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Western European Office Equipment Usage Driven by Increased Demand for Colour in the Office

(Luton,UK) February 08, 2006… A recent survey conducted by InfoTrends indicates that office equipment usage is being primarily driven by the increased demand for colour in the office. This is demonstrated by the increased presence of colour copiers and colour laser printers. The prevalence of colour laser printers has increased significantly between 2004 and 2005. Whilst only 36.2% of respondents reported owning these devices in 2004, 44.1% reported owning them in 2005.

Figure 1: Which of the following types of office equipment do you have at your location? Please check all that apply.

“Businesses are beginning to favour colour laser printers over inkjet technology due to their higher speed, better reliability, and high-capacity toner cartridges,” commented Catherine Charlery, a Group Director at InfoTrends. “Over half of the respondents who reported owning a colour laser printer were from smaller, more cost-conscious companies with 10-99 employees.”

The migration towards colour printing is further evidenced by the increased number of respondents who indicated owning a colour copier. The most significant change was seen among 24+ cpm colour copiers, with 9% of respondents owning one in 2004 and 14% of respondents who reported owning one in 2005.

Other highlights from the survey include:

• The majority of respondents were using toner and inkjet cartridges that were the same brand as their printers.
• Respondents with production black & white printers were most likely to report using the same brand of paper as their device. Other segments where users reported a higher use of same-branded paper included black & white copiers, colour copiers, and colour laser printers.
• Printing and copying are the most commonly used functions on multifunction devices. When producing documents, respondents reported spending an average of 44.8% of their time on printing and 25.3% of their time on copying. Both of these percentages were higher in this year’s study than they had been in 2004.
• Between 2004 and 2005, the average number of production printers per respondent has risen from 4 to almost 11.

InfoTrends’ new report, The Future of the Document: 2005, is an update to the original study published in June 2004. This document explores the changing purpose of the office document and the impact on the related supplies and hardware markets. Research for the report consisted of a Web-based survey of 333 professionals representing a variety of vertical markets, departments, and company sizes in the Spring of 2005. The survey was deployed across France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

The report is available immediately to clients of InfoTrends’ European Digital Peripherals Solutions and Communication Supplies Consulting Services. For more information about the report or to make a purchase, visit our online store or contact:

InfoTrends is the leading worldwide market research and strategic consulting firm for the digital imaging and document solutions industry. We provide research, analysis, forecasts, and advice to help clients understand market trends, identify opportunities, and develop strategies to grow their businesses. Additional information about InfoTrends is available on the Web at www.infotrends.com.

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