An old technology is getting a green facelift. Solid Ink is a Xerox printing technology, whereby solidified ink blocks are melted, producing high-quality print results with vibrant colour. Although this technology has been available for years, a new multi-functional printer (MFP) for the office now offers more environmentally-friendly features.
The ColorQube, Xerox’s first solid ink MFP that meets Energy Star criteria, is becoming a contender for offices where high use and colour printing is a must. Solid ink printing eliminates the printer cartridge, and therefore, 90 per cent of the waste a similar laser jet printer would create. As well, solid ink has a 9 per cent lower lifecycle energy demand than laser jet and is able to print on any type of paper, including recycled.
Besides the ColorQube, Xerox offers a variety of other solid ink printers that reduce waste. However, these printers have yet to meet Energy Star criteria as they require a high amount of electricity to melt the ink for printing. As well, the ColorQube is able to improve on Xerox’s other solid ink printers by offering a low-power mode when not in use.
In short, if you’re looking for an MFP for a high-use office where colour printing is essential – consider the ColorQube. However, if you’re looking for an occasional-use printer you may want to consider all your options in printing and look for Energy Star rated devices. To help you decide what printer is right for you, consider the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) to help you evaluate electronics.