Epson has added a new entry-level model to its lineup of commercial A4 desktop color multifunction printers.
Available now, the WF-C4810 offers the lowest power consumption in its class, according to Epson, making it an appealing option for a growing cohort of eco-conscious buyers.
“We’re hearing the sustainability message more and more as sales teams talk to customers,” says Kaila Murphy, product manager for business inkjet printers at Epson America. Indeed, nearly one-fourth of U.S. SMBs surveyed by Analysys Mason for a recent study plan to focus more attention this year on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) efforts.
Equipped with built-in copy, scan, and fax capabilities, as well as support for duplex, auto two-sided printing, the WF-C4810 produces 25 black ISO pages and 12 color ones per minute. Its recommended monthly page volume is 1,600.
The device has dual 250-page trays and can accommodate up to 50 sheets of photo paper and up to 10 envelopes. The automatic document feeder can scan up to 50 pages.
Designed with employee productivity in mind, according to Epson, the new unit requires no warmup time and features an intuitive 4.3-inch LCD touchscreen control panel. Users can operate the device on a smartphone or tablet as well via the Epson Smart Panel App. Users can also setup the device via mobile devices over a Bluetooth Low Energy connection.
In a further nod to end user productivity, Epson has created new ink cartridges for the WF-C4810 capable of printing 1,100 standard black or color ISO pages between replacements. To protect partner revenue streams, Epson offers the SKU only to commercial customers. “Consumers won’t be to buy this ink on Amazon or at their local Staples,” Murphy says.
Like most of Epson’s other printers, she adds, the WF-C4810 uses Epson’s PrecisionCore inkjet technology, which utilizes fewer moving parts than laser printers typically do and greater reliability.
Connectivity options include Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct, protected by WPA3 security, as well as Ethernet.
Core markets for the new product span work-from-home offices, retail, hospitality, and education. The unit’s 16.7-inch x 15.3-inch x 13-inch dimensions are designed to accommodate the cramped conditions often found in restaurants and hotels in particular, according to Murphy. “There’s typically a small area under the counter or in a small back office for that printer to go,” she says.
The WF-C4810 lists at $219, and comes with a two-year limited warranty. The first year provides premium repair or replace coverage for defective hardware, while the second year includes standard return for repair coverage only. Buyers can upgrade the second year to premium protection for an extra fee, though, and can also buy up to three extended years of standard or premium coverage after the initial warranty expires.
Three other Epson A4 color MFPs—the EC-4020, EC-4030, and EC-4040—reached end of life last month. The WF-C4810 is designed to fill the gap left by those products. Compared to the most similar of the three earlier devices, the EC-4040, the new one fits a higher recommended monthly duty cycle, greater standard ink cartridge page yield, and faster print speed in roughly the same footprint. It also adds compatibility with the Smart Panel App.
Despite rapid adoption of cloud-based solutions and digital workflows in recent years, according to Murphy, demand for products like the WF-C4810 remains strong. “We’re seeing a need for desktop printers, both in the office as well as at home,” she says.
Supply chain slowdowns remain an issue, though, for Epson as much as other hardware makers. To prevent shipping logjams from inconveniencing partners, the company waited to launch the WF-C4810 until warehouses had enough units on hand to meet expected orders.
“We know that they can be frustrated if a product launches and they can’t utilize or receive that product for several months, so it was very important to us to have a strong inventory position before we came to market,” Murphy says.
