How to Select the Right Industrial Printer to Enhance Productivity and Space Efficiency
VDC Research finds that increasing demand for industrial printers is propelled by automation in manufacturing, traceability regulations in the food and beverage sector, hybrid retail strategies, e-commerce-driven logistics growth, and a heightened safety emphasis in healthcare.1
So, what is an industrial printer and how does it differ from a desktop printer? In this blog, we’ll help you understand the key challenges and insights you need to know when choosing an industrial printer. Driven by our decades of expertise, we’ll help you select the right printer to boost productivity.
Why Are Industrial Printers Needed?
Understanding the role and necessity of industrial printers is crucial before selecting the suitable model for your needs. Industrial printers are designed to meet the demands of high-intensity printing needs. They maintain performance and quality during continuous operation and boast a longer lifespan, making them the ideal choice for large-scale production environments, like manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, and similar industries.
Industrial and Desktop Printer Comparison
The main differences between industrial and desktop printers lie in their design purpose and performance capabilities.
Print Volume:
- Industrial printers are designed for large-volume printing, often utilizing larger label rolls (up to an 8-inch O.D.) to meet one-shift demands.
- Desktop printers are better for lighter, diverse printing tasks, with the capability to quickly switch between different media types and sizes.
Durability:
- Industrial printers are built to be more robust, able to endure tougher working conditions and longer printing periods.
- Desktop printers, while suitable for less demanding environments, are designed with lighter duty cycles in mind.
Size:
- The size of industrial printers is larger, aligning with their capacity for high-volume print jobs, necessitating support for larger label rolls.
- Desktop printers are relatively compact, making them ideal for space-constrained environments like office desks or retail counters.
Selecting the appropriate printer is vital for enhancing efficiency and productivity in business operations. If you require continuous high-volume printing and are not in an office environment, the right printer can support larger media to minimize label roll replacement frequency and lessen printer damage risks. This choice significantly influences the smoothness of daily operations and reduces printer downtime for label roll replacement. Industrial printers are the better choice for their high-volume printing capability and durability.
With over 30 years of industry experience, we often find that customers prefer industrial printers, yet space limitations can prevent their use. Therefore, the size, including the need for adequate space for media replacement and printer maintenance, is often a decisive factor in whether an industrial printer is adopted. To address these challenges, TSC Auto ID has launched the new MB241 and ML241P Series Industrial Printers.
Introducing TSC Auto ID’s New Industrial Printers
The new MB241 and ML241P Series Industrial Printers inherit the durability and print capacity of 8-inch O.D. industrial-grade printers. They are designed to be space-efficient, enabling customers to select and deploy industrial printers without concern for space limitations.
- The MB241 Series features a bifold media door design that reduces operational space needs by 24%, facilitating media and ribbon replacement as well as cleaning, thus ensuring efficient operation in limited spaces.
- The ML241P Series has a compact 245 mm height, perfect for space-constrained applications like a post office counter or flight check-in counters.
Both series fulfill the demands for robustness and high output. However, the MB241 Series is particularly suitable for media-specific or complex application environments, while the ML241P Series is renowned for its simplicity and ease of use. Let’s quickly compare the two to help you asses which industrial printer is right for you:
| Feature | MB241 | ML241P |
|---|---|---|
| Space Efficiency | Bifold media door reduces space usage by 24% | Compact design, only 245 mm height |
| Suitable Applications | Compact operational footprint and specialized design for intricate applications | Limited space, height constraints, intuitive for simpler applications |
| Operability | Multi-point printhead pressure adjustment | Simple printhead pressure adjustment, easy to operate |
| Maintenance | All-metal print mechanism, high durability, reduces printer replacement issues | Simple maintenance, no tools needed for parts replacement |
| Special Features | Suitable for various media, a wide range of accessory options | User-friendly design, simplified operation |
Choosing the right printer is paramount to enhance business efficiency and reduce operational costs. For more information about the MB241 Series and ML241P Series, please contact your local sales representatives or visit our website.
In our next blog, we will explore how these next generation industrial printers can tackle real-world challenges with labor shortages by optimizing printer operations. Stay tuned!
1 VDC Research, The Global Market for Stationary Thermal Printers, https://www.vdcresearch.com/Coverage/AIDC/reports/23-Stationary-Thermal-Printers.html
