Having the right print business accessories can make your copier or printer more efficient. These items can improve productivity and help you save money in the long run.

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Unlike ink, which can dry out and ruin the print job, toner is a powder that is fused to paper by heated rollers in the printing process. It is typically recycled and reused, but there are also plant-based alternatives that are available.

Printers that use cartridges, or inkjets, are a great choice for home or small office printers. However, toner-based printers are a better fit for businesses that print a high volume of documents as they have a higher page yield and less downtime due to the more efficient laser printing process.

Ink and toner cartridges are not all created equal and can vary in price, quality, and functionality. Purchasing “compatible” or “generic” cartridges, which are made by third party manufacturers and sold under different brand names, can reduce the cost of cartridges significantly. However, these cartridges may not be compatible with all printer models and could lead to printer malfunctions if used with an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) product.

Many printers feature a status monitor that can notify users when their ink or toner is low. This is an excellent tool to help avoid unexpected printing disruptions. If your printer does not have this feature, you can usually view your ink or toner levels directly on the printer itself or within the print dialogue tab of your computer. Gordon Flesch offers just-in-time toner replenishment as part of our Managed Print Services, which eliminates the need for manual monitoring and helps prevent waste and overstocking.

Paper trays or feeders

Paper trays and feeders provide a practical means to streamline workflows, increase output, and reduce labor costs. But, before selecting these essential add-ons, it’s vital to ensure that the accessories you choose seamlessly integrate with your copier model. Doing so will allow you to maximize cost savings and productivity while mitigating the risk of technical impediments.

Typically, standard printers come with one or two paper tray capacities that can accommodate up to 200 sheets (approximately half a ream). If your business regularly prints on different types and sizes of media, consider upgrading to higher capacity trays. This will ensure that your machine never runs out of supply, reducing downtime and operational costs.

Transparency trays are also available to enable you to switch between printing on paper and transparency, saving time by eliminating the need to manually swap out trays. For best results, when loading paper or transparencies into the trays, gently pull the tray out until the operation button stops flashing. This will help to prevent multiple sheets from feeding at once, which could cause a print error.

Remember to always select Tray X or Manual Feed when specifying the paper attributes in the print driver, or at the printer control panel. Also, make sure the tray is not overloaded to avoid paper jams and poor print quality. When loading the trays, be sure to fan the paper well before inserting it into the tray.

High-quality paper

The right paper can help your commercial print projects stand out and deliver a stronger ROI for your business. But not all papers are created equal, and different projects require specific types of paper that will meet their unique needs. Whether it’s photo paper to print high-quality images or cardstock for business cards, the right paper can make all the difference in your final prints.

High-quality paper is typically heavier and thicker than normal copy or printer paper, and it may also have specialist finishes that make it look and feel more premium and luxurious. The higher gsm (grams per square meter) of the paper can also provide added durability, which can reduce the likelihood of damage from tearing, folding and impact.

A wide variety of different paper weights and brightness options are available to suit your printing requirements, with the highest quality paper being certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to ensure forestry practices are ethical and sustainable. Standard-weight text papers have a whiteness level of 153 to 165 CIE and are suitable for most everyday office use, including letterheads and reports. Heavier paper stocks with a matte or satin finish offer less glare and are better suited for text-heavy documents, while glossy or semi-gloss papers are ideal for photos and marketing materials. Heavyweight or cardstock paper is thicker and more sturdy than standard text or cover, and it is often rated for more rigorous printing applications like business cards and report covers.

Duplex units

Printing on both sides of a document reduces paper usage, which can help businesses save money and resources. It also helps businesses cut down on waste and contribute to sustainability efforts. In addition, it makes documents more organized and easier to find, which can improve productivity and efficiency. Additionally, duplex printing can make documents look more polished and professional.

When choosing a printer, you should consider the amount of printing you will do and the types of documents that will be printed. In addition, you should choose a printer with a large paper capacity to avoid having to constantly refill it. You should also look for a high-quality printer that offers various features, such as duplexing, faxing, and scanning. A high-quality printer can also reduce the risk of paper jams, which is a common problem with many types of printers.

Duplex units are an essential print business accessory, and they can be used to save time and money by automatically printing on both sides of the paper. They can be installed in the majority of front-loading printers, and most operating systems include a setting for duplex printing. To enable this feature, you will need to navigate to the control panel of your printer and follow the instructions. You can also set up automatic duplexing by using a software application, such as Microsoft Word. Some printers offer double-engine duplexers that can print on both sides at the same time, reducing the amount of time you will need to spend flipping pages by hand.

Finishers and sorters

Finishers and sorters are optional accessories that execute the final steps of your printing process. They can include stapling and hole-punching. In Xerox’s product catalog, for instance, there are options like the Convivence Stapler that sits next to your machine and allows you to manually staple documents, or the Business Ready Finisher with its stapling and hole-punching capabilities that is available for AltaLink and PrimeLink machines. Other options are more advanced, including a trim waste conveyor that reduces the need for operator intervention to remove waste from the machine, or the Production Ready Booklet Maker Finisher Plus that can make booklets with up to 200 pages while doing face trimming, square fold, rotation crease and bleed trim.

Modern printing customers are increasingly seeking more than just the basics. They want embellishments that will set their printed materials apart and evoke specific emotions or associations in their audience. Fortunately, these types of finishes are now more accessible than ever.

For example, a laminate can create a gloss, matte or satin sheen that makes colors extra sharp and vibrant (gloss), adds sophistication and reduces reflection (matt), or elevates the look of your materials with an interesting texture or pattern (embossing). Highcon’s Lewis points out that these techniques can also add value in other ways — for example, by driving up response rates to direct mail campaigns or increasing the shelf appeal of products.

Printer ribbon

Ribbons are a crucial part of your printer that help you produce high-resolution quality images, accurate text, and barcodes for ID cards. They are used with thermal transfer printers (also known as barcode printers) and offer superior print quality and durability compared to direct printing methods. In addition, they are also abrasion- and fade-resistant. They also provide 3X the lifespan of the thermal transfer print head, which makes them a cost-effective option for businesses or individuals looking for long-lasting and reliable label prints.

A ribbon is a strip of fabric or plastic coated with ink that is inserted into the thermal transfer printer. When the printer is running, heated dots from the thermal transfer print head strike the panels or film on the ribbon at various points, liquefying the ink and transferring it to the label or substrate. Ribbons are available in a range of colors and can be customized to fit specific needs.

There are three types of printer ribbons to choose from. Wax ribbons are the simplest and most economical, while resin-enhanced wax ribbons have a higher proportion of resin to dissipate static and create cleaner prints. Resin ribbons are the best choice for abrasion- and chemical-resistant labels and excel in high-temperature environments. For a high-quality, versatile, and long-lasting label solution, choose a YMCK ribbon with an overlay panel. This type of ribbon allows you to print both monochrome and color panels on your labels, as well as barcodes and QR codes.