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The Different Types of Industrial Printing Machines

Offset printers are often seen as the gold standard of printing equipment. However, there are more types of printers to consider for industrial purposes than you may think.

If you’re in the market for printing machinery, it’s important to understand your options. Each type of printer serves various functions, has its pros and cons, and can work better or worse for certain applications.

Here are the different types of industrial printing machines that you should know about.

Offset Printers

Also known as a lithographic printing machine, offset printing machines are one of the best industrial printer options that are out there and do a terrific job of printing things in a high-quality way. These printers offer sharp image detail and great results. 

This type of printer will do a great job of printing on a variety of paper types and also does a great job with plastics, leather, and vinyl. You’ll also be able to use custom inks with the machine as well.

While this is one of the best kinds of industrial printers to use, be sure to recognize that they can be expensive. The price will be significantly more than many of the other options that are out there.

Digital Printing Machines

A digital printing machine is a good option to use when there will only be a small run of prints. These machines offer very high printing quality that is similar to what is offered by an offset printing machine.

These machines offer great clarity and fine printing detail. They are also cost-effective, so you can be sure that you’ll get great results for a lower price. You’ll also get a very fast turnaround time with these printers since they work fast.

If you don’t expect that you’ll need to handle mass printing jobs and will stick to short or medium printing projects instead, then you may find that using this type of printer works very well for you.

Flexographic Printing Equipment

Flexographic printing equipment is also worth knowing about. In some ways, these printers are very similar to letterpress printers. This type of printing is often used for packaging and is great for printing onto corrugated cardboard. 

These machines will produce high-quality and clear images. They’re also simple and easy to operate and this makes them pretty popular for industrial purposes. Flexographic printing equipment is also quick and efficient.

Additionally, these machines are also fairly inexpensive and offer a lot of flexibility in terms of what you can print on. You can print on paper, plastic, acetate films, foils, and more.

Remember that it’s important to understand the differences between litho printing, flexography, and digital printing. These printers can all serve similar purposes and are among the most highly used industrial printers out there.

Label Printers

One of the main types of industrial printing machines that you should know about will be label printers. There are several types of label printers that are used including thermal transfer (TT) label printers, direct thermal (DT) label printers, and laser printers.

Label printing machines can all be used to create labels in a variety of different ways and vary in usage and affordability. For budget users, a laser printer or DT printer will be the better option.

TT printers, on the other hand, can offer a lot of extra functionality and are great for long-term use. There is a wide range of functionality for these printers and they can be used for many industrial-grade and professional applications.

Rotogravure Printing Machines

Rotogravure printing machines are another equipment type that offers a lot of functionality to users and allows for extremely clear and sharp images. These printers make use of fast-drying ink and can achieve very fine images that aren’t as easy to achieve with other types of printing.

These printing machines are often used for wallpaper, gift wraps, and packaging. They’re also sometimes used for magazines, greeting cards, and print campaigns as well. 

Letterpress Printers

Letterpress printing machines are also commonly used for industrial purposes as well. These machines are also known as typographic printing machines or relief printing machines.

Letterpress printers make use of photopolymer plates to produce images. This type of printer is great for making copies. It does so through a repeated process which includes making a direct impression of a raised, inked surface onto paper.

The letterpress printing process can yield some impressive results and is very high-quality overall. 

Screen Printers

Screen printing equipment is also very common and does a great job of printing for certain needs.

Screen printers will transfer an image onto many different surfaces and this makes them very versatile. You’ll be able to print on a wide variety of surfaces including textiles, ceramics, paper, wood, metal, glass, plastics, and more.

Screen printers tend to be a good choice for printing all kinds of things including t-shirts, labels, signs, nameplates, and more. They can also be used to print onto CDs, DVDs, posters, and displays. 

Be sure that you consider using screen printing if you have any of these purposes in mind.

3D Printers

3D printers are a newer type of printer that can offer a lot of options for those who use them. For industrial purposes, 3D printers can be very useful and can produce any kind of three-dimensional object.

Most advanced 3D printing machines use laser metallic dust to create objects and this can allow for easy duplication of items and for the creation of all kinds of objects and tools. The potential uses for 3D printing are endless so you may want to consider using it in your company.

Understanding the Main Types of Industrial Printing Machines

If you need to choose industrial printing machines, make sure that you understand the different types of printers that are available. Make sure to consider the information above to choose a printer that meets your needs. 

Searching for more industrial guides? Read through our blog now to find more useful information.