NEC Recalls Laser Printers

NEC is recalling about 170,000 laser printers because of an overheating problem that leads to a subsequent risk of fire, the company says.

The company is recalling 11 printer models, that were sold in Japan between 1997 and 2000. The printers are monochrome laser printers, mostly in its MultiWriter range.

Around 440 printers sold by Hitachi during the period from 1999 to 2001 include the same part and are also subject to recall, Hitachi said in a statement.

Only Overseas

A number of the same printers were rebranded by an NEC customer and sold outside of Japan. However those models, the names of which were not released, are not presently subject to a recall, says Diane Foley, a spokesperson for NEC in Tokyo.

An overheating problem has been identified in the printer's fixer unit, which is responsible for fixing toner to the paper, and that has prompted the recall, Foley says.

NEC is advising customers to switch off the printers when not in use, such as overnight and over the weekends, until the faulty part has been replaced.