The Top 6 Multifunction Laser Printer Brands In Q4 2016

Laser-Focused On Growth

Six vendors were dominant in sales of multifunction laser printers (MFPs) during the fourth quarter of 2016, as measured by sales through major technology distributors. At the front of the MFP laser pack was Hewlett-Packard Inc., followed by Lexmark and Xerox, according to The NPD Group, a Port Washington, N.Y.-based market research firm.

NPD Group's DistributorTrack sales database is comprised primarily of U.S. Global Technology Distribution Council members. In the following slides are details on the six top-selling multifunction laser printer vendors in Q4, based on NPD Group's data.

6. Canon

Tokyo-based Canon saw a major drop in its share of the MFP laser market during the fourth quarter, to 2.9 percent, from 7.9 percent a year earlier (in terms of sales through distributors).

Among the newest Canon multifunction laser printers on the market are updates to the imageCLASS line, including the MF249dw, MF247dw, and MF244dw. Those printers feature wireless connections and the ability to send scanned documents to email or a network folder.

5. Samsung

South Korea-based Samsung also saw a significant market share decline in the MFP laser segment in the fourth quarter. The company's share fell to 3.7 percent from 6.8 percent a year earlier, in terms of sales through distributors.

Samsung multifunction laser printers currently being sold by distributors include the ProXpress C3060FW, which features high-capacity toner cartridges (for lower overall cost) and technology for sharper text and images.

In September, Samsung reached an agreement to sell its printer business to Hewlett-Packard Inc. for $1.05 billion. Samsung and HP said at the time that the deal would be expected to close within 12 months.

4. Brother

Japan-based Brother held steady in the MFP laser segment during the fourth quarter, with a market share of 4.3 percent of sales through distributors, versus 4.5 percent a year earlier.

Multifunction laser printers introduced by Brother in 2016 include the MFC-L6700DW, which is aimed at business workgroups with features such as print/copy speeds of up to 48 pages per minute. The printer also includes a high-yield replacement toner cartridge along with network user authentication and other security features.

3. Xerox

Norwalk, Conn.-based Xerox boosted its share of the MFP laser market during the fourth quarter, by taking 16.5 percent of sales through distributors. That's compared to 13 percent during the same period of 2015.

Top-selling multifunction laser models from Xerox during the quarter included the WorkCentre WC7835I, which features print/copy speeds (in both color and black) of up to 35 pages with resolution of 1,200 x 2,400 dpi.

2. Lexmark

During the fourth quarter, Lexington, Ky.-based Lexmark fell just short of its MFP laser market share of a year earlier, with 28.4 percent of sales through distributors compared to 29 percent the year before.

A big seller for Lexmark in the multifunction laser segment during the quarter was the MX710de, which features a customizable 7-inch color touch screen and print/copy speeds of up to 63 pages per minute.

1. Hewlett-Packard Inc.

Palo Alto, Calif.-based Hewlett-Packard Inc. gained ground for its leading position in the MFP laser market during the fourth quarter. HP saw its market share climb to 43.1 percent, in terms of sales through distributors during the quarter, compared to 37.4 percent a year earlier.

Top-selling multifunction laser models for HP during the quarter included the LaserJet Pro M426fdn, which offers print speeds of up to 40 pages per minute, security features such as LDAP authentication and scanning of documents directly to email, USB or network folders.