, volume on monochrome models in the 85- to 125-ppm speed range is currently about 168,000 impressions a month, down from an average of 250,000 impressions four to five years ago. While the average monthly volume produced on color models in the 30- to 70-ppm speed range experienced significant growth, now averaging about 38,000 impressions, compared with about 8,000 impressions six to seven years ago, this volume has flattened out in the last year or two. An overall decline in usage and total volume per month since the recession began was confirmed by a number of the independent dealers we spoke with as well.

So what’s to blame for the volume decline? One of the key contributors to the decline is the unemployment rate, said Toshiba’s Walter. As employment grows, volumes will too. But with current unemployment levels hovering around 10 percent, and flat hiring projected for the undetermined future, copier vendors and dealers shouldn’t be holding their breath. Adding to the concerns is that the recession hit right when people began migrating to color. Companies are turning color off; people are printing less in general. So it’s not realistic to expect volumes to return to their pre-recession 2007 levels. “We’re not going to sit back and hope volumes come back to 2007 levels,” said Walter. “But if we get 90 percent of 2007 volumes back, we’d consider that a success.”