What to Consider when Buying a Carton Printing Machine

When investing in a carton printing machine, key considerations include carton speed and quality of print, type of data, and performance level.  With so many solutions on the market, how can you ensure you’ve acquired the best one to meet your specialized needs and business goals?  Here are some fundamental carton printing machine purchase points that can help ensure you procure a solution that will meet, and possibly exceed, your expectations.

Carton Printing Machine Considerations

  • What exactly do I need to print on the carton? Is it unchanging data or is it variable data? How many sides of the carton do I need to print? A machine needs to be flexible and conform to the data you need to deliver on cartons. Often, this is the most challenging point as more requirements are now demanded by various industries due to regulations or the convenience of providing this data for more efficient logistics.
  • Does the carton printing machine give you the option of printing data in different formats for various carton lines you may be running? Not every carton may require the data printed in the same way and in the same place. Again, this requires a flexible machine that can adapt to various printing requirements.
  • What types of fonts do you need to work with and is the machine capable of high-quality printing in various fonts? Fonts are considered important as part of a brand representation or for general readability purposes. This may vary by the country where the cartons are shipped to or even from state to state.
  • What can the machine do in terms of the use of graphics that could provide high quality and ongoing readability? Graphics are an important way to get a branding message across, as cartons are becoming marketing mechanisms just like other types of packaging.
  • What is the size of the machine and can it fit various areas within the company? Companies are trying to make due with less square footage, so it’s best to find a machine that also can fit your space requirements.
  • Will it integrate with other equipment on site? It’s no good if a machine won’t interact with what is already on site. Smooth integration means that the machine will not require a completely new team to work with it as that could prove quite costly.
  • What is the performance and durability track record of the machine? Is it known to break down and lead to line stoppages? No one can afford down time so it’s important to invest in a machine that is a proven workhorse.

In Summary

Remember these key points when vetting a carton printing machine for purchase:

  • Flexibility and adaptable functionality are particularly important if your company runs different carton lines that require different formats, fonts, and printing placement of what can be variable data. Offering quality graphics may also be essential.
  • The size of the machine can make a huge difference. Too large of a machine means that precious space is used up.  If the unit is compact, yet durable, this can provide a double benefit.
  • The machine cannot become a production bottleneck by breaking down and increasing down time. That is money wasted on multiple fronts and it also impacts the performance track record and reputation of the company.

 

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