On January 18, 2022, Epson preannounced the arrival of the Epson ColorWorks CW-C4000. The launch of this new model in the Epson Colorworks series was long expected, but still a big surprise. With this addition, the range and with it the power of the Epson ColorWorks printer series grows again.
But what does this new color label printer have to offer? What is already known about the specifications and possibilities at the time of writing (20-01-2022). And does this new Epson ColorWorks model affect the existing models?
We’ve researched and checked the facts for you. Although not everything is fully known yet, we have collected as much ins and outs as possible about the new Epson CW-C4000 printers, all this information can be found on this page and of course with the printers themselves in the webshop.
The suggested retail price of this Epson ColorWorks CW-C4000 is expected to be €1,600.00 (ex VAT).
The Epson CW-C4000 inkjet label printer is a desktop printer model. This means that it is a compact model, which can easily be placed on a desk. In addition, desktop models are aimed at printing small runs of labels. Of course, this does not mean that you cannot print runs of a few 100 labels, but that they are not as quick as Usain Bolt. While the printer on the outside strongly reminiscent of the Epson TM-C3500, the technology on the inside is very similar to the Epson CW-C6000 series. For example, the Epson ColorWorks CW-C4000, just like the ColorWorks C6000 printers, will be available with 2 types of black ink cartridges. The Epson CW-C4000 also has the same print head as the Epson CW-C6000 printers and therefore also has the same print resolution.
On paper, a printer is always about the numbers, or the specifications. What the printer can and cannot do. Which options are there and which are not. Therefore, here are the specifications that are now known about the Epson ColorWorks CW-C4000 color label printers.
Print speed and print quality often influence each other. The faster the printing, the lower the quality. And vice versa the same of course, the higher we set the print quality, the slower the labels come out of the printer. Based on the maximum print width of 108 mm, Epson has made a clear overview of the speed per print quality.
In addition to the resolution that decreases with speed, the number of times the print head passes over the media is also affected by the quality selected. For example, the resolution of speed and normal is the same, but the “normal” setting is slower because the print head prints 2.5 times over each piece of material. This is especially important with materials that dry less quickly, such as glossy label material.
The Epson CW-C4000 color label printer itself is expected to have a suggested retail price of €1,600.00. This makes the Epson CW-C4000 slightly more expensive than the Epson TM-C3500.
For a color label printer, this pricing is still relatively low compared to competing brands.
Like the other Epson ColorWorks printers, the Epson CW-C4000 will work with 4 ink cartridges. Namely “Black, Cyan, Magenta & Yellow”
The content of the ink cartridges is 50ml. The ink cost per print will reportedly be lower than that of the Epson TM-C3500 (assuming comparable quality).
Just like all other Epson ColorWorks label printers the Epson CW-C4000 will use an maintenance box to collect the ink waste.
The maintenance box will have an suggested retail price of € 26,00 what is very comparable to the other ColorWorks label printers.
To provide the Epson CW-C4000 with the optional WiFi connection, a WiFi dongle must be purchased.
This WiFi dongle is placed at the back of the printer. The WiFi connection can then be set up via the display. The WiFi Dongle is therefore not included as standard.
The automatic cutting blade of the Epson CW-C4000 is replaceable. It is the first time that Epson has placed such an essential part in such a way that it can be replaced itself.
The expected life is up to 1.5 m. cutting movements (depending on material type). However, replacement may be desirable over time.
The BK version of the Epson CW-C4000 is the most universally applicable version. This printer is equipped with the black BK ink cartridge. This version is suitable for printing on all types of inkjet material. This way you can easily switch between glossy and matte labels.
The BK version performs best on glossy materials and easily prints the most beautiful labels with its sharp details and deep dark black colors where necessary. Especially on glossy plastics such as the DIA715 and DIA725, the print quality is unparalleled.
The BK version performs well on matte label materials, but black prints are less full black. This is especially noticeable with black surfaces and dark details.
The MK version of the Epson CW-C4000 is especially for matte materials. Technically, the printer is the same as the BK version, only the black cartridge differs.
This Epson CW-C4000 MK performs fantastically on matte label & ticket materials and is capable of producing deep black prints. Even details in dark prints are not easily lost.
The disadvantage is that the Epson CW-C4000 MK matte version is less, or actually not, suitable for glossy media such as glossy paper. The pigment parts of the black MK ink of this label printer are larger than those of the BK ink. As a result, they are less able to penetrate into a glossy coating, so that a print on glossy materials dries less well and is less durable.
Windows support is the standard for the label industry.
To replace the black and white label printers, Windows support for Epson’s color label printers is therefore a logical choice. The fact that almost all major software packages for automating label printing only run under Windows also plays a part in this.
Windows support is therefore available as standard for all models of the Epson Colorworks color label printer range.
macOS is hardly used industrially. At first sight, therefore, not important to support for thermal label printers and industrial application of color label printers.
However, color label printers are also widely used as a marketing tool. Marketing departments often use graphic software packages. In the graphics industry, the use of Apple products is therefore macOS (and iOS).
Epson has therefore decided to fully support the Epson CW-C6000 series on Mac as well.
Linux is known within the OS world as an open source operating system. Since it is open source, it is especially popular with programmers.
The freedom that Linux offers as an operating system means that this system is widely used for custom applications. Linux is therefore often seen in specific market applications in, for example, the flower and plant industry.
To seamlessly integrate the Epson CW-C6000 printers into Linux, Epson has developed a fully supported driver package.
Existing thermal (black and white) label printers are controlled in many applications via ZPL or nowadays ZPL II. This code language allows the placement of barcodes, text and other objects via simple commands.
By integrating and supporting ZPL in Epson ColorWorks printers such as the CW-C4000, the color label printer can replace an SPL controlled label printer without any problems. No direct adjustment in control required.
Thanks to Epson’s “ESC label” programming language, you can continue to work on the basis of ZPL and still add color. This ensures a smooth transition from existing black and white to new color solutions.
Whereas with the first Epson ColorWorks models, the necessary detours were often necessary for integration into large software packages, this is now a lot easier.
With the introduction of the Epson ColorWorks CW-C6000 series, Epson has already chosen a different path. For example, Epson has worked hard on full SAP integration and support. This has ensured that the Epson CW-C6000 series and now also the Epson CW-C4000 are fully supported in SAP, among others.
The Epson ColorWorks CW-C6000 series and CW-C4000 inkjet label printers are also fully supported for integration into many other so-called “Major middleware” packages. Integration of these Epson color label printers has therefore become a relative breeze.
Another highly requested feature that Epson has been listening to. Wifi in an Epson ColorWorks printer is with the CW-C4000 finally possible.
Where previously the reliability of WiFi for an industrial label printer was considered insufficient, Epson has chosen to make WiFi possible for the first time with the CW-C4000.
To make the printer suitable for wirelessly connecting the printer in a WiFi network, a separate WiFi dongle must be purchased. This WiFi dongle can be set up via the printer menu after connecting to the printer. The suggested retail price of this WiFi dongle will be € 108.00 upon introduction.
The Epson CW-C4000 label printers have a print resolution of no less than 1.200 x 1.200 dpi. This is an unprecedented print resolution for a desktop color label printer.
Compared to the existing Epson TM-C3500 desktop label printer, which has a maximum print resolution of 720 x 360 dpi, this fan is also a significant step forward. With the high print resolution, the CW-C4000 is equivalent to the current Epson CW-C6000 series in terms of print quality.
This ensures very fine prints and the possibility to print the smallest letters and barcodes without any problem.
A desktop label printer is intended for small label runs and flexible working.
The Epson CW-C4000 therefore has a relatively low print speed, especially when printing at the highest quality setting. Although the maximum print speed is still 10 cm per second, it drops to 8 mm per second at maximum quality.
The print speed is fine for a desktop label printer, but for the production of high-quality product labels in real numbers, the speed can fall short. That immediately explains the price difference between the Epson CW-C4000 and the Epson CW-C6000 series.
When printing labels in color, you usually want the color to be correct. Of course there are plenty of functional labels where yellow is just yellow. But with product labels, that’s a different story.
After all, the logo must have the right color and you also want the rest of the label to match the design in terms of colors.
Just like the E[pson C6000 series, this is no problem with the Epson CW-C4000. The Epson CW-C4000 can work with so-called ICM profiles and spot colors. As long as you use the same profiled material, you are sure of the best result.
Need a label in a variable sizes? No problem for the Epson CW-C4000.
Like the other Epson ColorWorks printers, the Epson CW-C4000 is equipped with an automatic cutter unit. This is made in such a way that each label can be cut to its own size. This means that you are only bound by the label width of the endless label roll when printing, but the length can be different for each label.
You can determine the length yourself by setting a length in the driver. You can also set the printer to ignore empty print space and determine its cut position yourself.
The Epson CW-C4000 will use the same roll sizes as the Epson TM-C3500 and the former Epson C3400.
Because the Epson TM-C3500 and its predecessor, the Epson TM-C3400, have been available for years, this has a major advantage. After all, in the years that these models have been available, numerous label formats have been included in the Business Labels product range.
A wide range of standard label rolls is therefore available immediately at the launch of the Epson CW-C4000. Usually available from stock. But you can also continue working if the Epson CW-C4000 is purchased as a replacement for the Epson TM-C3500.
Do you want a really endless label print to use as a banner? Although the maximum print length is 406.4 mm, this should is no problem for the C4000.
By using the options and settings in the printer driver you can make 1 long print. All you have to do is divide the banner into multiple pages. These can then be easily printed afterwards without gaps in the print.
This way you can easily create a banner as long as you want. So do you want to print a banner 10cm high but 20 meters long? Then that is possible, which is an endless amount of printing.
The Epson CW-C4000 makes color label printing more accessible again.
While printing labels in color used to be too expensive, the price quickly becomes interesting with the Epson CW-C4000. The cost of ink would be very advantageous compared to the Epson TM-C3500 and competing color label printers.
The calculations in practice are of course yet to be seen. According to Epson’s own research, under many conditions the costs would be equal to or lower than pre-printed labels in combination with a thermal transfer printer.
Like all Epson Colorworks inkjet label printers, the Epson CW-C4000 is also suitable for printing labels for chemicals. As long as the printer is used with the correct printer media, prints are resistant to many influences.
For example, a color label on paper is resistant to moisture, no matter what happens, the ink will not run. Water resistance is achieved on almost any suitable inkjet material.
Need labels that are resistant to corrosive substances and other chemicals? No problem for the Epson CW-C4000 either. Use the right printer media such as DIA703 or DIA700 and the labels can be anything. They even meet the BS5609 standard.
The Epson CW-C4000 has almost the same compact design as the Epson TM-C3500. Only the slightly tilted color display makes the Epson CW-C4000 slightly larger.
The Epson CW-C4000 will have a size of 310 x 283 x 285 mm (W x D x H). Also the weight of only 13 KG is comparable to the Epson TM-C3500.
Due to the relatively low weight and compact size of the Epson CW-C4000, it is virtually adaptable. There is sufficient space to place the printer at almost every workplace. The compact size in combination with the relatively low weight makes the Epson CW-C4000 also suitable for use in mobile applications. As a result, the Epson CW-C4000 will also be suitable for printing event badges.
The Epson CW-C4000 is built to last and function reliably. All parts of the printer are therefore built to last.
The print head of the Epson CW-C4000, the driving force behind the printer, is built to last for the entire life of the printer. The transit mechanism is made to carry through 150 km of labels without problems or major maintenance.
The printer’s cutting blade has a life that depends on the material being cut. The lifetime of the blade is up to 1.500.000 cuts of liner. Because the blade is also used for heavier applications, Epson has chosen to place it in such a way that it is easy to replace yourself.
The user-friendliness of the Epson CW-C4000 is also unprecedented. The color display and control buttons make operating the printer easier than ever before.
Without difficult tools, you can adjust the settings in the printer to achieve an optimal result. Print slightly to the left, right above or below? Cut earlier or later? change from spaced label roll to an endless label roll or from internal roll to an external supply. Everything can be done in an instant and without the intervention of software tools on the PC.
Also changing the label rolls and ink cartridges is so easy that a child can do the laundry. Epson has made every effort to make it as simple as possible for the users.
The BK version of the Epson CW-C4000 is the ideal version for glossy printer media. Whether glossy paper or glossy plastic label material, the Epson CW-C4000 BK is capable of producing the best possible print results.
In addition, the Epson CW-C4000 BK version is well suited for use on matte printer media. Only dark print details and black areas can fall a bit short in some cases. Especially if one expects a deep black color on a matt material, the BK version will not achieve this.
Regardless of the choice of matte or glossy material, the print will be resistant to moisture, UV light, chemicals and many other influences. The difference is only visual.
The Epson CW-C4000BK is therefore the ideal choice for glossy materials and for universal use.
The MK variant of the Epson CW-C4000 is optimized for matte printer media.
In order to be able to print a deep black print and dark details on matte materials, larger black pigment areas are needed. The Epson CW-C4000 MK features the MK ink which is able to produce deep black prints on matte printer media. As a result, the Epson CW-C4000 MK is also able to optimally show the details in dark prints.
However, the larger black pigment areas of the MK inks are less able to draw into a glossy coating. As a result, the pigment parts remain on the glossy coating, which makes the print less drying and less durable.
This makes the Epson CW-C4000 MK the ideal printer when using (almost) only matte printer media, but virtually unsuitable for (frequent) use of glossy labels.
Only when we have the printer in the demonstration room at Businesslabels can we start planning real tests and demonstrations. Until then, we are bound by the sources we have and the figures and facts that are shared. You can always contact Businesslabels for advice. So do you want to know more? Do you have specific questions about the Epson ColorWorks printers or do you need good label printer advice for other reasons? We are happy to help and help is available, so call, email or write a letter if necessary. You can find our contact details at the bottom of the website or on our contact page.
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