What is the service life of a printer?
Industrial devices, like living organisms, undergo changes or stages of life during their existence. The existence of any manufactured product, including technical devices, follows a cyclical pattern. From the initial design stage, through manufacturing and operation, to disposal, accompanied by the process of recycling.
From design to decommissioning – how to effectively manage the life cycle of a printer?
The life cycle of a device in the context of label printers includes all of the above-mentioned stages that the equipment goes through. First, design and production, then purchase and implementation, the period of active operation and maintenance, and finally decommissioning and disposal.
Effective management of the Auto ID device life cycle is important because it allows for cost optimization and guarantees adequate performance and safety during operation. Making informed decisions about repairs and equipment replacement at the right time is crucial. Each stage of the life cycle involves different challenges, costs, and activities that must be considered when using a specific printer model.
Typically, manufacturers such as Zebra and Honeywell offer five years of support for discontinued models. After support ends, replacement parts are available, but their prices are usually higher. This makes repairing such a device economically unviable.
Sample lifecycle — scenario for the Zebra ZT410/ZT420 printer
Year 0: Purchase, installation, and configuration at the facility.
The ZT410 model went on sale in 2014. It is the successor to the popular ZM400 model. Compared to older Zebra printer models, print speed and quality have been improved, and connectivity options such as Bluetooth have been added.
Years 0-1: Intensive use. The printer is regularly cleaned and minor replacements are made (e.g., rollers and print heads for high mileage).
Years 2-3: print head wear begins to take its toll. Quality degradation is possible. Manufacturer support is still fully available. It is necessary to inspect the device and replace worn parts.
Years 5-6: The manufacturer announces EOL or “end of sale” for the ZT410/ZT420 model. Customers are informed about the migration to ZT411/ZT421. For this model, this took place on October 1, 2020, after six years of production.
Year 6 …: technical support is gradually phased out until the manufacturer completely discontinues this service. Unfortunately, the date for both Zebra models is September 1, 2025. The availability of certain parts after this date will become increasingly difficult, and the cost of parts will increase. In the event of a failure, repairing such a printer may prove economically unviable. This may lead to a decision to dispose of the printer – it is worth remembering that electronic and mechanical parts should be recovered or disposed of in accordance with e-waste standards.
Below is a table showing the end dates for support of printers offered by another major Auto ID manufacturer, Honeywell.
What factors cause manufacturers to decide to discontinue a particular model and introduce its successor?
Firstly, it is innovation. Rapid technological changes and innovations shorten product life cycles. However, there are exceptions to this rule. One such exception is the 220XI4 model, which is still available from Zebra. As of today, we have no information about its successor.
Marketing strategies can influence the length of a product’s life cycle. These include promotions, price adjustments, and the introduction of new product versions. Consumer preferences are constantly evolving, and changing tastes and needs have a major impact on how long a product remains on the market.
But perhaps the most important factor is competition, which is very strong and forces companies to keep up with the market.
As a major distributor of Auto ID devices, Etisoft offers a range of solutions in this area. We offer devices from all major global manufacturers, as well as after-sales support in the form of maintenance services and a helpdesk.
