Singapore, 20 May 2008 – Epson, a world leader in digital imaging, announced the launch of the Epson B300 and B500DN business inkjet printers.  The design and functions of the new printers are the result of extensive product development after a global survey by Epson on business printer usage patterns.

Commenting on the findings, Ms Felicia Gan, General Manager, Epson Singapore, said, "The survey shows users generally associate laser printers for business use.  However, with the launch of Epson's new business inkjet printers, the conventional belief that laser printers always offer higher-speed printing, higher paper holding capacity, and sharper print quality, is no longer true."

Superior print speed, impressive paper handling capacity and print quality
The inkjet duo features extremely fast printing speeds of up to 37 pages per minute for both monochrome and colour printing.  This is supported by an astonishing first page out time of just three seconds!

The printers boast a standard paper holding capacity of 650 sheets.  In terms of print quality, the new printers are equipped with Epson DURABrite™ Ultra Inks for class leading water, smudge and fade resistance.  The inks are known for its ability to deliver laser-sharp quality documents, yet versatile enough to print photos with a level of vibrancy and gloss that conventional laser printers just cannot compete.

Unmatched reliability
For the first time, Epson has also transferred a number of its large format inkjet printing technologies to business printers.  This results in unsurpassed print consistency and product reliability for business users.  These features include:

Auto Ink Drop Detector* - This feature runs a series of automatic checks to ensure all the 360 nozzles on the print head are clear before printing commences.  When needed, it will self-initiate a cleaning cycle when it detects clogged nozzles.  This helps save ink and money by preventing unnecessary nozzle cleaning.

Wiper Cleaner Technology - Epson's inkjet print head contains a wiper that cleans the head to ensure clean print outs.  This technology helps remove build-up on the wiper to keep the print head at pristine condition.

Maintenance Box - This easy access box contains all the serviceable parts for the printer.  The front panel location means parts can be replaced easily by the user.

Ink Cartridge Bay - Ink cartridges are housed in a uniquely designed front access bay.  This allows users to swap ink cartridges easily and without the need to expose internal components unnecessarily.

Up productivity and lower printing costs at the same time
Enjoy increased productivity with the innovative Paper Feed Mechanism.  This technology guides each sheet of paper to prevent double feeding and jamming.

To ensure uninterrupted high volume printing, the new printers feature four individual ink cartridges in various capacities to suit individual business needs.

With compelling features and operating cost advantage, make the smart choice for your long-term investment for high volume and low cost printing.  The Epson B300 (duplex optional) is priced at S$478.00, while the Epson B500DN is priced at S$698.00.  The latter includes duplex for double-sided printing and network features as standard.  Both printers are available from 12 June 2008.        

Note:
* The printer cleans the print head automatically using a small amount of ink. Depending on the result of the nozzle check, this function may not fully unclog the print head owing to a variety of factors including but not restricted to the presence of dust or vibrations in the environment. In cases where the system fails to completely unclog the print head, Epson recommends that manual cleaning be performed by an Epson certified technician. Please also note that all ink colours are consumed by the system which may result in a reduction in overall ink quantity even though the end-user prints primarily in black-and-white.

The Micro Piezo system is a proprietary print head technology designed and developed by Seiko Epson Corporation.  The prestigious Perkin Medal was conferred to its inventor, Mr Minoru Usui, for leading the research to developing the unique print head for commercial ink-jet printers.  The Perkin Medal was instituted in 1907 and is the most prestigious SDC (Society of Dyers and Colourists) medal.  It is awarded in exceptional circumstances for discoveries or other work of outstanding importance in relation to the tinctorial and allied industries.

Epson is the registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.  All other product names and other company names used herein are for identification purposes only and are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.