Label printer – when to replace it?
A label printer is an integral part of the operation of most companies. There is no one-size-fits-all printer that meets all the needs of the end user. Many factors influence which printer will be the most suitable. We suggest what to look for when replacing your company’s printer with a new one.
On the surface, replacing a printer may seem like an easy task. However, the choice of devices today is so large that it is worth asking yourself a few questions and preparing for the process before buying. This way, the printer will be tailored to the company, and importantly, you won’t overpay for features that no one will need later.
4 key aspects
The choice of a label printer should be preceded by the question of what minimum and maximum label size will be printed on it. – The most popular printer format on the market is the one with a print head width of 4′, which allows printing in a maximum width within 110 mm. Also encountered are devices with a width of 2” and 6” and 8”. – suggests Marek Gaweł, product manager for automatic identification devices in Etisoft’s Product Development Department. The second issue is the type of label to be used. Depending on the user’s needs, general-purpose labels, technical labels or specialized labels can be used. Based on the answer to this question, we decide whether a thermal printer will be sufficient, or whether it is better to invest in a universal thermal transfer device.
What also needs to be taken into account is performance. The most common division of label printers is desktop, semi-industrial and industrial. We can assume that desktop printers will print approx. 3,000 general-purpose labels per day, semi-industrial printers about 5,000, and industrial printers – even more than 10,000. However, everything depends on the format of the label and the media on which the print is applied. Advanced warehouse, production, business management systems allow you to print labels and are compatible with popular printing devices on the market. However, it is worth delving into the details of the compatibility of your software with the programming language of the printer.
Label printer – how to ensure its trouble-free operation?
When deciding to buy a label printer, it is important to keep in mind the safeguards that ensure its trouble-free operation. This is especially important for the manufacturing industry, where unforeseen downtime in printing is unacceptable. Reliable and continuous operation of the label printer is possible only if regular inspection and maintenance of key components – the print head and the roller under the print head – is applied. – Cleaning of these components in accordance with the recommendations of each manufacturer should take place each time the media – label roll and thermal transfer ribbon – is replaced. – Marek Gaweł of Etisoft reminds us. Correct performance of these activities will certainly have a positive impact on the components, and consequently on the quality of printing. – adds the expert. An additional safeguard is to extend the protection of the printer’s components or to extend the warranty period, which usually covers 12 or 24 months, and for the print head is 6-12 months on average.
Regular servicing matters
The largest providers on the market, AutoID solutions such as Etisoft, offer services for regular maintenance of label printers and on-site service repairs. The user has the option of securing replacement devices during this time if he or she signs an appropriate service contract, the expert adds.
Isn’t it worth mentioning that we service such devices and offer service contracts?
If serviced regularly and used properly, the device can print up to 1,000 km of media. However, it should be borne in mind that with such a high mileage the risk of permanent damage to the printer increases significantly. It is then worth starting to think seriously about replacing the device with a new one.
