What to Consider When Buying a Digital Ceramic Decal Printer

Ceramic decal printing has changed dramatically, and become more accessible, since it’s invention. Digital ceramic printing was introduced in the U.S. in 1999, and it became widely publicly available in 2003. When Enduring Images was formed, we pioneered its use in the rapidly changing field of digital ceramic decorating. These printers now make ceramic decals without the need for much human intervention; they work with simply the click of a mouse, much like printing from any digital printer.

Before you set out to purchase a ceramic decal printer, consider the market you plan to serve, additional markets that may be interesting in the future, your needs, and projected volume growth. Your business needs come first when choosing the right printer. You want to determine if it can handle the volume and demands your customers currently require, and it must be able to handle orders as your business grows. We provide some tips for things you should consider before buying a ceramic laser printer.

How often it will be used

If your company plans to make custom-printed ceramic tiles, or products decorated with digital ceramic decals, with consistent high volume production requirements, you may want to consider a two-printer solution. Having a “hot spare” back-up printer is the only way to guarantee high production uptime and continuous production when your primary production printer needs a repair. We all hate the thought of it, but equipment breaks. It is inevitable. With a two-printer system, you can deliver on time almost all the time. If, on the other hand, your ceramic decorating requirements are more modest, and you will only use a ceramic decal printer occasionally, a standard single printer system should be adequate. Figure out your company’s likely printing volume, and start there.

Not all systems are equal

Some ceramic printers suffer from the install toner and print fallacy. If you only plan to print ceramic decals for personal use as a hobbyist or family knickknacks, these mostly Chinese designed systems can serve the purpose. If you intend to produce commercially functional and desirable products with the high quality demanded by most consumers, then the hobbyist systems will fall short and may put your business at risk. At Enduring Images, our toners and the functional operation of the printer are optimized and modified to work together. The operational settings of the printer are adjusted in 1st and 2nd level service mode to insure the printer operations are specifically tailored to work with the toner. The result is the highest quality ceramic decoration possible. Consider the quality that will be demanded by the end user of the products you will produce, and be sure to buy a printing system capable of meeting those expectations.

Inspect and inquire

Ask for a sample of a printed product, and research user testimonials before making your purchase. Inspect for quality, accuracy, and determine how long a typical project for your business may take to complete on that printer model. You want to consider your general project needs. Make a list of features you must have in your printer, and search for one that covers each of them.

The right ceramic decal printing system can be the core of a long lasting and profitable home-based business or a new profit center for an existing business.