For most commercial label printers, an annual preventative service is a sensible starting point, but there isn't a single servicing schedule that suits every machine.
A printer operating continuously in a busy warehouse or manufacturing environment may benefit from more frequent servicing, while a lightly used machine in a clean environment may require less attention.
The best service interval depends on how heavily the printer is used, where it operates and how important it is to your business.
As a general guide:
Print volume isn't the only consideration.
Dusty manufacturing environments, adhesive residue, high temperatures and continual operation can all place additional demands on a printer.
There is also a commercial question to consider: what happens to your business if the printer stops working?
If one printer failing could stop orders being dispatched or halt a production line, preventative maintenance becomes considerably more important.
A portable label printer is beneficial for a number of industries. The most common is in logistics. If you need to print labels for your warehouse, it’s much easier to do it on the warehouse floor than up in the office, as you can print them as and when they’re needed.
A label printer can continue working perfectly well without servicing – right up until the point that it doesn't.
Gradual wear, contamination and small component problems can eventually result in:
The cost of the repair itself may only be part of the problem.
Imagine a warehouse unable to produce shipping labels during its busiest period. Orders start backing up, staff are unable to complete their work and customers don't receive their deliveries when expected.
The lost productivity and poor customer experience can quickly cost considerably more than maintaining the printer in the first place.
Once you understand what you need your label printer for, you can start looking around for the best model. These range from basic machines that print labels, but don’t do much else, to specialist printers that are designed for your work/industry.
Potentially, yes.
Commercial label printers contain components that naturally wear through use, including printheads and platen rollers.
Regular cleaning and inspection can identify components that are becoming worn before they cause a more serious problem.
A service can also help remove dust, adhesive residue and other contamination that can affect print quality and accelerate wear.
Replacing a worn component at the right time can be considerably more economical than waiting for the machine to fail completely.
If you rely on your portable printer(s) for work, you need to make sure it’s taken care of. You can improve the lifespan of a printer with some basic cleaning and maintenance, clearing out jams and cleaning the print head between uses.
The time required depends on the printer and its condition.
A straightforward preventative service will naturally be quicker than dealing with a machine where faults or worn components are discovered during inspection.
For businesses, however, the important consideration isn't simply how many hours the service takes. It's how you're going to continue operating while the printer is unavailable.
If label printing is business-critical, that should be planned before the machine leaves production.
If your business relies on label printing every day, having only one working printer creates an obvious single point of failure.
Where possible, businesses should consider:
Having a backup printer. A spare machine provides continuity during servicing and can be invaluable if the main printer develops an unexpected fault.
Staggering servicing. If you operate several printers, avoid taking all of them out of service simultaneously.
Scheduling around quieter periods. Planned maintenance is much easier to accommodate than an unexpected breakdown during peak production.
Keeping critical spare parts available. For businesses operating multiple machines, holding commonly required components can reduce downtime.
The aim should be to treat printer maintenance in the same way as any other business-critical equipment: plan the downtime rather than allowing the equipment to choose it for you.
Servicing a label printer isn't simply about keeping the machine clean. It's about reducing the likelihood of unexpected downtime and identifying wear before it becomes a larger problem.
For many commercial printers, an annual preventative service is a good starting point, with more frequent servicing worth considering for heavily used machines and demanding environments.
Ultimately, the appropriate schedule should reflect how hard the printer works – and how much disruption its failure would cause.
Labelline services and repairs commercial label printers from leading manufacturers and can help businesses establish an appropriate maintenance schedule for individual machines or larger printer fleets.
If your label printers haven't been serviced for some time, speak to the Labelline team about preventative maintenance before a breakdown decides the timing for you.
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