Sustainability is an important aspect of life and business today. It is about meeting our present needs while protecting our natural environment as well as taking care of both human and ecological health. Ultimately, it is about rethinking our way of life and business strategies by using innovative technologies to save energy and reduce our carbon footprint. 

Businesses today understand the importance of sustainability to safeguard the planet for future generations. Epson, for one, has embraced the concept fully with its approach to business as well as through its range of innovative products. 

"Epson is committed to developing environmentally conscious products, which means sustainability is considered from conception to completion. Our focus is to help customers recognise the environmental gains brought about by technology, whether it is redefining manufacturing through innovative robotics, saving energy with our office printing technology or revolutionising textile printing with digital solutions," says Daisuke Hori, managing director of Epson Malaysia.

Time and time again, Epson has demonstrated its capabilities and inventiveness in the field. Its latest range of Heat-Free EcoTank Printers is proof of that. 

Epson's Heat-Free EcoTank Printers are equipped with Heat-Free Technology, which boasts lower power consumption than legacy printers such as ink cartridge printers, laser printers and thermal inkjet technology printers. 

In addition, Epson EcoTank's refillable ultra-high-yield supplies reduce waste products and their environmental impact. Combined, these printers with Heat-Free Technology deliver the highest print quality and amazing cost savings over time with minimal damage to the environment. 

There are several benefits that the new Heat-Free EcoTank Printers offer over legacy printers. For instance, ink cartridge printers offer low-capacity, high-print volume, requiring customers to replace ink cartridges more frequently, which is more expensive. 

Laser printers, on the other hand, require more power to use as it requires preheating of the fuser and toner. In addition to higher power consumption, which translates to a high cost of operation as well as CO? emissions, preheating is also time-consuming, as it requires additional time for the first page to be printed. 

Laser printers also require more parts to operate, which means more maintenance and wastage. Similarly, thermal inkjet printers experience the same pain points - requiring heat to warm the ink before it is fired through the printhead. It also needs sufficient cooling down in between print jobs. 

Like laser printers, thermal inkjet printers consume more power, and the heat subjects the printhead to additional wear and tear. This not only requires a replacement of parts, which is not eco-friendly at all, but also additional maintenance and servicing, which will affect productivity. 

Epson EcoTank Printers are inkjet printers that use Heat-Free Technology to deliver advanced customer benefits. As it does not require heat in the ink ejection process, the printers boast reduced electricity consumption. 

Also, compared with laser printers - which are typically engineered with more parts that require periodic replacement, such as the drum, transfer belt and fuser - Epson EcoTank Printers are built with fewer replaceable parts, which means less e-waste. 

Additionally, as it offers a simpler three-stage printing mechanism, the Epson EcoTank Printer has fewer moving parts, which equates to lower points of failure, less downtime and interventions as well as more uptime for the user. 

As the printer requires no heat to warm up when it is switched on or awoken from sleep, it offers quick and consistent high-speed printing. It can deliver a faster first page out time (FPOT) compared with laser printers, which need to preheat the fuser to print. This not only helps increase productivity for the business but is also better for the environment. 

With lower power consumption and fewer parts, the Epson EcoTank Printer comes with significant cost advantages. For instance, the cost per print can be as low as RM0.006 per page with the EcoTank L3150. That means a user who prints 250 pages of colour per month for two years with the EcoTank L3150 will save 46% compared with ink cartridge models. 

Users who print 6,000 pages per month with the EcoTank M1120 monochrome printer are looking at a savings of 55% compared with a laser printer. Furthermore, the Epson EcoTank Printer has a significantly more durable printhead on its side. As no heat is required to print, the head lasts longer. Add to that the two-year warranty for colour printers and four-year warranty for monochrome printers, and Epson guarantees peace of mind. 

The Epson EcoTank Printer also boasts a higher productivity ratio with one set of ink bottles capable of printing up to 7,500 pages in black and 6,000 pages in colour. With its higher print capacity, thanks to Epson ink bottles, users do not have to refill ink as frequently. 

According to Mr Daisuke Hori, there has been positive feedback from customers who have switched to the Heat-Free EcoTank Printer. A representative from PMG Pharmacy Sdn Bhd confirms that printing time has been reduced significantly, saying: "The low maintenance of the Epson EcoTank Printer increases our productivity. That is because when a printer is down for maintenance, many jobs are delayed." 

Significant savings are also being enjoyed by ALL IT Hypermarket. "We have deployed a total of 50 units of the Epson EcoTank monochrome printers across our outlets for invoice printing and we have saved more than RM48,000 per year in operating costs, making it a worthwhile investment," says the company. 

ALL IT Hypermarket also appreciates the eco-friendly nature as well as energy efficiency of the printer. "There is a reduction in heat-induced wear and tear of the printhead, lowering operation downtime and increasing productivity for a seamless customer checkout experience," it adds. 

For Pineapple Computer Systems Sdn Bhd, the cost savings presented by the printer is a boon. "We print mainly invoices and we're definitely happy with the cost-saving feature, as the ink tanks are still half full after three months of use. We are also impressed with the printing speed, and its performance is on a par with other brands of laser printers."

Epson's range of EcoTank printers is also highly suitable for the home. With WFH (work from home) still in effect, the printer ensures that work is able to continue, maintaining productivity and work efficiency. The printers offer single-function and multi-function features (print, scan, copy, fax), with A4 to A3+ size, and duplex printing in colour and monochrome. Selected models offer water-resistant pigment ink. 

Home users will also appreciate the connectivity options available such as wireless and remote printing. This includes Epson Connect, which offers a range of cloud printing and scanning solutions, and Epson Email Print for convenient anytime, anywhere printing from any device. 

Users can also scan on-the-go or print from anywhere in their home with the Epson iPrint App. The "Scan to cloud" feature offers users the convenience of scanning and sharing directly from the printer. Furthermore, with the EcoTank Printers' high-capacity ink bottles, there is no need to refill ink or run out and buy ink frequently.

To find out more about the Epson Heat-Free EcoTank Printer, visit here