Sustainability and Recycling at Xerox

Today we are going to look at sustainability and recycling at Xerox. I think we can all agree that we all need to recycle, reuse and reduce the use of all our natural resources from trees to electricity.

Sustainability

Xerox has been at the forefront of many products, features and technologies that help to create a green and sustainable workplace.   These include but are not limited to:

  • Inventing double-sided copying in 1969
  • Introducing the first post-consumer recycled paper products in the early 1970’s
  • Introducing products in the 1980’s that automatically powered down or went into a “sleep mode” years before Energy Star programs were conceived.
  • In the late 90’s we established a waste-free platform to design waste-free products and to manufacture in waste-free facilities.
  • Xerox initiated a cartridge return program so that cartridges can be remanufactured.
  • In the 2000’s we introduced the solid ink technology that reduced packaging and energy use.

The list goes on, Xerox has been working toward sustainability for over 40 years.  Check out this document that highlights Xerox Sustainable Roots.  Another good source of information about Xerox’s commitment to sustainability is Create a More Sustainable Office – this website will explain the present actions being taken toward sustainability and includes links to learn more about the technology, products and services to assist you in reaching your sustainability goals. 

Another comprehensive resource about Sustainability is the Preserving our Planet website. At Xerox, we align our goals for the environment, health and safety in six key areas to make a worldwide impact. They are carbon footprint, paper, clean air and water, waste, chemical management and health & safety.  We strive to maintain the highest standards for preserving our environment and enhancing the health and safety of our employees and communities.

Recycling 

Efficient use of paper is the first step to reducing the amount of paper that needs to be recycled.  Review the information on the Efficient Use of Paper at Xerox website.  Please review the information about the Xerox partnership with the PrintReleaf.  PrintReleaf is a reforestation program that has planted more than 2 million trees to offset more than 17.4 trillion letter pages of paper so far.  The video link below is a quick review of the program.

https://youtube/4HHq8r5xZik

Consult the Xerox Green World Alliance site for information about recycling used toner cartridges and supplies for free. On the page select your country and select continue for the programs available in your country.  Over the last 20 years, our supplies recycling programs have kept more than 145 million pounds of waste out of landfills.

Did you know you can recycle your printer?  Recycling equipment is a way to keep them out of the landfill.  Consult the Prevent and Manage Waste website for information on the programs offered including the Xerox equipment takeback and recycling program.  In 2019 in the US alone 2.4 million pounds of Xerox products were diverted from landfills through customer equipment return programs.

Another option is to donate your used equipment. The equipment can then be passed on to non-profits, public agencies, and schools that train people with disabilities, students at risk, and economically disadvantaged persons.

Create a greener workplace for your employees and customers, future generations will thank you.

Printing From Chromebooks

Many people are choosing to switch to Chromebooks.  Maybe you even got one over the holidays.  There have been questions about how to print from Chromebooks to Xerox printers.  We will take a look at the steps for printing from Chromebooks, it is really pretty easy. 

What Are Chromebooks? 

If you are not familiar with Chromebooks here is a brief explanation from our online knowledgebase. “Chromebooks are lightweight computers based on Google’s Chrome OS. They include a range of productivity cloud apps for knowledge workers, such as Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and more, without the need to purchase additional software.

The lightweight, simplified IT management makes Chromebooks popular and well suited to the education market, among others.”

As a Chromebook owner printing can be a challenge if you don’t have a compatible printer. Xerox has a broad range of compatible printers and MFPs that support the basic need to print over a local network.

Benefits of the Chromebook:
  • Simple to set up
  • Able to print from most of your popular applications
  • No drivers to install
  • No additional software required
Printing from a Chromebook:
  • To add your Xerox printer:
    1. Go to your Chromebook settings and select Advanced
    2. Under Printing, select Printers
    3. Type in your printer IP address
    4. You are done.
  • To print:
    1. Select Ctrl + p, or select the printer icon in your Google application.
    2. Once you have selected your destination printer you are all set.

NOTE: For direct print to Xerox® Printers, Chromebook™ OS must be at V79 or above.

Additional Information

For additional information and compatible Xerox printers please review the Chromebook Printing page at Xerox.com. Compatible Products can be found under the Resources area of the page. You can also search on Chromebook from the Xerox Support page.

To view additional information on how to set up your printer and troubleshoot common issues please see the article Google Support for Chromebook.

We hope you have found this information useful.  If you require additional assistance with Chromebook printing to a Xerox printer please contact your local support centre or post your question or concern on the Xerox Customer Support Forum.

Happy 2021! Let’s Hit the Ground Running!!

Happy New Year!! Happy 2021!! New Year, New Start! I always feel like the New Year is a new beginning. This year we still have some challenges in the way we can do business because of the continued precautions we must employ against the continued pandemic.  Last year we saw many changes in the way business was done.  Let’s build on what we learned and plan to do things differently and more efficiently this year.

This year think of one thing you want to change in the way you do your business Try to achieve that goal this year. Maybe you want to offer your customers a new service or move towards more mobile printing capabilities. Another option is look at changing the way you manage the security of your print jobs. Update your processes by digitizing your documents utilizing scan or available apps. Give a little thought about your printing or multifunction equipment and how you can best utilize your systems this year. We are here to help you if you have any questions or need our support.

In this new year review the Office Solutions for Printing and Smart Workflows webpage. This page has so much information on tools, programs and apps that can help you explore new ideas and uses for your printer or multifunction device.   Expand your offerings to customers or streamline your internal processes with ideas and help from the resources you will find on this webpage. 

One thing to do with your printer today is to print out one of the customized calendars available for 2021. There are a few format and style options in the template library. Enjoy one of the free samples of the customizable calendars. You will also find inspirational posters in the template library. You can print out and post to inspire your customers and co-workers. Get those calendars printed out and start setting those goals for 2021!!

Wrap Up 2020 with These Simple Printer Practices

Happy New Year’s Eve – Eve!! We have reached the end of the year, time to wrap up 2020.  This has been one challenging year. We hope you learned new processes, adapted to the ever-changing circumstances and remained productive in this unprecedented year.  To ensure you start 2021 off right here are things you can do to make sure your Xerox Printer or Multifunction Device is ready for a productive 2021.

  1. Clean your machine. Find instructions for cleaning in the User manual or on the support page for your machine.  Clean inside and out, especially your scan glass and rollers to help avoid image issues and paper jams.  Continue to follow the guidelines to effectively clean Xerox devices and maintain a healthy work environment in this time of Coronavirus.
  2. Check your supplies and make sure you have any you might need on hand. Consider signing up for Xerox eConcierge if it is available for your printer. See the Xerox eConcierge Supplies Assistant site for compatible machines and an explanation of the benefits including free machine service.
  3. Make sure you are connected to Remote Services which provides automatic meter reads, supplies replenishment and diagnostic support. Remote services saves you time and helps to ensure proper billing.
  4. Navigate over to the Xerox security page and bookmark the page so that you can check back periodically. Security news about your machine including patches or updated firmware are available there.
  5. While you are bookmarking pages:

Now you are ready to enjoy your holiday and ring in the New Year. Have a wonderful holiday and we look forward to seeing you back here in 2021!

Happy Holidays! Goodbye 2020!

Happy Holidays to all and Congratulations for making changes and pivoting to continue to do what you do in this unpredictable year of 2020.  In a year that has been difficult it’s especially important to take time to enjoy the season and reflect on your successes, lessons and opportunities from the year gone by. We also have tradition to lean into at this time of year.  Where it’s not possible to maintain your traditions, take this opportunity to make new ones. 

As you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, New Year’s Eve and yes, even Festivus for the rest of us, remember to bring a little of the holiday spirit into your business too. That could be as simple as printing off seasonal greetings from our greeting cards templates.  There are a few new ones for this this year. 

From my Xerox Family to you and yours, thank you for letting us share part of your time this past year. We appreciate the opportunity to support you in doing what you do and to exploring new processes that this unprecedented year has required.  Stay safe and stay well! We wish for all of you good health, success and prosperity for the New Year.

Big Sur Compatibility Document Update

The newest operating system for the Apple Mac, macOS® 11 Big Sur was released in November this year.  According to the Big Sur Compatibility document most of the Xerox printer and multifunction device (MFD) drivers for the new macOS have been released. These drivers are found on the support pages for the printers and MFDs. 

Please consult the new, updated Big Sur compatibility document to see if a driver was or will be created for the model of printer. This table will be updated periodically as Xerox releases new macOS Big Sur-compatible device drivers.  A number 1 in the Compatibility Level column indicates that the driver is released. The driver is available on the Drivers & Downloads webpage for the product.  Some drivers are still under consideration and will have a number 3 in the compatibility level column of the document. Check back periodically to see if the new driver has been created and released for the products designated 3s.

If the compatibility level column of the Big Sur compatibility indicates a 2 no driver is planned for that model printer.  Check the Additional Information column of the compatibility document for more information about possible workarounds or limitations of the drivers.  For models with a compatibility level of 4 a previous developed macOS version may be compatible.  The Additional Information column may provide more information on use.   Those models marked with a 5 indicate that the drivers for the Digital Front End may be available on the Xerox support pages site.  If you have a Fiery Front End additional drivers may also be available for download from the EFI Download Center

Notes:

  • Support is provided for the current release of macOS® Big Sur 11.0 and the preceding two versions of macOS (10.15.x and 10.14.x) with our latest driver.
  • For more information about macOS® Big Sur, go to https://www.apple.com/macos/big-sur.
  • If your desired product does not indicate a Xerox provided print driver, go to this AirPrint article for more information on utilizing macOS native capability to print using AirPrint.

As a reminder, to find the newest drivers navigate to the Xerox Product Support and Drivers page.  Type the model number in the search space provided and select Drivers & Downloads from the search results for your model.  Make sure to choose the printer digital front end you have, if applicable. Select the Big Sur operating system from the Operating System drop down menu. Click or tap Apply Filters. Download and install the driver. 

For additional information, reach out to your local support centre or post a question on the Xerox Community Support Forum.    

Xerox App Gallery Support

The Xerox App Gallery is the home of various apps available for your Xerox or multifunction printer. These apps are simple to use and provide a wide variety of capabilities to Xerox devices, including cloud connectors, translation, document redaction, audio conversion, and many more. 

When needing Support with the Xerox App Gallery, visit the Xerox App Gallery and select the “?” symbol next to the user login area in the upper right corner of the screen. At that point, you will have the option to click on the online support icon, which will take you to a documentation screen with valuable information about the Xerox app gallery and the apps contained within it. You will also have the option to click on the feedback icon, which will open an e-mail with the to-field pre-populated with xerox.app.gallery.feedback@xerox.com.  

When looking for Support for your apps, in addition to using the steps described above, you can visit the App Gallery and click on the specific App. You can then scroll down the page and click on “Support.

The Xerox App Gallery support resources will typically get back to you within 24 hours and address your questions with the App.

Support for Xerox Products Your Way

We want you to have the support for your Xerox products in the way that is easiest for you.  Customer technical support is important to any company.  At Xerox we strive to make your technical support experience fast, easy and accurate.  To do this we have many forms of support to meet your needs. 

Support Options

Product Support and Drivers Online – is one of the original support tools.  Online Product Support is available to you 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  A first source of support, it may be all you need to find the information you need. The answers, solutions and knowledge are collected and sourced from the support personnel, technicians, engineers, and the documentation for the machine.  As such it is one of the largest repositories of information and instructions on how to use, fix and configure the Xerox products. 

It is updated with new information frequently.  If you did not find what you needed at one visit don’t abandon the Support pages because next week you may find just what you need.  The support pages include support articles, the user documentation, videos, drivers and downloads.  We recommend bookmarking the Online support page so that you can access it quickly when you need it. 

You may notice a new look to online support, the format has changed so that is easier to find answers. Filters were added to help narrow the scope of your search. Other resources such as the Xerox Customer Support Forum and the Xerox Support YouTube channel have been added to the searches to provide you with access to relevant information for your search from many sources.  The search can provide information from other product families that may bring you the information you need for your product.       

Xerox® Support Engage App – one of the newer support options is the Xerox® Support Engage app for Android and Apple phones and tablets which can solve your technical problems whenever you have the need, wherever you are.  Support Engage is for any Xerox device covered by any Xerox service agreement. The Xerox Support Engage app is available at no cost from the  iOS App Store and Google Play. Download it to experience its power and reach.  Not only does it integrate with all of Xerox’s other support services to give you maximum choice, but it’s fast, too.  Tests have shown the app resolves issues in almost half the usual time. Read more in the blog article New Xerox App Gives 24/7 Technical Support.

Chat – Is available from the Product Support and Drivers page for the Chat icon on the right of the page.  You can also access chat from the contact tab on the support page for your model of printer.  Chat begins with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) process.  If the issue cannot be solved by the AI process you will be put in contact with a live support representative.  If do not have a contract there will be a fee to chat with the live representative.  

Phone Support – Speak with a representative that can help you resolve the issue or answer your questions over the phone and, in most cases, on the first call. Below are the numbers for the North American Support centres.

  • Technical Support (all products except Phaser and network printers) 1-800-821-2797
  • Technical Support (Phaser and network printers only) 1-800-835-6100 (US & Canada)

Note: Support for Scanners, for example a DocuMate Scanner is provided through the Xerox Scanner Website.

Xerox Customer Support Community Forum – is designed to provide you a central location to discuss Xerox products with owners and users of Xerox products from all over the world.  Start discussion threads by posting comments or questions or responding to other threads on the various boards.  Sharing knowledge is the goal of the forum.  You can search the forum for answers and help as well.

Xerox Support YouTube Channel – the Xerox Support channel has hundreds of videos on a variety of products.  The videos will walk you through many features and setups for your products.  Easy instructions in minutes anytime you need them. 

A Quick Review of Support Options by Cost

Self-Service Solutions (free of charge and available 24 hours a day 7 days a week):

Serial Number and/or contract required, available during business hours:

  • Xerox® Support Engage app
  • Chat with support representative.  If no contract there will be a fee.
  • Technical Support (all products except Phaser and network printers) 1-800-821-2797
  • Technical Support (Phaser and network printers only) 1-800-835-6100 (US & Canada)

Worldwide contact information is available on the Contact Us page.

Please have the serial number and/or Customer Number available when you contact support.  

As the technology continues to evolve on your products, support will evolve as well to bring the information you need as you need it. 

VersaLink C8000W with White Toner Printing Technology

The VersaLink C8000W prints with white toner. The availability of printing in white helps you to add a punch to your prints on all types of media from color paper to clings to other substrates that would benefit from the white toner.

How White Print is Accomplished Now

Without the print white technology, the way white is produced on a printer is that it is a void in ink. This means there is no ink laid down on the paper or the media, that will produce the white look. If the paper, you are using is not white or if it has gray tones or is recycled paper you will not get the vibrant white you want or need. If you are using color paper you won’t get true white.  For example if you print on a piece of yellow paper, anywhere there is a void in ink you want to see white, but as a result of the paper you will not see white you will see yellow.  This is where white printing becomes important so that you can truly produce an image with white tones no matter the media color.

Applications for White Print

White print adds impact and is eye-catching.  Imagine using white print on different colors of paper for:

  • Invitations
  • Greeting Cards
  • Banners
  • Window Clings
  • Menus
  • Envelopes
  • Brochures

The applications are wide ranging.  The white print technology will add vibrance and impact to our own jobs or those of your customers. 

Where to Find More Information

Intrigued? There are many resources available to help you learn more about the VersaLink C8000W with white toner printing technology.  Navigate to the VersaLink C8000W website to read about this printer and review the specifications.  Review the brochure(s).

The following video will show you some of the advantages of printing white.

VersaLink C8000W with White Toner Printing Technology

Review the Xerox® VersaLink® C8000W Color Printer Essential Guide to Successful Printing, a manual that will walk you through many of the different applications, how to use them, how to set them up and how to make adjustments for successful white printing.

Interested in this product contact Xerox, or contact a local reseller. They will be able to give you more information about this printer and how to get one for your business.

Available Support

There is a support knowledgebase available for the printer that will have articles that include step by step procedures and helpful information about the printer. Drivers and downloads, User and Administrator manuals for the printer are on the support page.  

Final Thoughts

The VersaLink C8000W with white toner printing technology may not be for everybody but it is a great application for those that want to print white.  It is not a production printer so it has a smaller footprint and can fit in most offices. The information to learn how to use white printing is all available online. Look at the possibilities and see if this will bring you an advantage when printing for your customers or for your business needs.

macOS Big Sur and Your Printer

The new macOS coming soon is macOS Big Sur (version 11.0).  The macOS Big Sur 11.0 is the 17th and newest OS for the Mac. Rumor had it that the newest operating system for the Apple Mac would be released on October 13, 2020 when the new iPhone family was introduced.  This did not happen.  All the official sites had listed October for the release, but those sites now say, “Later in 2020”. So, we shall wait.  I am discussing the release now to let you know that we are ready to test. Our drivers and other software available for our printers will be tested with the official released Big Sur version on its release.  

Please check for the driver availability for your printers before you upgrade your OS. Avoid any printing issues from upgrading the Big Sur OS with no drivers available. When released, drivers for the new macOS can be found on the support pages for the printers.   

To find the newest drivers navigate to the Xerox Support and Drivers page for your model.  Make sure to choose the printer configuration you have, if applicable. Then select the Big Sur operating system from the Operating System drop down menu. Install the driver. 

You may also see updated scan drivers for your multifunction device. If you utilize scanning, update those drivers as well.  Most of the new drivers will be available and posted once they are tested and approved.  Historically drivers are released up to several months after the new OS is released. 

Please consult the compatibility document for macOS Big Sur that will be posted soon on the Xerox equipment compatibility with new operating systems page to see if a driver will be created for the model of printer or multifunction device you use before you update your macOS.  Some drivers will have a 1 in the Compatibility Level column, this indicates drivers will be available for this product.  If there is a 2, no driver will be developed.  Printers with drivers still under consideration will have a number 3 in the compatibility level column of the document. Check back periodically to see if the new driver has been released.

If the compatibility level column indicates a 2, then no driver is planned for that model printer.  Check the Additional Information column of the compatibility document for more information about possible workarounds or limitations of the drivers.  For a printer without a driver and no information in the Additional Information column you can try using a previous version of the driver, for instance the Catalina driver though this is not recommended or supported. Using an earlier version may not afford you all the features or options for your printer.  

Please consider all your peripherals and their compatibility with the new macOS Big Sur before you upgrade, it may help you to avoid unnecessary frustration. For additional information, you can also reach out to your local support centre or post a question on the Xerox Community Support Forum.