The Shop
Choosing the Right Printer For Your Shop Navigating the Every-Evolving Printer Market By Adam Sumner ith countless options to choose from, the daunting task of selecting a printer can leave you with a bit of buyer’s remorse. With printer technology these days, it’s hard to decide what will be the best investment. So, I break down the purchase of a printer into a few categories, and the first is service. The machine that is right for you is the one that you can get serviced quickly to get you back up and running because it will break, and most of the time it breaks at the worst possible moment. You may have just landed the job you’ve been working months to get, and now, with a ridiculous turnaround, your machine is going to go down. If you can’t get service quickly to get the printer up and running, I recommend asking your supplier the first question: What is your service time when I have an issue? Also, look around and see if there are any other third-party technicians that can work on your equipment in your area. If you’re in a remote location or a small town and service could be days away, I tend to steer people towards the HP Latex machines. Those machines have many parts that are user-replaceable with little to no skill involved. 32 l WrapFam Unleashed l January 2024
Another option is to attend trainings from the printer manufacturer. Most manufacturers offer technical service training that you can take to learn how to diagnose and fix things like replacing printheads, motors, and boards. The next question to ask is whether or not to buy used equipment. Buying used machines is never a bad option, but it’s not always the best option. I have purchased many used pieces of equipment over the years, with both positive and negative experiences. My recommendation for someone starting out is to always buy new. Yes, the upfront cost is much larger. However, when starting out, it’s hard to look at a print and know if gradient banding is due to a file issue, incorrect ripping, or file format choices. Starting with a new machine when you’re getting into the business is a good way to rule out a printer malfunction. Although just because it’s new doesn’t mean it’s working flawlessly, at least you will have a warranty to be able to make a call to have them come and take a look at the printer and diagnose the issue without having to pay service fees, which can add up quickly. The next question is workflow. Speed is king when it comes to printing, and I always like to compare the SF/Hr (Square foot per hour) of the machines I’m looking at. This way, I can figure out which machine is going to work best for me. Typically, the more color options a printer has, the slower the speed; the fewer color options,
