What do Rolls Royce, Mercedes Benz, BMW and Lexus have in common with Hewlett Packard, Lexmark, Canon and Fuji-Xerox?

The correct answer is that Hewlett Packard, Lexmark, Canon and Fuji Xerox are manufacturers of premium colour laser and mono laser printers and multifunction (all-in-one) as are Rolls Royce, Mercedes Benz, BMW and Lexus manufacturers of premium motor vehicles.

The manufacturers of these premium motor vehicles offer varying degrees of warranty and, more recently, extended warranty, to ensure that the owners of their premium motor vehicles have many years of trouble-free and pleasurable motoring experiences.

Similarly, the manufacturers of premium brand colour laser and mono laser printers and multifunction (all-in-one) devices offer warranty and extended warranty in order that organizations who have invested in these superior quality devices can enjoy many years of trouble-free and, even more importantly, many years use of their colour laser and mono laser printers and multifunction (all-in-one) devices delivering quality output, which goes to print and presentation results that match the image their organisation would like to portray.

Critical to the successful operation of that warranty and extended warranty period is the maintenance of these premium motor vehicles within those warranty periods. Part of that is the replacement of many components of the technically superior vehicles which are known to suffer from wear and tear after use over certain time periods or certain numbers of kilometres. These parts are replaced at regular intervals as determined by the manufacturer and based on predetermined intervals measured by the amount of use the motor vehicle has been subject to.

In the same way, Hewlett Packard, Lexmark, Canon and Fuji Xerox have determined that certain key components are critical to delivering an excellence of output rightfully expected by users of premium colour laser and mono laser printers and multifunction (all-in-one) devices. Years of experience, monitoring and measurement have shown that the same parts are subjected to deterioration due to usage and normal wear and tear and therefore need to be replaced to deliver the optimum print result and with this in mind these manufacturers offer replacement parts – normally known as maintenance kits – to keep their devices operating as they were designed to in combination with the use of the correct original and genuine consumables – toner, drums, photoconductors, belts and separation pads are some of those consumables.

The regular replacement of the components provided in maintenance kits is recommended in almost all premium colour laser and mono laser printers and multifunction (all-in-one) devices at certain intervals determined by the amount of printing, faxing or copying that has been done – normally measured and published as a certain number of pages.

Fuser units, rollers of all kinds, separation pads, and pickup assemblies are the most common components of these maintenance kits. Regular replacement of these parts and some others – depending on the brand and model of the device – is required to deliver the desired quality output from print devices.

Many of these maintenance kits are user-installable but it may be better – for the sake of being sure of correct replacement – that the maintenance kit be installed by an experienced printer or multifunction device technician.

Do not underestimate the importance of the warning showing on the device screen indicating that you need to replace one or other of the components of a maintenance kit – the manufacturer does not deliver such warnings without good reason.

Consult your regular supplier of consumables – such as Focus Office Supplies – to ensure that you are prepared in advance for the impending installation of the required maintenance kit for your premium colour laser and mono laser printer and multifunction (all-in-one) device – you will not regret it. You can print a report from your device detailing how many pages or images that device has delivered and you will note in your device’s user guide at what interval the maintenance kit is required.

Happy printing!!