Colesmyer printer health monitored inside the matrix

By Rodney Appleyard

Jul 20, 2005: Colesmyer has incorporated a system that allows 300 of its printers to be analysed from one central PC to make sure each individual one has sufficient paper, ribbons and the correct configuration.

It has incorporated the Printronix P7000 line matrix printing platform, which includes an Integrated Print Management System, which monitors and communicates ribbon life automatically, enabling staff to remotely track and control the printer to ensure ribbon life can be maximised without impacting on the print quality.

Bruce Wong, the business development manager at Printronix for Australia and New Zealand, said that all 100s of printers could be monitored from a central PC, which will bring up alerts when each printer needs servicing.

"The service will show that when the ribbon life is at 100 percent, or when it has 5 percent of its lifespan left. It can also let that user know when there is a paper jam, or how much paper is left in an individual printer.

"The system also has the ability to send email alerts and SMS alerts to designated users who need to know what needs changing or maintaining on the printers. The system also record a history of how much paper or how many ribbons each printer uses a month, to allow the staff to predict the stock levels that they need to satisfy."

As for configuration, Wong added that users could change settings for each remote printer simply by using drag and drop tools from the central PC that monitors each printer.

He also said that this system has improved efficiency for Colesmyer and saved time wasted in adhoc maintenance and finding replacement parts. He also boasted that they are preferable to laser printers because they are more robust and work in dusty, hostile environments.

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