What to Look For When Considering a Digital Printer - Part 2

In part 1, we discussed preparing the space and understanding the needs of the business before we looked at the printer itself. In this part we will look specifically at printer hardware options and the process of evaluating the many great options in the market today.

Step 4 – NOW let’s start looking at printers
The size of the printer will determine your application capability. Yes, you can make banners and vehicle graphics on a 30” printer. But it’s not realistic.

• Most popular size is 54”
• Banners are typically 3 feet wide, occasionally 4 feet. Length is less important because most banner material comes on a roll and can be as long as necessary
• Vehicle graphics are often printed in 5 feet width to cover the entire height of the vehicle in one piece to avoid visible seams

How does the media load? Front or back? Do you need to get to the back of the machine?
Some printers can be operated completely from the front, this can be convenient if you are lacking adequate space (see step 1)

Where is the control panel? Is it a digital interface or does it use buttons?
This will determine if you need to operate it locally or if you can be in the other room. Some control panels are more user friendly, and most just need a little time to get use to. Wensco has several videos For Roland control panels and how to operate them.

What is the connection interface? USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Firewire, Software?
You need to know this because your computer is the gatekeeper to your workflow. If you can’t connect to the computer, your printer is worthless.

Do you want integrated print/cut?
Some workflows benefit from print-then-cut. It also relies very heavily on space (see step 1) and budget (see step 2).

Will you need a separate cutter?
Integrated devices are nice because they combine multi-functionality and can be operated independent of each other. It also increases your available set of applications for a dramatically high return on investment

If you DO NOT plan on doing any kind of contour cut work – decals, wall graphics, pinstriping; you may want to skip the cutter

The demand or how busy you are may also influence the decision for a combo printer/cutter, or separate. Be sure to consider print and cut speeds of the machine, as well as how fast it can run while maintaining your high-quality prints. Some printers offer higher speed functions at a little cost to quality.

Does the printer have any automated maintenance cycles?
DO YOU NEED TO CLEAN YOUR PRINTER YOURSELF? Most printers require some weekly maintenance on your behalf to stay in sharp shape and give you the best prints over an extended period of time-- but some printers have easier maintenance than others.

Can the printer be left alone over the weekend or is there a daily maintenance requirement?
White Ink should always be on your mind. Some printers require you to purge the white ink if being left for extended periods. Others preform maintenance to avoid the hassle. How often can you expect to replace spare parts? Wiper blades, cleaning pads, etc.

Ink. Probably the most controversial topic in the printing industry
Short answer: pick the top three applications you want to do and find the best ink for those. You may want to do 100 applications across multiple industries. Pick 3. Make sure your highest volume (revenue) and highest profit applications are in your top three.

• Eco-solvent, mild-solvent, hot-solvent, latex, aqueous, UV cure, dye-sublimation, encapsulated resin, food-grade – the list goes on and on…

Many manufacturers offer loyalty programs for using their ink. Some of them can be quite lucrative. If their reputation is high, they often take care of you to protect their image. Peace of mind and safety come with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) branded ink. For the price conscious and DIY’er, go for the best deal, considering that your consumable costs and repair bills will go up (see step 2).

Also consider the color options:

• Green and Orange
• Red and Blue
• Florescent
• Color Gamut Range? Some printers can offer hitting up to 99% of colors

Other things to note:
What is a Duty Cycle? A duty cycle is an expected lifetime of a component in any device. Think of ratings on car tires – 30,000 miles, for example. Every component in the printer has a duty cycle and that lifespan will determine how effective the manufacturer’s warranty is. For example: how many hours are the motors rated at? 2,000 hours? If so, you can expect to run your printer 8 hours a day for 250 days before the motor gives out. Warranty language is specific regarding this terminology. Remember, EVERYTHING BREAKS. If the component lasts at least through the duty cycle period, it is no longer considered defective, and therefore, not covered under warranty. This could apply to print heads, dampers, ink lines, cartridge bays, cutting carriages, wires, ribbon cables, sensors, and other sensitive electronics. Try to determine what the suggested duty cycle of key components are when comparing manufacturers and their warranties. You could be in for quite a surprise.

Step 5 – Start shopping around
Printer manufacturers take a lot of time and attention to make sure their factory quality control is within very tight tolerances. You can get the same printer from any authorized distributor, but you might not get the same service or supplies. Wensco offers a wide range for printers (and cutters) to fit the needs/demands of every shop. We also have top of the line technicians to aid and service machines in addition to stocking consumables, and having the ability to order any additional parts.

• Evaluate your location relative to an authorized distributor location (see Part 1 - Step 3). We have locations in Belmont and Detroit, MI, Quad Cities (Davenport, IA), Chicago (Addison, IL), Indianapolis, IN, Louisville, KY and Cleveland (Brooklyn Heights, OH).
• How may service technicians do they have? What’s their average response time? (See Part 1 - Step 3)
• Do they offer training? What other benefits do they provide besides the hardware?
• Do they perform the service themselves?
• Many distributors can often outsource this work. The benefit is that it may be cheaper, but the downside is the dreaded “he-said-she-said” miscommunication nightmare. Wensco services most machines in house, allowing for your machine to get serviced without the headache.
• Do they want a purchase contract?
• Good idea to make sure you understand everything up front and you get what you pay for.
• Do they understand print software? RIP? Design? Most Techs will understand the workflow quite well in addition to having materials and videos that can also assist you.

Step 6 – Price
This should be the easiest part of the process. If the MSRP gives you sticker shock, ask about supplies bundles (see step 2). Also Don't forget to ask about:

• Credit
• Rebates and promo offers
• Trade-ins - Wensco buys used equipment, and regularly accepts trade-ins.
• Financing! Wensco partners with Geneva Capital to provide you with great loan and leasing options for your business.

Congratulations! You're well informed and equipped to get the right machine for your business. Go out there and get what you need.