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KYOCERA launches new range of color scanners and printers
MUMBAI: Kyocera, the leading Japanese document Solutions Company, has announced the launch of four new A3 MFP’s printers and scanners, TASKalfa 1800, TASKalfa 2200, TASKalfa 1801 and TASKalfa 2201 under the brand name Kizuna and is available for Indian market.
As per Kyocera, these new machines are simple to install and work with, and built with superior print and scan elements. Kyocera is renowned to make the most reliable & durable MFP’s, courtesy its patented technology of Amorphous Silicon Drum. Kyocera continues its legacy with the new range of A3 MFP’s which has a Drum life of 1.5 lacs pages(3 times than any other equivalent competition product) & 9-10.5 lac prints of Mainframe/Machine life(Highest in the industry).
Overview of the products:
For the first time, Kyocera has introduced Color Scanning in its Segment 1 machines (20 ppm or below), which ensures flawless digitization of color documents. Each model is equipped with print box feature, a unique application provided with this new range of printers to ensure document security & confidentiality. A user can fire a print and the machine will not execute the Print Command till the User enters a password on the machine. The range comes with a Drum life of 1.5 lacs pages, 3 times than any other equivalent competition product. Being an eco-friendly company, Kyocera has always made a conscious effort to provide the best products with the least environmental impact. The new range of MFP’s, consumes only 385 watts of electricity per hour (printing/copying mode), which is least in the industry for this segment.
Basic Configuration of the machine:
TASKalfa 1800/2200
· 18/22 ppm
· Copy/print/Color Scan
· RAM: 256 MB
· Paper Capacity: 1 x 300 sheets (Standard Tray) + 1 x 100 sheet (Multi purpose Tray)
· Power Consumption: 385/415 watts – Lowest in the Industry
TASKalfa 1801/2201
· 18/22 ppm
· Copy/print/Color Scan
· RAM: 256 MB
· Paper Capacity: 1 x 300 sheets (Standard Tray) +1 x 100 sheet (Multi purpose Tray)
· Power Consumption: 385/415 watts – Lowest in the Industry
· Network Interface (optional)
· Super G3 Fax (Optional)
The TASKalfa 1800, TASKalfa 2200, TASKalfa 1801 and TASKalfa 2201 are available in India from December 2013 with an MRP starting fromRs. 45,000/- to Rs. 1,00,000/- depending on the various enhancements that the customers would be looking for.
Mr. K Swethanarayan, Managing Director, Kyocera Document Solutions India Pvt. Ltd. Said “The new range will help bring balance of suppleness and business sensibility to users in offices and small-medium businesses. We are optimistic of a steady growth this fiscal, and the launch of Kizuna series will help us achieve this.” He further adds, “This new range will enable us to offer unique print solutions equipment to the Indian market that will combine speed and outstanding color into one comprehensive print solution.”
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Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
