The laser multifunction device (MFD) market is experiencing strong growth and won't be slowing down anytime soon despite the economic gloom, according to IDC.

During Q1 the laser MFD market experienced a 33.2 per cent year-on-year increase in units sold. Four contributing factors propelled the rise including lower MFD prices, energy efficient devices, strong adoption of colour laser MFD printers and growth among A4-based MFDs, IDC hardcopy peripheral analyst, Katarzyna Czubak, said.

"Prices are going down quite fast and the MFD is becoming more affordable for not only SMBs but for the SoHo market as well," she said. "MFD printers can be found in the market now for about $500, compared to about a year and a half ago when they were about $1500.

"Users understand that multifunction devices do offer instant savings on energy and office space. Instead of having four devices around the office, they have one."

Colour laser MFDs grew by 51 per cent year-on-year, while monochrome experienced a 27 per cent increase.

"The only problem with colour printing is the cost to print per page is still much higher than monochrome," Czubak said.

She advised channel players to look at value-added services and taking a consultative approach.

"Providing a value-added service and using a consultative approach to sell print imaging, is where the channel and printer vendors can have a better intake of devices and growth," Czubak said. "We expect that as the economy tightens, this market won't get hurt.

"Users have to invest to buy an MFD, but in the longer term it will offer savings. Despite a hard economy, the market will continue to see healthy growth."

Top performing printer-based laser MFD vendors (by marketshare)

1. HP - 32.5 per cent
2. Brother - 24.0 per cent
3. Samsung - 18.7 per cent
4. Canon - 7.4 per cent
5. Fuji Xerox - 6.6 per cent
6. Lexmark - 4.4 per cent.