As production continues to evolve, companies are constantly looking to make their business more efficient. Investing in new technologies helps you bring your products to market faster. At the same time, you can keep pace with your competitors or even overtake them.
Are you looking to start a business, or do you already run one and want to stay up to date with the best types of production printers? In this article, we explain how to choose them according to your needs.
Production equipment includes digital printers, high-speed presses, plotters and systems that combine several functions.
Digital printers for paper
Today, these printers offer many features that improve productivity. The RICOH Pro™ C9210, for example, can be compared to an offset press. Its features include:
- printing on sheet sizes of up to 1,030 mm in duplex (double-sided) / 1,260 mm in simplex;
- automatic diagnosis and adjustment of colour variations between the digital image and the printed sheet;
- laser beam technology;
- 135 A4 colour pages per minute, with constant speed across all paper weights;
- printing on different materials and textures: matt, gloss, textured or carbonless paper;
- offset-like registration
All of this adds up to excellent image quality and high reliability. Printers of this type can produce vivid colours even at high resolutions. Professional finishing systems can also be added.
Direct-to-garment printers
If you need to print on textiles, on the other hand, you need a direct-to-garment printer. These are ideal for items such as T-shirts, hoodies and tote bags in light and dark colours, whether they are made from 100% cotton, polyester blends or metallic foils.
One model designed for businesses with medium production volumes is the RICOH Ri 1000. It stands out for its smart technology, fast printing and sharp, vibrant graphics. Its features include:
- quick changeover and adjustment of magnetic platens between formats;
- print heads designed for speed, precision and durability;
- bright colours at resolutions of up to 1,200 x 1,200 dpi;
- automatic cleaning and maintenance set-up;
- monitoring of print parameters throughout the job;
- eco-friendly water-based ink;
- full-colour graphics printed in as little as 28 seconds
Direct-to-garment printers help you produce high-quality self-promotional items, and they are also well suited to personalised products.
Printers for indoor and outdoor advertising
If you need to print on several types of material, it's best to buy a single product that handles them all. Our suggestion is the RICOH Pro™ L4100, which you can use with film, laminated paper, PET, PVC, polyester, cotton, wallpaper or transparent vinyl media. Here are its specifications:
- uses durable latex ink for both indoor and outdoor use;
- offers an extended colour gamut;
- produces vivid colours on transparent media;
- low-temperature curing at 60 degrees for heat-sensitive media;
- 8 reusable ink cartridges;
- automatic ink refill system;
- no drying time – straight on to secondary processing;
- eco-friendly ink
One of the great benefits of a printer like this is that it is environmentally friendly. Unlike solvent ink, its ink has a low odour and holds Greenguard Gold certification for low chemical emissions. As a result, it can also be used in environments such as schools and healthcare facilities.
If you want to make your production more efficient, you need to buy equipment that suits your company's needs. Whether you need a digital printer for paper, for textiles, for indoor or outdoor advertising, or a more complex system, you'll find products on the market built on the latest technologies.
