Archidex2010 Canon Large Format Printer Sales Promotion Extended

The Archidex2010 (1-4 July 2010) at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre has just ended. Likewise, Canon & HP were exhibited but not Epson where AEC market is not their focus market.

The Canon's booths were managed by Bits & Bytes Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd (booth no. 1035) and Plot-tech Services (M) Sdn Bhd (booth no. 1076 & 1078).  A total of 5 units of A0 size Canon iPF plotters were sold in this 4 days event,  it was a combination of 3 units of Canon iPF750 and 2 units of Canon iPF710. 

Visitors were witnessing the printing speed of Canon iPF750 at Bits & Bytes's counter.

James Khor, the managing director of Plot-tech Services was explaining to a print services operator on the algorithm of Canon iPF in processing the image file and followed by demonstration of the user-friendliness of Canon iPF750 in media handling. 

According to both Bits & Bytes Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd and Plot-tech Services (M) Sdn Bhd, The Canon iPF end user promotion in conjunction with the Archidex2010 show will be extended until 30th July 2010 due to the overwhelming response from the visitors.

One set of ink tanks will be giving away for the purchase of Canon iPF510, iPF650, iPF710, iPF750, iPF755, iPF810 or iPF820. On top of that, an instant cash rebate of RM2,000 (approx. USD600) is granted for old plotter trade-in. 

Canon iPF750 On-line Product Demo

A short video clip that explains the 3 key strength of Canon iPF750.

1. User friendliness- loading and unloading paper roll.

2. High productivity- Process and print an A0 size line drawing in less than a minute.

3. Change ink on the fly- Replace ink tank without interruption to the printing job.

How to calculate the printing cost per square foot for Canon iPF8100?

How to calculate the printing cost per square foot? This is a very common question from large format users in print services sector. Print services providers are concerned on the print cost as the cost per square foot will be used to determine the print services charges to their clients. Besides, cost per square foot is another important consideration factor a part from printing speed when come to choosing the right production printer for the printing business operation.

To answer this frequent asked question professional, a few declarations and assumptions has been made as below.

1. The cost per square foot calculation will only consider ink cost and print head cost.

2. Canon PFI-701, PFI-702 ink tanks and PF-03 print head cost are based on retail price in Malaysia market. (MYR750 for PFI-701, PFI-702 ink tanks and MYR970 for PF-03 print head)

3. Waste ink and paper cost are not considered in the cost calculation.

4. The print heads will be replaced in every 8,800 A1 size prints*.

* The life-span of the print heads are expected to last more than 8,800 A1 prints depending on the operating environment. All new print heads (PF-03) are eligible for warranty claim for the first 8,800 A1 page counts, hence the author is estimating the print head cost based on worst scenario.

Test Conditions

Output Image: ISO JIS SCID No.5

Media: Glossy Photo Paper

Print Quality: Standard 600dpi

Print Size: A0 Size (827mm x 1,033.8mm)

Test Results:

Total Ink Consumed: 3.827ml

Print Speed: 6.5min

Cost Per Square Foot Calculation:

Based on the the above data, ink cost per A0 size (827mm x 1,033mm)  printing is as below:

3.827ml x MYR750/700ml = MYR4.10 (USD1.24)

Assumed life span for printheads are 8,800 A1 prints, which is also equavalent to 4,400 A0 prints.

There are 2 print heads in a Canon iPF8100, hence the printhead cost per A0 size (827mm x 1,033mm) is as below:

2 units X MYR970 / 4,400 AO prints = MYR0.44 (USD0.13)

Ink Cost (per A0 print) + Print Head Cost (per A0 print)

= MYR4.10 + MYR0.44 = MYR4.54 (USD1.38)

We already have the cost per print in term of per A0 size, now what we need to do is to convert it into per square foot.

1 ft = 304.8mm

827mm x 1,033mm = 2.71ft x 3.39ft =  9.19 sqft

MYR4.54/9.19sqft = MYR0.494 (USD0.15) per square foot

Hence, the Cost Per Square Foot for Canon iPF8100 is approximately MYR0.50 (USD0.15).

Read also:
1. Accounting Functions of Canon imagePROGRAF Large Format Printer
2. Cost per print job calculation for Canon iPF Printers with Acconting Functions