MFP Wars "Bizhub C35 Scores Direct Hit"

With monochrome pages on A3 devices declining by 40% and color increasing by 30%, it's not an attractive model anymore. But the news is different with A4 devices, while monochrome pages are decreasing by 10%, color pages printed on A4 devices will increase by 50%. Konica Minolta referred to a forecast from a market-research firm.

Thus, the birth of the "mini" KonicaMinolta bizhub C35 A4 (not capable of scanning, printing or copying onto 11x17 size paper) which allows users to produce monochrome and color pages at a rate of 31 pages per minute.

What's to like?

Speed 31 pages per minute in monochrome or color
Full Color Display
120,000 page Monthly Duty Cycle
Reversing Doc Feeder that will 50 pages
Auto Duplex
PC Fax
Fax Forwarding
Price

I could go on and on with speeds, feeds and features, if you want see for yourself access the bizhub35 brochure. 

Total Cost of Operation

What I'd really like to focus on is the TCO (Total Cost of Operation). How much does it cost to make a copy of print with this system?

The system requires 4 cartridges of toner be in the machine at all times. Color toner cartridges will cost you $110 each with a yield of 4,600 pages, thus the cost per page for each color cartridge is .0239.  The black toner cartridge has a cost of $45 and the yield is 5,200 pages, thus the cost per page for black is .0087.  Your total toner cost is .0804 which is not that bad for a system with a purchase price of about $3,500.  Keep in mind that printing or copying pages with heavy coverage will increase your costs. 

You'll also need to figure in Imaging Kits.  There are three color imaging kits that will cost $230 each with a yield of 30,000 pages, thus the cost per page for a color imaging kit is .00766. The black imaging kit is $130 and also has a yield of 30,000 pages, thus the cost per page for the black imaging unit is .0043.  Your total imaging kit cost per page is then .0271.

When adding the toner cartridges and the imaging kits we have a total of .1141 (11 cents).  There's two additional consumable items that will be needed.  One is a fuser kit and the the other is a transfer belt, as of right now I've not been able to find a cost and yield for these.  I'm thinking that the total cost per page for this device would come in around .13 cents per page and that would not include any repairs that would be needed. 

This system fills a much needed gap in the color MFP market, between the SOHO and mid market levels and may also generate additional placements for those in the Managed Print Services.

Whats Not to Like?

No Finsihing Capabilities (stapling or hole punch)
High Cost Per Page
Monthly Duty Cycle of 120,000 pages (I don't think so, if you every did 120,000 pages in a month on this device you'd spend over $15,000 in consumables)
Print & Copy Resolution is 600x600 dpi

Even with some of the "not to like" this system should be a winner for reps that need something above the SOHO model and less expensive than the smallest A3 (will copy or print to 11x17) model.

Information was gathered from KM's web site and information posted on the forums of the Print4Pay Hotel.  If you're not a member, consider joining the largest social network of copier/mfp professionals in the world.

=Good Selling=