Mid-range printers often require less maintenance than high-range printers, which decreases needed labor. (Photo courtesy of Epson.)

Mid-range printers may be a viable option for your print shop without putting your shop $100,000 in debt. Much like the entry-level models, mid-range printers are constantly undergoing technological improvements, and by understanding your needs and the available features, you can find a printer that meets all the needs of your print shop. 

 

CONSIDERING A MID-RANGE PRINTER

When looking to purchase a mid-range printer, there are certain considerations you should take into account. For instance, the amount of volume your print shop produces is one of the most important factors, notes Randy Paar, display graphics product manager of Océ, Trumbull, Conn. Of course, you want to take a look at what your print shop is currently doing but also examine future potential. 

 

“A shop should select a printer based on not only current but also expected print volumes,” Paar says. “It should consider something it can grow into as the business grows. In the near term, this can represent a challenge, but long term, it is the best approach.”

 

Remember, be realistic with future volume expectations. Even if you have the capital to invest in a high-end printer, a mid-range option is better if you know your volume just won’t hit that heavy load, says Steve Urmano, marketing director of Mimaki USA, Suwanee, Ga. 

 

“It all depends on how much work you’ll be doing,” Urmano says. “If you don’t have the 1,000 or 2,000 square feet an hour of volume, you won’t be able to keep the machine running well. They’re made to run all the time.”

 

For some print shops, mid-range printers are preferred for their versatility, even if they have the work to justify a high-range printer, because they can buy two machines, instead of one, which can increase productivity, says Reed Hecht, product manager of Epson, Long Beach, Calif. No matter what issues may arise, there’s always a machine ready to go. 

 

With mid-range printers, a wider color gamut can be achieved than before. (Photos courtesy of Océ.)

“By having two, three or even four printers, you have a level of redundancy,” Hecht says. “If your one high-end printer is down, you can’t work on any jobs. The last thing you want is for a client to call you at 5 o’ clock, and he needs a job tomorrow, but there’s a problem with the machine.”

Hecht also says mid-range printers often require less maintenance than high-end models. Mid-range printers require maintenance about every two weeks; however, high-range printers can often demand daily check ups, he says.

 

“If I can come in and start printing on machines immediately—rather than spending 20 to 30 minutes before even running my first print—that hits the bottom line easily when you look at the cost of labor and the cost of downtime,” Hecht explains. 

 

MID-RANGE PRINTERS IMPROVE WITH TECHNOLOGY

Over recent years, mid-range printers have undergone certain technological improvements, including speed enhancements, Paar says. Today’s newer mid-range printer models produce at increased speeds near 400 square feet per hour. Naturally, the faster the machine, the more work that can be produced. 

 

But keep in mind, the print quality can sometimes be affected by the increased speed, Paar adds. 

“Print speed is often determined by what the end user is willing to pay for from a quality standpoint,” Paar says. “Many manufacturers claim higher speeds, but the print is unsellable from a quality standpoint.”

 

Today’s mid-range printers have recently introduced dye sublimation units, as well. Typically, mid-range printers ran on solvent-based inks, but exploring the dye sublimation market has been one of the biggest changes, Urmano says. By using dye sublimation, mid-range printers can take on new applications, such as interior P.O.P. displays, outdoor banners and other types of soft signage. However, you cannot go back and forth on the same machine when using solvent and dye sublimation inks, Urmano advises. The machine must be dedicated to either solvent or dye sublimation. 

 

Before choosing a mid-range printer, be sure to consider your current and potential volume output. (Photo courtesy of Océ.)

Some mid-range printers also now support orange and green inks for an eight-color process, which allows for a wider color gamut. With the wider color gamut, mid-range printers can now better serve the signage industry because certain colors can be achieved, Hecht says.  Take Coca Cola, for instance. In the past, mid-range printers couldn’t always hit that red hue, Hecht reflects, which is dominant part of Coca Cola’s branding. But now the orange and green inks allow printers to more accurately represent a brand’s color. 

 

“When you talk about traditional signage markets, it’s about getting brand colors,” Hecht says. “You can hit colors you just couldn’t hit before.”

 

THE FUTURE OF MID-RANGE PRINTERS

Similar to printer advancements of today, Paar expects to see improvements in speed and more support for white ink, color spots and varnish. Urmano especially believes printer manufacturers will experiment with UV inks. In the mid-range market, there are few UV models available, and they tend to be slower than solvent printers, Urmano says. Despite this, he does see UV printing as an area that could face improvement in the mid-range market. 

 

“It’s an evolving product,” Urmano says. “It’s also a new area. A lot of the UV medias are just becoming available, so I think the next generation might be better.”

 

Hecht believes there will be a greater focus on eco-conscious printing options. From substrates to ink, there has been a growing focus on environmentally friendly alternatives, and printers are no different, especially mid-range printers, Hecht says.

 

“We’ve been able to achieve the same benefits of image quality, color gamut, ease of use and low-maintenance operation while being environmentally safer,” Hecht says. “The printers are not releasing VOCs or using ink that will live in a landfill. I guarantee you the second you step into anything in the higher price range, you’re talking about having air filters and custom rooms and special filtration systems. Going forward and with all the regulations coming down, environmentally friendly options will be a big focus.”