Together Kodak Samsung wants to push inkjet printer

Into the 2012, although the Chinese market development more rapid, demand growth faster, but the entire printing industry into a slump, involved in the price war, technological upgrading stalled, the status of the big guy is challenged. In order to ensure the core competitiveness, many manufacturers have begun to save themselves, some rush to get rid of baggage, light, and some choose to cooperate, through the introduction of new patented technology, to find out from the plight of the possibility.

Together Kodak Samsung wants to push inkjet printer

Samsung and Kodak cooperation, some unexpected, and the potato cool soap opera plot is very similar. At the end of last year, Kodak and Samsung on the digital camera patent infringement in court, and half a month ago, the two sides suddenly announced a strategic alliance, and signed the relevant agreement, joint in Europe to introduce consumer inkjet printer. "Through the alliance, we believe we can benefit from Kodak's experience in inkjet printing technology," citing Samsung Electronics official. Now we can introduce new inkjet printing products outside the existing laser printer product line. ”

Kodak Printer

The cooperation, Kodak more like the behind-the-scenes, for the market front-end Samsung to provide technical support. In fact, after the declaration of bankruptcy protection, we have been very concerned about the trend of Kodak, although already a hero, but the hands of the patent is still the eyes of many manufacturers of fat, at least for the turn over to raise enough money. Why is Kodak betting on the printer? This is mainly due to the company has been in HP for many years CEO Perez, with his years of experience in the printer industry and reputation, has received the full support of the board of Directors, Perez's strategy is to change the industry's preferred method, the provision of high-priced printers and low-cost ink cartridges. He hopes to make use of nanotechnology in film fabrication to produce a ink that does not clog up the printer's nozzle, thus reducing the cost by replacing the nozzle every time the ink is filled. But HP, Canon, Epson and other established enterprises control the global printer market about three-fourths of the share, for the desire to succeed Kodak, the money smashed in such a strange field, obviously very risky, dubbed as "take a knife to participate in a gunfight", and looking for Samsung such a tree, it is indeed wise.

Samsung printer

In fact, Samsung has been hoping to make a contribution in the printing market, although low-cost policy and machine-sea tactics in the laser printer market is very effective, but the market share or stay in single-digit, it is difficult to HP, canon such a big guy poses a direct threat. To get rid of the status quo, Samsung has been trying to develop inkjet printers, for low-end users, according to the IDC "Global Computer Peripherals Quarterly survey," the latest report shows that inkjet printers currently occupy 66% of the printer market share, the rise of a very strong black and white laser printer only 25%, and color laser printer only 6% But always lack of technical support, to know that as early as 2004 HP, Canon, Epson, Lida Four furniture manufacturers are ready to research and development and production strength of the company has mastered inkjet printing technology, and Kodak in its heyday also launched the code name for Goya's top secret plan, a large number of offensive consumer inkjet printer market, The biggest aspect of its products is the ink life will reach 100 years, and the price of ink cartridges only the current market of similar products one-second.

Although the two co-operation is not strong, but for both sides, is an opportunity. To know that in the U.S. print market Kodak is the only one annual growth rate of two-digit enterprises in the past two years, this time and Samsung cooperation, the funds and technology can be more support to enhance inkjet printer technology, while speeding up the transformation of the digital. For Samsung, the product line has been widened to achieve a wide range of product lines layout, to brand influence to compete for a new battlefield, there is a chance to be among the front-line.

HP Dumping baggage

Global Printer Market champion HP has been sitting for several years, it used to be HP's cash cow, but also HP's amulet, creating one-third of sales, but as the entire industry into the era of meager profit, the printer business in HP's entire group of the status of the decline.

Market research firm IDC's print market report shows that 2011 HP's annual shipments fell 0.7% Year-on-year, while rivals Canon, Samsung and brother shipments have increased. The U.S. printer market shrank by 9% in 2011, HP's sales fell more than 12%, and Hewlett-Packard achieved 4.2 million printer sales in the United States all year, below 4.8 million in 2010. But the slowdown in hardware sales is just one of the most prominent problems, remember, HP's printers are sold at a loss, and the real profit comes from supplies, which account for more than two-thirds of the total revenue in the imaging and printing sectors, which, since 2011, have seen sales decline due to slowing demand and fierce price wars, Operating profit has slipped from 17.1% in 2010 to 15.4% in 2011. The traditional razor and blade pricing strategy has failed, and it is impossible to rely on supplies to make up for the huge loss of printer sales.

HP has been aware of the seriousness of the problem, has been seeking to sell the printer business, although a lot of gossip, but ultimately nothing. In the face of deteriorating market conditions, Hewlett-Packard has to make a difficult decision to split the PC and printer business to form a new department, the advantage is to be able to slash costs, especially administrative costs and marketing costs. In a previous conference call, Whitman said the company could cut jobs, saying it was a price to pay for future growth, "my view is to invest through savings to achieve future growth." We note that as our operations become more efficient, some of the money saved should be the company's profits, and some of the money will be used to drive the company's future growth strategic plan. However, in the long run, hp some rainy day, once the market into a weak state, profitability, "banknote printing machine" into a "money-swallowing machine", the printer business is likely to drag down the performance of the entire group, leading to a decline in share prices, this is the high-level is very not want to see

Risk increased market reshuffle is inevitable

Many of the proposals on this year's two sessions are related to Low-carbon, green and environmentally friendly living. Environmental experts for the emergence of paper books and tablets, gave a very high evaluation, the implementation of paperless Office can save office paper 70%-80%, and thus save a lot of resources and reduce the corresponding pollution, but also improve office efficiency. If the national institutions, schools, enterprises are using electronic office, the annual reduction of paper consumption of more than 1 million tons, saving paper consumption of energy up to more than 1 million tons coal. In the long-term trend, the new media always replace the traditional media, green environmental protection concept has been vigorously promoted in the whole society, the future of the use of paper will be greatly reduced, consumption of supplies will shrink, the entire industry may be from high-speed growth to decline.

Pad's popularity is a big shock to the printing industry

But this is a relatively slow process, the market development prospects are not so pessimistic, for manufacturers, is the opportunity is more challenging. The future big brand Jiangshan more difficult, the market is so big a piece of cake, the more people, eat less, in the printing technology has matured, by splitting, combined to reduce the cost is one aspect, more important or technical breakthroughs, low-end products spell prices, to seize market share, And the high-end products to bid farewell to a single parameter contest, the use of research and development advantages, from the progress of work efficiency, information security, energy saving and environmental protection, and emphasize to provide customers with comprehensive, comprehensive optimization solutions, so as to ensure competitiveness and profitability. Small and medium brands are likely to face the choice of life and death, through alliances, cooperation, exchange and other means to achieve technology sharing, is a coup, can significantly reduce the cost of development, using the advantages of quick turn to adapt to market changes, the introduction of more targeted products, the competition to the technology, channels, services, integrated competition.