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“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” You’ve heard that saying before – when it comes to technology (in this case your barcode printer), your equipment could actually be COSTING you money instead of saving you money. Although they may seem reliable right now, there are 5 critical areas you should evaluate before you decide to head into the New Year with the same old printers:

• Throughput
• Mechanical Design
• Feature Set
• Footprint
• Repairs & Maintenance

Throughput Print speed is a major attribute when it comes to printing devices. The faster the better, as long as print quality is satisfactory. Today’s thermal and thermal transfer printers are smart, fast and incredibly efficient. Depending on the application, and the media you’re using, you may be holding yourself back from faster throughput if you’re operating with a printer over 3 years old. With many at print speeds of up to 12ips, these workhorse devices can run circles around your existing model. Why plug and chug to save a few bucks? Chances are you’re spending more time waiting on labels when you could be moving product out the door with a faster, smarter printer.

Mechanical Design You already know that thermal printers are extremely reliable and offer very few moving parts. In a rugged environment, like your warehouse, durability and reliability are attributes that can either make or break your output goals. We often suggest Honeywell printers for this very reason. They take ruggedness to the next level with a gear-driven, beltless design that’s built to go the distance – 3 shifts a day, 7 days a week. The modular construction of a device like the Honeywell H-Class increases efficiencies; even during the most hectic part of the day.

Feature Set Today’s devices are ‘smart’, meaning you can run your applications from the printer, control operation of other peripherals, and no longer need to worry about it being connected to a PC or laptop. In terms of connectivity, you’re given more flexibility than ever before. And how about remote device management? Now that’s a major advantage I bet your old printer doesn’t possess.

Footprint Space is always at a premium, but historically, smaller printers meant compromising speed and reliability. If you’re dealing with a tight space and your printer is consuming most of it, then you’d probably benefit from the innovation of a smaller device with as much moxie as a full-size printer. And if flexibility is on your list of ‘must haves’, then consider a device that can easily operate in most any orientation. That means you can mount it on a wall, manufacturing line or mobile cart — upside down, under a shelf – any way you like.

Repairs & Maintenance Perform a quick calculation of the repair costs over the last year – perform those repairs yourself? Great, calculate the time spent and be sure to include the downtime as well. It adds up quickly – maintenance on older models increases every 8-12 months, so you’re looking at compounding those costs over the long haul.

The Bottom Line There’s a lot to consider. But whether you need a high-performance industrial printer, a mid-range device, desktop or mobile, consider a solution that will best meet your needs without the hassle of downtime and integration issues. If you’re looking for a provider than can give you the inside scoop, and steer you in a more cost-effective direction, we offer only the best, industry-leading industrial label, ticket and tag printers to handle any type of application, from commercial to rugged. We make deployment fast and efficient so your workers don’t have to miss a beat and your operation can flow smoothly.

Choose Honeywell thermal printers and experience:

• Quick & easy setup and integration – plus recently enhanced ZPL II® emulation support on most models
• Intuitive interfaces utilizing full-color touchscreens or intelligent icon interfaces
• Fast print speeds of up to 12 inches per second – no more “waiting around” for labels
• Simple maintenance and easy media replacement (genuine media maintains printer longevity!)

Ready to break free from the herd and explore the advantages of today’s technology? Honeywell is offering a great deal right now that might be perfect for you. Upgrade your thermal printers and save up to $625 when you trade in your old printer – even competitive models – and purchase an eligible Honeywell printer. Learn more here or give us a call and we’ll help you navigate the models to determine which one would be best for your application.