Epson has razored up to 50 per cent off the price of certain of its AcuLaser and EPL 6200 printers sold through the channel.

The discount will run from 1 January to 31 March and customers must buy the printers from a reseller. The cost saving will be passed direct to the channel through the distributor, according to Epson.

Mark Karsey, business manager at Epson, claimed that Epson’s lasers were good quality and easy to use. “By offering channel customers up to 50 per cent off the price, we hope that more businesses will choose an Epson laser,” he said.

Epson’s public sector three-year warranties and public sector pricing are available in conjunction with the new discount. AcuLaser M2000, C1100, CX21N, and EPL-6200/6200N series printers are all being offered half-price. The AcuLaser C2800 series is being offered for 40 per cent less than the current price.

September figures from IDC point to colour laser multifunction devices as the print peripherals category with the best long-term growth potential in EMEA. The segment is predicted to grow at 12.1 per cent from now until 2013.

According to the analyst, the sales decline experienced by Epson print offerings slowed in the first quarter of 2009 and the brand edged closer to rivals. The vendor took third place – or 14.8 per cent – globally, with overall performance well above the number one player HP.

Its laser share, however, remained at two per cent while its share in the fading inkjet market rose four points to 89 per cent from the same quarter a year ago.