If your organization relies on large volumes of printed materials, you likely use a production printer—and if not, you probably should. Production printers are designed to handle large, ongoing print jobs every day. They’re essential equipment for print shops, educational settings, marketing departments, and other operations with significant printing needs.
But how do you choose a production printer that will meet the needs of your company?
Let’s walk through some of the most important questions and considerations to explore before investing in a new production printer. Make the most informed decision to ensure printing efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness in your business.
Production Printers vs. Office Printers: Know The Basics
Production printers are high-speed, high-capacity printing machines often created for commercial use. They typically deliver superior print quality and advanced finishing settings to handle various media sizes and styles. They often run continuously, sometimes producing thousands of pages per day with consistent quality and speed.
Production printers are used for tasks including:
- Producing multiple copies of large handbooks or guides (sometimes printing up to 100 pages per minute)
- Printing high-quality gloss brochures or advertising materials
- Producing large posters or signage with heavy ink requirements
- Printing high-resolution photos for publication
- Printing books, magazines, calendars, and other catalogs
Comparatively, office printers have fewer operational demands, mainly printing everyday documents in standard paper sizes.
Because there are so many ways to implement production printers, it’s important to know which type of machine your organization requires.
Top Questions to Ask Before Buying a Production Printer for Your Company
Ready to find the right production printer for your company? Here are the five key questions to ask when shopping for your new printer system.
1. What Are Your Volume and Capacity Requirements?
Consider the current and future printing demands of your business.
- How many items are printed in an average week?
- What types of materials do you print most?
- What are your peak printer usage times and volumes?
- What is the projected growth in your print demand?
Make a list of these factors and calculate monthly averages, both current and scalable, for your future goals. This will give you an idea of the performance and capacity requirements you need in a production printer while safeguarding you from overpaying for unnecessary features.
2. What Print Quality Do You Need?
Depending on the types of materials you produce, print quality requirements may vary. Consider:
- Print resolution for everyday jobs
- Color accuracy requirements
- Finishing options (such as folding, stapling, binder, etc.)
- Material durability requirements
Some high-end production printers provide exceptional color accuracy and resolution but the printed materials might be sensitive to light or moisture. Other printers, for example, might be ideal for printing labels or packaging materials but cannot fulfill marketing print jobs. Consider the print type and quality before choosing the right one.
3. What Is the Total Cost of Ownership?
The upfront cost of buying a production printer is one thing to think about. But don’t overlook the ownership costs of running and maintaining the printer.
These costs include:
- Ink, toner, and paper materials
- Energy consumption
- Ongoing maintenance and repairs
- Potential software updates
- Printer updates
Even if the production printer you choose is more affordable upfront, make sure you check the price of long-term expenses. Calculate the average costs of ownership over the printer’s expected lifespan and choose the best option accordingly.
4. How Easy Is It to Use and Maintain?
Even the best production printers aren’t worth their capabilities if your employees don’t know how to operate or maintain them properly. The ideal printer is user-friendly enough for your team to stay productive, while advanced enough to meet complex print demands.
Consider the top factors of usability, such as:
- Training requirements to operate the printer
- Difficulty of routine maintenance tasks
- Intuitiveness of the user interface
- How often it will need professional servicing
- Complexity of everyday features (e.g. changing the paper tray, software UX, etc.)
The more straightforward the usability and maintenance, the more equipped your organization will be to operate and troubleshoot to stay productive.
5. What Level of Support Does the Vendor Provide?
Production printers are powerful machines. However, they inevitably require maintenance and repairs to ensure their best performance.
Finding a vendor that offers reliable support will keep your printer’s productivity in its best shape and minimize the amount of downtime. Assess whether or not a vendor provides service agreement coverage in the sale. Additionally, check out online reviews for the vendor’s response times, remote customer support, and troubleshooting.
You may also want to consider the availability of printer parts and consumables (e.g. ink, electronics, etc.) for the printer model.
Other Things to Consider When Choosing a Production Printer
After answering the top five questions, here are additional considerations to help you with your search.
Scalability and Future-Proofing
Your printing needs might change as your company grows or adapts. You may want to choose a printer that has modular design features for easy upgrades. Unless your printer requirements are singular, check for compatibility with a variety of media types.
Also, prioritize printers that have the option to integrate with multiple technologies. Buying a more versatile printer that can grow with your business can save you from having to replace it in a few years as your operation advances.
Integration with Existing Systems
If your business already has existing workflows and production systems in place, a new printer should integrate with these processes. Make sure it’s compatible with current design and prepress software. Consider its ability to connect to print management systems and accounting features if necessary.
Environmental Impact
Ink and other printer materials are a big contributor to pollution today. Therefore, energy and sustainability factors could play a role in which printer you choose.
Take note of the printer’s energy efficiency ratings, waste management requirements, eco-friendly consumable options, and level of recyclability. Going with an environmentally responsible printer can reduce your company’s carbon footprint and potentially lead to cost savings.
Choose the Right Production Printer for Your Needs
Buying a production printer is a big investment that can impact your company’s efficiency and profitability. By considering these important questions, you can make an informed decision that serves your organization long-term.
Choosing the right production printer can be complex. At Meridian, we help companies through the process, step-by-step. With personalized assessments of your printing needs and detailed comparisons of the most suitable printer models, we help you find the best printer for your budget—both now and long term.
Contact Meridian today for expert advice on the next production printer that can help you grow your business.
