A good carton printing system with robust features can enhance your company’s performance, create a competitive advantage and build additional market share through increased order processing and quality assurance capabilities. Conversely, technically inferior or unreliable carton printing systems can be, a disadvantage for a business at best. Therefore, this is a purchase decision not to be taken lightly. Indeed, it’s imperative to create a list of selection criteria that will assure your solution of choice is synergistic with your company’s goals, objectives, strategy, and in-house required capabilities.
Carton Printing System Specs
Consider this set of criteria as the framework for selecting the best system for you:
- Material/Substrate/Shape: The carton shape, design, and material are the key in deciding the best system for you. The printing system you select must work well with the different types of material, thickness, weight, and shape your company uses. The thickness of the material may be different in various spots on the carton, so the printer must be able to deal with material variations of substrates you are working with on your line. There are also machines that are capable of handling just small cartons while others work only with oversize cartons.
- Quality/Performance: Print quality and performance go hand-in-hand. The text and graphics must be clear. The machine should be able to print barcodes in a way that aids in tracking and identifying that particular carton so as not to slow logistics and the supply chain. You may need a high resolution machine that offers multi-head inkjet capability. You have to be sure that the carton printing system will not create misprints or smudge the letters or numbers. Also, you may work in large volumes, printing around the clock with no time for machine breakdowns, so performance must be guaranteed from the machine you select.
- Ease of Use: As technology develops, it often becomes more complex, yet the machines that are the most ideal are those that are just as easy to use despite the sophisticated features and functionality. With full automation or a user-friendly keypad, less time is spent on training and more on keeping the line moving. This increases efficiency and productivity while reducing the chances for human error, which are vital factors on a production line.
- Functionality: Some features to consider when pairing a printer with your materials may or may not include such things as UV printing inks with LED- UV Curing technology, built-in number generation, imager configuration, or other unique features that help achieve your print capacity objectives. On the other hand, a machine may offer features that you will never use, so don’t assume you should get that machine in case you ever use that functionality. Stick with what you need now and in the long term related to your carton needs.
- Customer Service: Sometimes, the company you purchase from is just as important as the actual machine you are investing in, so make sure that the supplier is interested in your needs and objectives. Research their delivery, installation, training, repair and maintenance and technical support approach. Also check references to best ensure you will get the service and support you need – and deserve.
In thinking about making a carton printing system purchase, remember these main points:
- The equipment must work with the materials, shapes and sizes, and data requirements you have for your particular carton production.
- Quality and a performance are a must because if this is missing, you will take a hit on your reputation and surely your bottom line.
- Ease of use saves you on training and it provides a way to incrementally increase productivity.
- Pick a machine that offers a range of functionality to meet all – not just some – of your needs in both the short and long term.
- The service and support you get is just as important as the printing system you are considering. Make sure that the company maintains customer care as an operational priority.
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