Want to start a printing business? You've come to the right place! In this article, we have put together essential information about the equipment you need, to help you make the best purchases.
Offset press
Offset presses for paper were developed in 1904 in the United States and are still in use today. Modern machines have many useful features, including pre-press production – a stage that ensures files are processed and prepared correctly for printing.
Offset technology has many applications and is used especially for books, newspapers, magazines, brochures and stationery. Its main advantage is producing large volumes at high quality and low cost, with little maintenance.
Other benefits of offset printing include:
- high image quality;
- long printing plate life;
- the ability to adjust the amount of ink;
The offset printing process works like this: ink is transferred from the printing plate to a rubber blanket. From there, it reaches the printing surface – the paper. The press prints continuously as long as it keeps being fed with paper.
Production printer
Toner printers and inkjet printers are the most popular types of production printer. Let's look at each in turn to discover their features:
Toner printers
Toner printers (also called laser printers) produce high-quality text and graphics using a laser beam. The beam passes over a drum (a negatively charged cylinder) to define the image. The drum then picks up the toner, an electrically charged powder ink. Next, the image is transferred to the paper, which is then heated. The heat fuses the text and graphics to the paper, completing the process.
The main advantages of laser machines are precision and speed. And although they cost more than inkjet printers, their consumables are cheaper. What's more, they handle high print volumes without jams or other problems.
Of course, toner printers also have a drawback: they cannot print high-quality graphics and photos, only simple colour prints. If you need great images, go for inkjet.
Inkjet printers
Inkjet printers print a digital image by propelling droplets of ink onto paper media. Unlike other printing equipment, they can reproduce fine detail thanks to higher resolution. They also need no warm-up time, and their cost per page is lower.
Modern inkjet printers can print at very high speeds and in wide formats. They are also used for a variety of industrial applications.
However, because the ink nozzles are very narrow, they are prone to clogging. They can be cleaned with special solvents or by soaking in warm water (only for water-soluble inks).
Trimming and stitching machine
Trimming and stitching machines are used once printing is complete. They align and fold the paper sheets, then trim them on three sides and staple them in the middle. They can be used with digital printers or cutters, and their system is easy to customise.
Binding machine
Today you can find both manual and automatic binding machines on the market. The former are used for short and medium runs, the latter for long runs and thick books. Modern machines have a range of useful features, including:
- the option to set different temperatures for the glue tank;
- automatic cleaning of the glue cover;
- automatic sealing of the glue cover;
- paper dust extraction;
- an easy-to-use touchscreen with icons;
Laminating and encapsulating machine
A laminating and encapsulating machine is a type of finishing equipment used at the end of the printing process. Lamination coats the material with a layer of clear film, making it more durable. Laminated covers also look more attractive. Encapsulation is similar, but uses a plastic pouch instead. Depending on the type of film, the result can be matt or gloss.
A successful printing business needs an offset press, a production printer and finishing equipment such as a trimming and stitching machine, a binding machine and a laminating and encapsulating machine. And if you want to optimise the performance of your infrastructure and cut costs, we recommend our print management solutions.
