Continuing on with our printer series, this week we are discussing midrange barcode label printers.

What are midrange barcode label printers?

Midrange barcode label printers fall between a desktop printer and an industrial printer. They are not as rugged as an industrial printer but they are more reliable and capable of printing higher volumes than a desktop printer. Typically mid range printers are recommended for industries that require more than the standard capacity of a desktop printer, but may not have the budget for an industrial printer.

A mid range printer is ideal for a small to medium sized manufacturing plant, warehouse and distribution organisation that have the requirements to produce a moderate volume of printed labels for a variety of applications such as product labelling, shipping/receiving, and compliance. These small to medium operations are often looking for economical, but rugged printers to help strengthen their day to day activities. Mid range printers are more cost effective than industrial printers but in the right environment they have a proven record of improving the quality of operations.

How do I know if I need a mid range 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?

The location of the printer will help determine if a mid range barcode label printer is the right fit for your business. Mid range printers are durable enough to withstand some knocks but for the most part they are not rugged enough to survive in extreme environments. This means that if it is necessary to locate your printer in a production facility with debris or water particles in the air, we would advise you steer clear of a mid range printer, as they could be significantly damaged. If your plant is debris and water free then a mid range printer could work for you.

2. How much are you printing?

Mid range printers are the perfect solution if you are printing a maximum of 700 labels at a time.

3. How important is printing?

Mid range printers can be very reliable at what they do but if they are pushed too hard (such as exceeding the 700 labels per print batch rule) they can breakdown. As they are a cheaper alternative to an industrial printer it may seem like a good idea to purchase one for higher volume jobs, but if over worked they will break down. 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.

When used correctly and there is a PM schedule in place, it is rare that they will fail, and they are very reliable.

4. How important is quality?

For the most part, mid range barcode label printers offer the user very high print quality. We would recommend a mid range printer if you are printing large or standard sized label. For smaller labels that are more text heavy, we would advise an industrial printer.

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

Answering the above questions can clarify whether or not a mid range printer would work for your company.

If you have any questions about our midrange barcode label printers, 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.