As discussed in our Barcode Label Printer Buying Guide, not all printers are built the same, which can make purchasing a barcode label printer confusing. It is important to purchase the correct industrial barcode printer for your work environment; otherwise you will be throwing your money away.

If you bring a lower class of printer into an industrial environment, it is unlikely to last a year. The average life span of a printer should be 5 – 7 years. So by purchasing the correct class the length of service results in significant cost savings and a total cost of ownership that more than justifies any price premium for the units.

Typically, there are four classes of printers to choose from.

• Desktop
• Mobile
• Mid-Range
• Industrial

Today we will look at industrial printers.

What is an industrial barcode printer?

An industrial class barcode label printer is designed for high volume and demanding print applications. These printers tend to have larger media capacities and can print at higher resolutions to create any sized label. They are typically more robust and rugged than mid-range printers and suit a harsher work environment.

How do I know if I need an industrial printer?

When a client comes to us, unsure about what printer class they need, we assess their needs based on the below four questions.

1. Where are you printing?

This refers to where the printer will be located. Will it be an office or on the warehouse or manufacturing floor. If the answer is in the plant or warehouse, this can mean that they printer is likely to face some bumps of knocks. It could also mean that there could be debris in the air that can be a risk to the printer. These environments can be extreme to a printer if it is not rugged. It is important to choose a printer that is as tough as the conditions they are operating in.

2. How much are you printing?

If you are printing in high volumes – this is up to 1,000 labels in one go – it is important to choose an industrial printer as they are designed to withstand that level of demand.

3. How important is printing?

If printer downtime means manufacturing downtime then you will need an industrial printer. If a broken printer means you cannot get out orders, or cannot manufacture at all then regardless of printing volume and printer location, you will need an industrial printer.

4. How important is quality?

If you are printing small labels that are information heavy – that is common in the electronics industry – then you would need an industrial printer. Industrial printers offer the highest quality print performance.

Useful Reading: Identifying Causes of Print Quality Issues for Barcode Labels

If a client responds in the affirmative to any of the above then we recommend an industrial printer because when printing high volumes, in demanding environments, where there is no time for downtime, the best option is an industrial printer.

If you have any questions about an industrial barcode printer, please do not hesitate to contact our team of experts here.

ADC Barcode is involved in the supply of barcode scanners, barcode label printers, barcode verifiers and label applicators. We also provide custom software, EPOS systems & hardware, RFID and wireless networking technology amongst other professional services. Get in touch now and obtain more information.