Picking the Right Printer

When preparing to purchase a high speed printer for your in-plant—that is, a device that prints at least 70 pages per minute—you can’t go with whatever first catches your eye. First, you must make sure the device can handle your output volume, ideally by purchasing a machine that is rated for twice the volume you need.

Whichever machines pass this first hurdle should now be run through a live demonstration for your benefit. Look it over closely to determine its sturdiness. Bring hard copy and digital files that you can use to test the machine. Are the commands intuitive? Does the print quality match the claims? Take any samples produced with you so that you can later compare them to that of other machines.

Ignore memory and page storage features, focusing instead on more useful features such as overall paper capacity, feeder speed, software utilities and networking capabilities.

For more tips on how to select a printer or multifunction device, see the November issue of In-Plant Graphics.