Finish It Right the First Time

With production inkjet entering its 10th year as a printing technology, it has become an indispensable tool in the arsenal of any print service provider (PSP). As you look into this exciting new technology, however, don't overlook finishing. Some people even say you should decide on your finishing options before you purchase a production inkjet press. Why?

It all comes down to applications and what you plan to do with the new equipment. To be successful, shops need to make sure they have the right tool for the job. The less time the project takes to complete in the shop, the more efficient it becomes and the more money ends up in the printer’s pocket.

“Total cost of ownership (TCO) is important to any PSP considering an inkjet investment, and the complementary finishing equipment is an important part of that equation,” said Will Frank, marketing specialist, Standard Finishing Systems.

Print providers should consider the best way to configure their finishing equipment options, balancing between maximizing labor productivity with inline configurations versus potentially maximizing printing equipment productivity and investment via an offline configuration.

“When a PSP is deciding between inline and offline (near-line) finishing, it’s important to consider run length and job mix, which drive the number of finishing changeovers required per shift,” said Frank.

When should you consider inline finishing? When you have a dominant application you run the majority of the time, so the job can run from white paper roll to finished product in one continuous path with fewer manual touchpoints and potentially lower labor costs.

When should you consider offline or near-line finishing? Find out by downloading our exclusive Production Inkjet Buyers Guide, which is filled with data and specifications on software, inkjet presses, paper and finishing equipment, as well as buying tips from the experts. Download the guide here.