Buyers laboratory: Testing the limits

Buyers Laboratory Inc. (BLI) has worked for nearly 40 years to distinguish itself as the leader in the testing of office equipment and supplies. Whether it be digital multifunctional products, copiers, fax machines, printers, cartridges, chairs or desks, Buyers Laboratory has committed itself to the highest standards of testing and to supplying its customers with the most accurate, detailed and uniform testing information to help them make the best possible purchasing decisions.

On a recent visit, I got a behind-the-scenes look at just what it takes to test office equipment and supplies. What I found was truly amazing. When you are actually there and can witness the testing, see the equipment used for testing products, and watch as tens of thousands of pieces of paper pile up into recycling bins, you see just how extensive Buyers Lab's testing is and how committed they are to their testing.

Buyers Laboratory is actually made up of The Buyers Alliance consulting group and two laboratories that run independent of one another. The first of the laboratories is one you may be familiar with: the main 10,000-square foot lab. Here, BLI conducts office products testing for the general public, and creates its specification guides and product database software. All test results from this lab, as well as BLI specification guides and software, are available to consumers via subscription services. These services are used by buyers to help make the best possible purchasing decisions, as well as by the industry as a leading competitive information resource. It's important to note that Buyers Lab's main lab is subscriber funded and completely independent. It has never accepted advertising; nor does the lab charge manufacturers for testing products that it publicly reports on.

BLI has tested thousands of office machines and has, as well, set the industry standard with its test reports on digital multifunctional devices, digital copier/ printers, analog copiers, fax machines, and other types of office equipment. Each 15-to 25-page report represents months of in-house testing in BLI's lab and examines a product's performance from A to Z.

As an example, digital copier/printers are tested at the manufacturer's maximum recommended monthly copy/print volume and subjected to a three-month evaluation. Each product is tested and analyzed for copy/print quality, durability productivity software compatibility and ease of use. Moreover, all network-connectable devices are tested on BLI's dedicated test network, which consists of six Ethernet, dual-speed 10BaseT/110Base TX network switches, four file servers, 10 workstations, and dedicated phone lines for fax testing of connected products. In addition to multitasking evaluations, testing also includes an assessment of ease of installation of hardware and software on networks and various operating systems; evaluation of print drivers and utility software, including all driver funcdons such as document finishing, duplexing, and paper source selection; evaluation of the management and accounting software for both the administrator and the user; testing of the print and copy speeds; compatibility testing with popular commercial software programs; evaluation of lifecycle costs; and computer-generated test targets to evaluate toner yield.

In addition to tests developed by BLI, other industry-standard tests, such as those developed by ASTM, are also employed. During each testing procedure, a log is kept by test technicians and used to record all test results, including service required for repairs or perform preventive maintenance (PMs). The test reports are prepared and written by an in-house staff of test technicians and editors, who consult these logs, in order to generate a detailed report on the equipment. While the reports contain separate in-depth categories evaluating performance criteria, an overview of test findings called the "General Appraisal" (GA) is also included, which gives the reader a concise summary.

CUSTOM TESTING DIVISION

The second BLI lab is its Custom Testing Division, housed near BLI's main test facility and totaling more than 20,000 square feet. The CT lab, which is ISO-compliant, was moved to a separate location in 1994 to provide clients with completely confidential testing services for hire. In these facilities, BLI's staff of engineers and test technicians can custom design tests for virtually any product. Among the many types of testing that can be performed are:

Comprehensive evaluations of new and remanufactured laser, ink-jet printer, and toner cartridges,

Runnability and image quality tests on media through ink-jet and laser printers, copiers, fax machines, and multifunctional devices

Paper testing

Physical testing of packaged products

ISTA-certified package testing

Transient shock analysis of packaged products

Drop testing

Shelf-life testing

Accelerated aging testing

Compression testing

Simulated atmospheric and environmental condition testing (high/low temperature; high/low humidity)

Simulated transportation testing

Furniture testing (desks, chairs, file cabinets, etc.)

BLI has also become well known in the industry for its cartridge testing. BLI's cartridge testing defies limitations, and includes everything from new color and black cartridges to remanufactured/ recharged laser printer cartridges. And this testing is not limited to printer cartridges. In fact, BLI tests cartridges for copiers, fax machines and multifunctional devices as well. All cartridges are tested for print quality of both text and graphics, total page yield, print density, ink leakage, drying time, toner leakage, printer damage, non-transference, toner hopper seal performance, component integrity and package integrity. The resulting report provides a detailed and comprehensive view of the cartridge, from top to bottom, packaging to print density, page yield to print defects.

THE BUYERS ALLIANCE

The Buyers Alliance, a division of Buyers Laboratory, is an office equipment acquisition support service dedicated to helping organizations acquire the best equipment, at the best prices, with the best terms and conditions. Whereas BLI's test reports help consumers select the best hardware, The Buyers Alliance helps them complete their acquisition by helping them negotiate the best terms and conditions of their contracts.

Because the acquisition and usage of office equipment represents a surprisingly high percentage of the average company's operating budgets, knowing which products to purchase can be a tiresome and tedious task. BLI's team of experts work together with a client's staff to understand their needs and to create a customized solution with programs, products, and pricing terms geared toward the clients' specific needs.

Once a decision is made, BLI's Buyers Alliance works to obtain airtight contacts with best practice benchmarks that will help to protect a customer's equipment, and it continues to monitor equipment throughout the term of the contract to assure performance. The Buyers Alliance will also help to forecast future equipment needs and provide clients with the means to save time and money.

BLI's knowledge puts it in a unique position to be able to advise consumers based on its testing and the extensive industry experience of its staff, which has an average of 15 to 20 years in the office equipment business. This expertise helps BLI to determine the best possible solutions for its clients. BLI does not sell the equipment and receives its compensation from the client, allowing the company to offer complete purchasing solutions based on performance and evaluation of products, as well as contract terms and conditions, with absolutely no influence from the product suppliers.

And, BLI isn't finished by any means. It is constantly improving and creating new testing methods; expanding its services and offerings; and testing the limits in its continuous quest to provide the most detailed, unbiased, and current product information to consumers and product suppliers.

Copyright B U S Publishing Group, Inc. Sep 2000
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved