Printers, those electronic devices responsible for bringing digital images and documents into a physical format are an essential part of businesses and offices. For years, most have associated printing with ink based printers. Whether it's using dot matrix, dye or laser, these have long been the methods used for printing.
While thermal wax printers may not be as popular as or well known as their ink counterparts, they offer a staggering number of benefits for printing that consumers may not be aware of. Here at the Life office and at Buchertech, wax printers have become the go-to machine for print jobs. Interested in trying a new approach to printing? Here's the breakdown on everything you need to know about wax printing.
Wax printers work by melting colored wax ink onto paper in tiny droplets. The difference between typical ink printing has to do with ink saturation and distribution. While ink based printing typically saturates paper in different patterns to create an image, wax printing uses its epoxy wax ribbon that becomes heated to distribute actual print data onto a piece of paper.
Due to this, wax printers are considered much faster to print an image than typical printers. For businesses specifically those in fast-paced industries or areas where large amounts of documents are produced in quick succession, wax provides a distinct advantage. Many businesses that produce barcodes or labels swear by wax based printing for their speed and reliability.
Before any office or business decides to switch over, there are considerations to examine before making the switch. While wax provides the speed and efficiency that ink based printers cannot provide, their longevity and quality of images in certain situations can vary.
While ink based printers can often last upwards to over 20 years, wax based printers have a much shorter shelf life. While some offices and businesses may not have issues with this and of course, how much you use your printer and how much you print has a large effect on its lifespan, the bottom line is that in terms of pure numbers, ink printers always last longer.
Wax printers offer a strong advantage in the quality department when compared to ink printers. While ink is capable of creating high-quality images, they are extremely susceptible to damage through moisture, with even the slightest amount ruining the image. Wax creates a thick, glossy finish that provides clear images and a protective finish immune to the elements. One thing to consider is what documents and images are going to be used for. Wax printing, while protective does not allow any kind of writing over the image with a pen or pencil.
Finally, accessibility and cost are important factors when considering ink vs wax. Ink printers are typically more affordable, easier to purchase and acquire supplies for. Wax printers come with a higher price tag and while finding additional supplies for them has become easier through businesses like Buchertech, they still are not as common and easily acquired as ink.
While it's never a bad option whether going with ink or wax, choosing one or the other offer clear benefits when it comes to the workplace and the uses the printer will provide. For the Life office, wax printing has been an important component in printing out large amounts of articles, photos and graphics while preserving them in the highest quality possible. With the knowledgeable and helpful staff at Buchertech, it has been an ideal combination of quality products and quality service that any business can benefit from.
To learn more about wax printing along with products and services, please visit Buchertech's website at http://www.buchertech.com/products.php