How Do I Choose a Photocopy Machine?

A reliable and effective photocopier is crucial in today’s fast-paced work environment. However, with so many options, choosing which is best for you can be difficult. That’s why we put together this in-depth guide to help you sort through all the options and make a decision you can feel good about. The difficulties you face and the needs you have in mind during your search for a photocopier will be explored in this article. To ensure you get a solution that not only satisfies but surpasses your requirements, we will also highlight important considerations to remember during the selection process.

We get that you want a quick, reliable, and cheap photocopier while still being easy to maintain. Our expertise in the sector allows us to provide you with useful guidance and recommendations that will make your life easier.

What’s the Point of Having a Copier?

A photocopier is an invaluable tool when you need to make multiple copies of something for distribution. Let’s say you drew a neat artwork and wanted to share it with your pals. Use a photocopier to make several copies of an image without drawing each individually.

Considerations for a New Copier Purchase

Here are some factors to think about before purchasing, leasing, or renting a photocopier for your company.

Multifunction Capabilities

Standard features of multifunction devices include the ability to print, copy, and scan; however, many basic machines need these features to be more affordable and flexible. The following are some examples:

Document feeder – Because double-sided scanning requires the sheet to be flipped or reversed in the machine, certain document feeders have a slower scan speed. A single pass feeder modified to scan both sides simultaneously can increase throughput while decreasing the probability of jams.
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) – Scanned documents can be made searchable in PDF format or edited in Office Open XML (docx, xlsx, pptx) format with optical character recognition (OCR) technology. This implies that the copier reads the text on the page rather than just taking a picture of it.
Cloud connection – Many modern devices can now print from or scan to cloud services like Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint, Box, and Dropbox, as more and more enterprises migrate to the cloud. Not all brands can easily communicate with these; some require additional software. The machines you select must be compatible with the CM systems you’ll use to handle your documents.
Apple/Mac compatibility – For the system to talk to Apple/Mac devices, a postscript kit may be required. This is crucial for mobile printing, especially with services like Apple’s AirPrint.
Wireless – Can you connect it to a wired network using an ethernet cable? If it isn’t and you want to use it with a wireless network, you’ll need to get a wireless-enabled model.

Paper Handling

You may customise your multifunction copier to meet the specific demands of your business with features like flexible paper handling.

Paper size – Standard paper sizes range from A5 to SRA3; some machines even allow for special extra-long banner paper of up to 1,300mm.
Paperweights – Some machines can handle as much as 300 g/m2 across all trays. Whereas the bypass tray may be the only option for others.
Finisher options – Is booklet folding, stapling, or hole punching something you do for work? Several solutions exist, varying in size and cost, that take all of these factors into account:

Internal finishers – use corner staples or edge staples; either is OK. They have a fist as well. They do not increase the copier’s footprint as they are housed within the output tray. Compared to an external finisher, they are less capable and cannot be folded.
External staple finishers – These will have corner and edge staples. They have fists, too. While their capacity is more than that of an internal finisher, their placement on the side of the MFD increases its overall footprint.
External booklet folder – A stapler that can fold and staple booklets at the spine is called a saddle stitch finisher. Again, these are greater in both capacity and size.

Colour Printing

Colour print resolutions might vary by manufacturer and printer model. Common resolutions include 600 dpi, 1,200 dpi, 2,400 dpi, and 9,600 (equivalent) x 600 dpi. Prints made at greater resolutions would be much better, yet occasionally the differences are hard to spot.

The colour gamut is often more important than the resolution to consumers when deciding between brands. A Sharp and a Canon copier will produce different results when printing the same image at the same resolution due to their varying print engine technologies. Samples of what you’re printing on the paper you’ll be using, and the colour quality should be obtained if this is an important consideration.

Print Volume

Devices typically have suggested monthly duty cycles, so knowing how much you print monthly is helpful. How this volume is distributed across the month is also useful information. How many tiny print runs are you doing against how many large print runs with many pages? This will be useful in determining the necessary machine speed. To cut costs, choose a copier with a slower print engine (20–30 ppm) for assignments that are often small in volume. Larger print runs usually require a quicker print engine (40-100ppm).

After-Sales Support Options

In the service industry, two distinct methods of servicing are utilised most frequently.

Corrective-only maintenance – Only when a customer calls about a problem is the equipment serviced. A technician will only address the root of the problem when servicing the device. This method of copier upkeep is more cost-effective and may lead to lower cost-per-page totals. Despite the claims of the copy machine manufacturers, this is by far the most popular design.
Preventive & Corrective maintenance – Like getting your car serviced regularly, preventative maintenance is essential. Drums, transfer and fuser units, and other equipment are monitored by the supplier and notified when the copier approaches predetermined usage thresholds. To guarantee consistently high print quality, these components are replaced even if they are still functional. This leads to fewer emergency service calls and shorter periods of outage. As a result, the provider can prioritise the fewer correction calls they receive and finish the job sooner. Axia uses this strategy, and we promise to finish your job in less than 4 hours.
Account management – If you have a photocopier part of a managed print service, your account manager will monitor how often it is used and what supplies are replenished. They can make those adjustments if you want to upgrade or add more printers and photocopiers. Possible causes include shifts in business operations or a sharp rise in consumer demand.

Alternative Upgrades

Manufacturers roll out minor updates to their product lines every year or two, and every three to five years, they roll out major enhancements. Newer models often include improved functionality or cheaper operating costs than their predecessors, which could benefit your company. Make sure your supplier can provide upgrades to your equipment during the duration of your contract with them.

Budget

If you want to keep the device and service costs down, consider the above before making any final decisions. Generally, the higher the print engine’s speed, the higher the device’s price. Fully reconditioned previously owned gadgets are also available and might be a wonderful solution for smaller organisations on a tighter budget.

What Are The Basic Types Of Printers?

Is your curiosity about printers ready to be piqued? Get ready for an exciting adventure as we reveal the fundamental categories of printers! In this in-depth tutorial, we’ll show you the ropes of the fascinating world of printing technology. We’ve got you covered with all you need to know about the various kinds of printers available today, whether you’re a total tech newbie or a seasoned pro.

Choose the best printing partner to help you unleash your creativity and master your printing demands, from rapid laser printers that can easily handle high-volume printing chores to flexible inkjet printers that bring your colourful masterpieces to life. So buckle up, get ready to discover, and together we’ll learn about the fascinating world of printers.

Printing For Home

The popularity of home printers is on the rise, and they now boast many capabilities once reserved for office printers. Features like wireless networking, touchscreen operation, and mobile device printing are included.

Photo Printers

With modern photo printers, printing photographs has never been simpler. Printing a full-colour photo from home now costs less than five cents. Photos taken on a smartphone or computer can be printed in a matter of seconds, eliminating the need for complex software or editing tools. And you can use them for more than just snapping pictures. They are a flexible addition to any home office because you can use them to print virtually anything.

Consider These Features When Choosing a Copier.

Photocopy Speed

This crucial figure reveals the rate at which the office printer can make copies and prints. This is one of the first criteria brought up while shopping for new office automation equipment, typically expressed as several pages per minute.

Faster business printers also tend to produce more copies per copy, and vice versa. Mid-volume office printers can print and copy between 25 and 45 pages per minute (ppm), making them suitable for small to medium-sized businesses with 3 to 10 employees.

Copy Volume

This is the maximum monthly page volume for which the office printer was intended to be used. As the volume of copies made on an office automation device increases directly to its copy speed, business printers with slower copy speeds are optimised for handling fewer copies and prints per month. For clarity, business printers are typically categorised by volume rather than actual numbers.

Network Capability

When investing what may be a sizable sum in office automation, firms naturally want to maximise the returns on that investment. The capability to connect to a customer’s computer network is a crucial feature of multifunction commercial printers.

When hooked up to a network, even a simple office printer can perform the duties of a high-powered network printer, scanner, fax server, and more. It’s important to think about the network capabilities of a device concerning the operating systems you use and its intended role in the network. Today, network capabilities are built into the design of most office printers.

Additional Features & Benefits

These days, the standard feature set of workplace automation devices is enormous. The touchscreens on today’s modern office printers are typically built on an open-source programming framework. To improve your experience with printing, copying, and scanning, programmers have developed many “bolt-on” programmes.

Compatibility

Since business networks are complex systems comprising a wide variety of technologies, verifying that any new network-capable office automation technology will be compatible with the existing infrastructure is crucial.

To make sure your multifunction business printer is compatible with your network and the software programmes you use, reputable providers of office automation should do surveys before installing the device. However, most state-of-the-art office printers are compatible with industry-standard programmes and network gear. The device’s product brochure should include more details about its compatibility.

Conclusion

A reliable and effective photocopier is essential in today’s fast-paced work environment. To make a decision, consider factors such as multifunction capabilities, cloud connection, Apple/Mac compatibility, wireless network, paper handling, printer size, finisher options, colour printing, print volume, and after-sales support. Multifunction devices can print, copy, and scan, but some require more affordable and flexible features. Document feeders, optical character recognition (OCR), cloud connection, and postscript kits may be required for compatibility with cloud services. Wireless networks require ethernet cables for wireless connectivity.

Paper handling can be customized to meet specific business demands, with standard paper sizes ranging from A5 to SRA3. Paperweights can vary, with some machines capable of handling up to 300 g/m2. Finisher options include internal finishers, external staple finishers, and saddle stitch folders. Color printing resolutions can vary by manufacturer and printer model, with common resolutions including 600 dpi, 1,200 dpi, 2,400 dpi, and 9,600 (equivalent) x 600 dpi. The colour gamut is often more important than resolution when deciding between brands, and samples of the paper and colour quality should be obtained.

Print volume is also a crucial factor to consider. Determine how much you print monthly and how it is distributed across the month. Choose a copier with a slower print engine (20-30 ppm) for small print runs and a quicker one (40-100 ppm) for larger runs. After-sales support options are often used in the service industry. Corrective-only maintenance is a cost-effective method of servicing equipment, addressing the root cause of the problem when servicing the device.

Preventive maintenance is essential, monitoring drums, transfer, fuser units, and other equipment to ensure consistent high print quality. Account management is crucial for managed print services, monitoring usage and replenishing supplies. Manufacturers release minor updates and major enhancements every three to five years, which can benefit businesses.

Budget is a crucial factor when choosing a printer, as higher print engine speeds can lead to lower costs. Fully reconditioned previously owned gadgets are also available for smaller organizations on a tighter budget.

There are several types of printers available today, including home printers, photo printers, and multifunction commercial printers. When choosing a copier, consider factors such as photocopy speed, copy volume, network capability, additional features, and compatibility. Photocopy speed is the rate at which the office printer can make copies and prints, while copy volume is the maximum monthly page volume for which the printer was intended. Network capabilities are built into most office printers, and additional features and benefits are available through open-source programming frameworks.

Compatibility is essential for ensuring the compatibility of new network-capable office automation technology with existing infrastructure. Reputable providers should conduct surveys before installing the device, but most state-of-the-art printers are compatible with industry-standard programs and network gear.

Content Summary:

A reliable and effective photocopier is crucial in today’s fast-paced work environment.
However, with so many options, choosing which is best for you can be difficult.
That’s why we put together this in-depth guide to help you sort through all the options and make a decision you can feel good about.
The difficulties you face and the needs you have in mind during your search for a photocopier will be explored in this article.
To ensure you get a solution that not only satisfies but surpasses your requirements, we will also highlight important considerations to remember during the selection process.
We get that you want a quick, reliable, and cheap photocopier while still being easy to maintain.
A photocopier is an invaluable tool when you need to make multiple copies of something for distribution.
Use a photocopier to make several copies of an image without drawing each individually.
Here are some factors to think about before purchasing, leasing, or renting a photocopier for your company.
Because double-sided scanning requires the sheet to be flipped or reversed in the machine, certain document feeders have a slower scan speed.
The machines you select must be compatible with the CM systems you’ll use to handle your documents.
For the system to talk to Apple/Mac devices, a postscript kit may be required.
If it isn’t and you want to use it with a wireless network, you’ll need to get a wireless-enabled model.
You may customise your multifunction copier to meet the specific demands of your business with features like flexible paper handling.
They do not increase the copier’s footprint as they are housed within the output tray.
Compared to an external finisher, they are less capable and cannot be folded.
While their capacity is more than that of an internal finisher, their placement on the side of the MFD increases its overall footprint.
A stapler that can fold and staple booklets at the spine is called a saddle stitch finisher.
Again, these are greater in both capacity and size.
Colour print resolutions might vary by manufacturer and printer model.
The colour gamut is often more important than the resolution to consumers when deciding between brands.
Samples of what you’re printing on the paper you’ll be using, and the colour quality should be obtained if this is an important consideration.
Devices typically have suggested monthly duty cycles, so knowing how much you print monthly is helpful.
This will be useful in determining the necessary machine speed.
To cut costs, choose a copier with a slower print engine (20–30 ppm) for assignments that are often small in volume.
Only when a customer calls about a problem is the equipment serviced.
Like getting your car serviced regularly, preventative maintenance is essential.
If you have a photocopier part of a managed print service, your account manager will monitor how often it is used and what supplies are replenished.
They can make those adjustments if you want to upgrade or add more printers and photocopiers.
Make sure your supplier can provide upgrades to your equipment during the duration of your contract with them.
If you want to keep the device and service costs down, consider the above before making any final decisions.
Choose the best printing partner to help you unleash your creativity and master your printing demands, from rapid laser printers that can easily handle high-volume printing chores to flexible inkjet printers that bring your colourful masterpieces to life.
So buckle up, get ready to discover, and together we’ll learn about the fascinating world of printers.
The popularity of home printers is on the rise, and they now boast many capabilities once reserved for office printers.
With modern photo printers, printing photographs has never been simpler.
They are a flexible addition to any home office because you can use them to print virtually anything.
This crucial figure reveals the rate at which the office printer can make copies and prints.
As the volume of copies made on an office automation device increases directly to its copy speed, business printers with slower copy speeds are optimised for handling fewer copies and prints per month.
The capability to connect to a customer’s computer network is a crucial feature of multifunction commercial printers.
It’s important to think about the network capabilities of a device concerning the operating systems you use and its intended role in the network.
Today, network capabilities are built into the design of most office printers.
To make sure your multifunction business printer is compatible with your network and the software programmes you use, reputable providers of office automation should do surveys before installing the device.
However, most state-of-the-art office printers are compatible with industry-standard programmes and network gear.
The device’s product brochure should include more details about its compatibility.

Frequently Asked Questions About Photocopy

What Is The Difference Between A Photocopy Machine And A Printer?

A photocopy machine is designed specifically to make copies of papers, while a printer is used to print documents from a computer. So, a photocopy machine can make copies of existing papers, while a printer creates new documents.

Can I Connect My Photocopy Machine To My Computer?

Yes, many photocopy machines can be connected to a computer using wires or wirelessly. This allows you to easily scan documents and make copies directly from your computer.

How Much Does A Photocopy Machine Cost?

The cost of a photocopy machine can vary depending on the features and quality. It can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars for advanced models.

Do I Need Special Paper For A Photocopy Machine?

No, you don’t necessarily need special paper for a photocopy machine. Most photocopy machines can work with regular printer paper. However, if you want to print on special paper, like glossy or thicker paper, make sure the machine supports it.

Can I Use A Photocopy Machine For Color Copies?

Yes, many photocopy machines can make color copies. They have the ability to scan and reproduce colors, allowing you to make vibrant and colorful copies of documents or pictures.