News

HP Inc are dropping the PageWide ranges of A3 and A4 office printer and multifunction printers.  

 

HP launched this inkjet technology comprising fixed printheads as wide as the printed page in 2012.  It was intended to provide a low cost-per-page solution, allowing HP to approach copier dealerships worldwide with machines suitable for MPS contracts.  Dealers were "onboarded" worldwide, with HP becoming second or third brand in showrooms full of toner-based machines.

 

The PageWide ranges proved popular with dealers and many customers.  HP's arrival in the dealer channel brought HP security, HP remote support features and HP Smart, the online app market that includes third-party developers' products.  Print resolution is great.  PageWide machines do deliver print quality that a lot of office customers have appreciated.  The document feeders are very good, too.  Overall, there are fewer parts to maintain.  

 

Then, in 2016, HP bought Samsung Print Solutions, its patents, research and its factories in South Korea.  PageWide does not provide the low-consumption, low emissions model that some inkjets can, and design issues can restrict their productivity.  The HP PageWide technology met increased internal competition from new laser/toner designs.  PageWides use almost as much electricity blow-drying the paper as toner machines do cooking it - and up to ten times as much electricity as some other inkjets.

 

Quietly, in mid-July, HP have let dealers know they're pulling PageWide.  However, they're in no rush.   HP Inc have brought a lot of dealers into their fold, and these arrangements are long term.  Parts will be available for five years.  Don't Panic!

 

Watch this space for more developments.