Printing Guide for Manufacturers
Manufacturers have special printing needs. Your printers need to handle everything from invoices to labels to technical documents, and they must operate well in a variety of conditions, ideally without constant breakdowns that slow the workflow and frustrate employees!
If you feel like dealing with printers is taking way too much of your time, take a look at our recommendations for manufacturers. We’ve seen these machines work across industries, for multiple manufacturers, saving time, money, and hassle.
Is Your Business Missing Out?
Maybe your regular printers are humming along… but are you taking full advantage of the printer options available to you?
Some options that could be a boon to your manufacturing business:
- Monochrome printers. These reliable workhorses can spit out piles of pages without missing a beat. Perfect for businesses that don’t need color, but do need a lot of prints.
- Label printers. Professional labels make a huge difference to your product and on the shop floor. Your products look professional, and clear labels help avoid mixups and delays when one employee can’t read another’s handwriting or labels get smudged.
- Wide format printers. Stop waiting for a printing service to get you the plans and specs you need. Print them yourself, as many copies as you want, and reprint whenever you need to.
Manufacturers we’ve worked with have seen these printers make a real difference in their day-to-day efficiency.
If you think you could benefit from adding any of these options, reach out to us.
Signs Your Manufacturing Business Needs a Printer Fix
Printers are unreliable. You buy a printer, and it breaks down within months or a year. The warranties are worthless. Or your printers are just too old to be dependable.
Printers are too slow. Customers are frustrated because they have to wait for the printer, or employees are wasting paid work time while waiting for the printer.
You don’t have enough capacity. Maybe your business has grown, or an old printer has quality issues or has quit working altogether. No matter the reason, you need a new or better option.
Your current printers use high-cost supplies. Your business may be spending thousands of dollars a year on overpriced ink or toner cartridges. There is a solution to this, and it starts with a consultation.
You have nowhere to go for printer support. You’re wasting too much time figuring out and fixing your printers, or waiting on hold to speak to an agent (who often doesn’t seem to understand your problem anyway).
You’re not using the right printers. If you’re using home or small office printers for mid or high-volume printing, they’re going to require excessive attention. You’ll constantly be doing maintenance and ordering cartridges to keep them in working order.
If you’re struggling with any of the problems listed here, reach out! We can evaluate your printer setup and recommend helpful solutions.
Printing and Label Solutions for Manufacturers
Central Office Printers
High-volume printers with high color quality to be shared by multiple office workstations.
Recommended models
- Kyocera ECOSYS M8130cidn: Ledger size (11″ x 17″)
- HP Color LaserJet Managed MFP E57540dn (refurbished): Standard size (up to 8.5″ x 14″)
Shipping Label Printers
Print thermal labels for shipping.
Recommended models
- Brother QL-600: USB, one computer, 2.3″ address labels
- Brother QL-1100: USB, one computer, 4×6 shipping labels
- Brother QL-1110NWBc: Network, multiple computers, 4×6 shipping labels
Black & White Only
Some of the most durable, trouble-free printers on the market. Perfect for work orders, checklists, and copying.
Recommended models
- Brother MFC-L2980DW: Under 2,000 pages/month
- Brother MFC-EX915DW: Over 2,000 pages/month
Permanent Labeling
Print waterproof, easy-to-clean, and easy-to-read labels!
- Print durable labels up to 1.5” wide
- Organize and label anything from the items on your desk to equipment in your shop
- Create reminder and warning labels to keep your employees and visitors safe
- Identify your products & make warning labels for customer safety
Recommended model
- Brother P-touch PT-D800W label maker: Durable labels up to 1.5″ wide
Color Printing
Use for invoicing, color-coded work orders, color packing slips, checklists, and copying at individual workstations and on the factory floor.
Recommended models
- Epson WorkForce Pro EM-C800: Inkjet, lower supplies cost
- Brother MFC-EX575: Laser, higher color quality and faster
Wide Format
Print both technical drawings and large charts or spreadsheets for clarity and efficiency, and minimize mistakes by ensuring everyone works from the same plans.
Stop waiting for an external printing service to bring you your large-format prints; save time by printing them yourself.
Recommended models
- Canon imagePROGRAF TM-510: 24″ wide
- Canon imagePROGRAF TM-610: 36″ wide
Multifunction versions are also available.
Contact Us for a Consultation
Tell us a little about your printing setup and we’ll reach out to recommend the right printers and supplies for your manufacturing business.