Printing daily at the office means you are burning through stacks of paper and cases of ink and toner. According to statistics, annual printer cartridge revenue is over $23 billion dollars, with companies behind most of those purchases. Take time to learn about print loads, printers, and flow rates of inks and toners to get the most bang for your buck.
Print load considerations
Use your company's daily output volume to help you decide what sort of supplies your business should be using. While certain businesses already have a printer, many companies could benefit from switching to another model, depending on print load. High-volume printing is most efficient when performed on a printer that uses ink or toner sparingly. For that task, laser printers are ideal because they rely on high-volume toner cartridges that last through thousands of pages.
If you are only printing a small number of pages, an inkjet printer is probably suitable. Inkjets don't just excel for small prints, they also offer colourful, vibrant prints – something that most laser printers lack.
When choosing a printer, ink and toner ask yourself:
How many pages do I print a day on average?
How clean do the pages need to be?
Do I print in colour? Black and white?
Do I need a higher-quality paper?
Businesses that print hundreds to thousands of pages weekly would spend a fortune on inkjet ink. The cartridges run out fast and quickly become expensive. Inkjet printers also tend to be smaller machines that do not handle large loads easily. Businesses with smaller print loads of 100 or fewer pages per week, or that need to print in colour should consider an inkjet printer. The ink is smoother, provides vibrant colour, and ensures a smooth, perfected finish.
Types of printers
Different types of printers require different ink or toner cartridges. The style of a printer needed is going to be determined by the print load. The resolution, number of prints, quality of paper, and colour printing vary with each printer.
Inkjet
Inkjet printers are ideal for a few printing jobs or those that print a high volume of photos or images. They produce clear, well-coloured photos. If you print a high volume of black text, an inkjet printer might not be ideal.
Laser
Laser printers are best in offices that print documents and text-covered papers. Those that print high volumes benefit from laser printers. However, if printing colours or any photo-like images, a laser printer may not produce the quality necessary.
Choosing the best inks and toners
Carefully purchase the proper ink for your chosen printer for the best results. Some printers rely on toner, while others rely on ink, and different ink printers rely on different-sized cartridges. Research the type of ink or toner that your specific printer needs.
Take note of the sizes and model numbers involved, and double-check those cartridges before making a final purchase.
Inkjet printer ink
Inkjet ink comes in both black and colour cartridges and you will need both to keep the printer running properly. In some instances, you will use two cartridges, one for black and another for colour. In other instances, you will need the black ink and then multiple cartridges for the different colours. Often, when printing graphics or photos, the coloured ink will run out faster.
When purchasing inkjet printer ink, check the printer box and paperwork to see what type is required.
OEM brands are the inks made by the same company that manufactures the printer itself, but many third-party companies make compatible inks that will work just as well.
Laser printer toner
Laser printers use toner cartridges to print. Toner is a solid powdery substance, very different from the liquid ink used in inkjet models. In order for the machine to print, the toner cartridge is required, so make sure you always have the toner stocked. It's ideal to invest in OEM cartridges, but it is not necessary. There are plenty of third-party options available.
Look in the manual to find the specific type of cartridge required for your printer. Also, research the best place to buy your toner for a high-quality and affordable product.
Summary and further reading
Printing is vital to most businesses. Without access to a printer, many companies wouldn't be able to conduct day-to-day tasks. Print with ease using a high-quality ink or toner that keeps up with your print demands.
