Epson will introduce multi-function printers

Inkjet printer major Epson has plans to introduce in the Indian market the complete multi-function devices (MFDs), which will carry the print, copy, scan and fax capacities in one machine.

Epson India's head of customer products S M Ramprasad told Business Standard that the company would introduce the MFDs with all the four capabilities in the coming November.

"We currently have all-in-one machines without the fax capability. We want to fill this gap by introducing the 4-in-ones," he said.

According to him, the company's entry into MFDs is rather recent and it has just about 10 per cent share in the 2.5 lakh units market for these devices in India.

"There is a marked increase in demand for this category and we expect the market size to be about 3.5 lakh units in the next year."

He said the company was yet to finalise the volume estimates for the new product but would price it in the sub Rs 10,000 range. "Epson will target the small office home office segment as well as the SME segment with this offering," he added.

The company's turnover for the year 2005-06 was Rs 240 crore and the estimated growth this year is 20 per cent. Besides the increasing demand, a major driver of the higher sales was the latest strategy of individualising the ink cartridges introduced by the company recently.

Epson now offers individualised cartridges for black and three other colours. Epson has also reduced the prices of its cartridges to make them substantially cheaper than the other products.

The move will also encourage the users to stick to original cartridges instead of the unbranded or refilled cartridges, he said. Ramprasad said studies conducted by his company revealed that only 35 per cent customers use original cartridges. "We want to take this to 80 per cent with the help of the new strategy ''INKdividual,'' he said.

The company enjoys a 23 per cent share in the 5.5 lakh inkjet printers market in India.