Xerox WorkCentre 133 — Features, Specs, Performance & Business Use

The Xerox WorkCentre 133 is a compact, high-throughput black-and-white multifunction device (print/copy/scan/fax) introduced in the mid-2000s for busy offices and departmental use. Built on Xerox’s rugged office platform, the 133 blends fast output, practical finishing and networked scanning with a relatively small footprint — a machine designed to replace older analog copiers and bring short-run reproduction in-house. Below you’ll find a thorough look at its features, technical specs, real-world performance, business suitability, TCO considerations and deployment tips.

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Product positioning & who it’s for

The WorkCentre 133 sits between desktop MFPs and light production copiers. Its speed and paper handling make it attractive for:

• Medium-sized workgroups and branch offices that need quick black-and-white output for reports, handouts and administrative packets.

• Organizations wanting to consolidate print workflows (copy + scan + fax) into a single device to reduce outsourcing and improve turnaround.

• Departments requiring modest finishing (stapling, collating) and reliable duplexing without the space or cost of full production equipment.

It is not a color press or a high-end production press — rather, it’s a pragmatic device for transactional and document-centric printing. Xerox no longer sells it as new, but it remains supported in Xerox’s legacy documentation and used equipment market.

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Key technical specifications (what matters)

Here are the load-bearing specs you’ll want at a glance:

• Maximum print speed: Up to 33 pages per minute (ppm) black-and-white. 

• Print/copy resolution: 600 × 600 dpi (hardware resolution typical for crisp text and business graphics). 

• First-copy / first-page-out time: Under 4.5 seconds from ready state for many job types. 

• Automatic duplexing: Standard two-sided printing and copying.

• Automatic document feeder (ADF): Duplex ADF (DADF) with typical 50-sheet capacity for batch scanning/copying. 

• Standard paper capacity: Base trays plus bypass — common configurations include dual 500-sheet trays or 2×500 plus bypass for larger capacity. Optional feeders available. 

• Monthly duty cycle: Rated for heavy departmental use — recommended monthly volumes run into the tens of thousands of pages (some documentation references up to ~125,000 pages as a maximum stress duty, with recommended averages far lower). 

• Memory & storage: Typical standard memory 256 MB; optional 20 GB hard disk for job storage, advanced scanning and holding secure print jobs. 

• Connectivity: USB 2.0, 10/100Base-T Ethernet, optional network fax/scanning and third-party wireless via adapters. 

(These values are drawn from Xerox user guides and support pages for the WorkCentre/CopyCentre 123/128/133 family.) 

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Design, usability & paper handling

Physically the 133 is a large desktop / small floor-standing device: the chassis supports multiple paper trays, a bypass for specialty stock, and a walk-up control panel with a clear LCD and straightforward job menus. The DADF accelerates multi-page scans and copies by scanning both sides in a single pass, eliminating the need to flip originals for duplex jobs — a major time-saver for document processing. The optional hard disk and mailbox features let departments store frequently printed templates or route scanned documents directly to network folders and mailboxes. 

Finishers (optional) provide basic stapling and collating; other higher-end finishing was available as options in some configurations. For many branch offices, the standard internal options cover daily needs: two-sided reports, collated meeting packets and fast single-sided runs.

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Print, scan & copy performance in the real world

Printing & copying

In practical deployments the 133’s 33 ppm speed translates into very fast production of meeting materials, invoices and client packets. Short jobs (10–50 pages) come off quickly and the engine performs well under intermittent heavy bursts across a day. The sub-5-second first-page time helps time-sensitive workflows (walk-up jobs, last-minute handouts). For text and business graphics the 600×600 dpi engine produces crisp, legible pages suitable for distribution and archiving. 

Scanning

The single-pass duplex ADF (DADF) greatly speeds digitization of multi-page originals, and the bundled scan tools support scan-to-email, scan-to-SMB, FTP and mailbox workflows. When paired with the optional HDD and indexing features, the 133 becomes a useful capture point for records management and electronic workflows. Optical scanning resolution of up to 600×600 dpi is adequate for document archiving and OCR. 

Faxing

Where deployed with fax options, the 133 supports Super G3 fax at 33.6 kbps and integrates fax into the document workflow: forward scans as faxes, store received faxes to mailbox, and combine fax with print security features. This was particularly useful for legal and medical office departments still using fax in the mid-2000s era. 

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Software, security & management

Although an older platform, Xerox built enterprise-grade manageability into the product line. The WorkCentre 133 supports:

• CentreWare Internet Services for remote admin and configuration, SNMP for monitoring and CentreWare Web for updates and status. 

• User authentication and secure print (with HDD option) so confidential jobs can be held until released at the device. 

• Job accounting / tracking integration via optional software and the HDD for auditing print usage across departments.

These features make the 133 reasonably manageable by IT teams and suitable for semi-centralized fleets — provided drivers and firmware for contemporary OSes are available (Xerox maintains legacy downloads on its support site).

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Strengths — where the 133 shines

1. Speed and throughput: 33 ppm and quick first-page times make it productive for busy offices that need on-demand printing.

2. Duplex and DADF: Automatic two-sided printing and single-pass duplex scanning hugely reduce manual handling for multi-page documents. 

3. Robust paper handling & finishing: Multi-tray capacity and optional finishers enable in-house production of collated, stapled packets and booklets. 

4. Network and management features: CentreWare and embedded web services make it possible to manage and monitor devices remotely. 

5. Durability for departmental loads: With proper maintenance and a service contract, the device was built to handle heavy monthly volumes. 

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Weaknesses & limitations

1. Monochrome only: No color capability — a nonstarter for departments that require color printouts or color marketing materials.

2. Age & obsolescence: Introduced mid-2000s; although Xerox keeps legacy documentation, long-term parts and support availability vary by region and resellers. Consider parts availability and spare supply stock before committing to a used unit. 

3. Footprint & power: Larger and more power-hungry than small desktop MFPs; requires dedicated floor space and appropriate power provisioning. 

4. No modern cloud connectors out of the box: Unlike modern MFPs, native cloud workflows (Drive/Box/etc.) require third-party or server-side integration. 

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Total cost of ownership (TCO) considerations

When modelling TCO for the WorkCentre 133 consider:

• Acquisition & installation: Purchase price (if buying used or demo), delivery and any optional finishers or HDD.

• Supplies: Toner, drums, developer kits and maintenance kits — genuine Xerox consumables produce best reliability. Xerox lists compatible supplies and service parts in its support portal. 

• Service & repairs: Production devices require a service contract (parts, travel, preventive maintenance) to ensure uptime — budget this into monthly costs.

• Energy & footprint: Older devices often consume more power; include electricity costs and potential HVAC impact. 

• Driver & OS compatibility: Ensure drivers for current client OS (Windows 10/11, macOS) are available or test compatibility – otherwise you may need print servers or virtualization workarounds. 

When used at or near its intended volume, the device can lower per-page costs vs outsourcing; but savings depend on print volumes, supply pricing and support contracts.

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Deployment & maintenance best practices

1. Buy a service contract if the device is to be used for critical daily workflows — technician response times and preventive maintenance preserve uptime. 

2. Stock spare consumables (starter toner, drum units, fuser kit) for fast swap-outs in busy environments. 

3. Use CentreWare for remote monitoring and driver distribution to simplify fleet management. 

4. Validate network config & security — change default admin passwords, enable secure print and limit unnecessary network services. 

5. Plan for a replacement pathway — because the model is older, plan a refresh cycle so the fleet modernizes before parts/support become problematic.

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Final verdict

The Xerox WorkCentre 133 is a pragmatic, fast monochrome multifunction that made sense for departments and branches needing reasonably priced, in-house production of documents, reports and scanned archives. Its strengths are speed, duplex scanning, finishing and manageability — features that still matter in many offices. However, age and the lack of color or modern cloud features make it less suitable as a long-term primary device for organizations that need contemporary integrations. If you’re considering a 133 today, treat it as a capable, production-oriented legacy device: verify parts/support availability, secure a service contract, and use it where robust mono throughput is the requirement rather than full modern MFP feature parity.

Read more: WorkCentre 73xx series — (detailed, practical, and future-facing)