By Digital Output Staff
Ink pricing for wide format printing varies based on a number of factors, whether it’s the type of ink or size of the container the ink will be placed in. Considering these variables in addition to countless others can help print shop owners better plan their expenses on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis.
When considering new inks or adding a new printer, it’s important to run comparisons. To understand ink cost in relation to an investment like new consumables or hardware, a print service provider (PSP) needs to ask the right questions.
To start, inquire “what is the price per milliliter (mL) or liter of ink?” “Understanding the base cost per unit is essential for comparing different ink suppliers and systems. The best way to do this is find the mL cost and multiply it by 1,000 to get a true liter cost. Then you are comparing apples to apples,” suggests Adam Tourville, channel manager and ink expert, Fluid Color.
Other things to consider are whether there are bulk ink options or saving programs are available, if the printer features waste reduction offerings, and how the ink balances cost with longevity and quality, lists Brian Brooks, manager of product management, Roland DGA Corporation.
Also ask how the cost of ink compares to cost of other consumables like substrates and maintenance supplies, what is the shelf life of the ink, how can inventory management minimize waste, and what is the expected ink consumption for typical print jobs and how does this align with production goals, adds the StratoJet USA team.
Look at total running cost. “We believe PSPs should form a comprehensive understanding of their true ink costs, including the cost of waste ink, which often gets overlooked. Additionally, we encourage PSPs to learn how to create and manage profiles in order to minimize ink usage while still getting great color and quality. In the end, understanding overall running costs is much more important than looking at the price per liter,” suggests Erik Norman, president, swissQprint America.
“Digital inks are highly complex, a simple bottle-to-bottle comparison does not always tell the full story. Some inks can achieve the same color output with a lower laydown, which yields higher print volumes for the same volume of ink. Some inks may allow expansion of the available color gamut or achievement of certain brand colors that cannot be achieved with alternative options. Some inks may require added drying or slow the throughput, limiting production output,” says Simon Daplyn, product and marketing manager, Sun Chemical.
Determining whether the ink is optimized for specific substrates should be done ahead of the printer investment. “Inks are typically designed to work well across a range of substrates. This makes them good at a lot of different things but not great when it comes to low surface energy substrates. This is why we have primers in the market. Also, ink technology is improving every year and inks are getting better on difficult substrates to where you no longer need to use primers. Choosing inks designed for your primary substrates can improve efficiency and reduce waste,” recommends Tourville.
Similarly, a print provider should consider what applications they are looking to produce in addition to what the projected volume of printing is. On the second point particularly, John D. Peterman, EVP, Big Systems, LLC, says “this is important so the expectation to repay the investment of the equipment and operation is a good value. It also helps the end user select a model that utilizes ink cartridges in the most effective capacity. No one wants a printer that you need to continually halt production to swap out smaller, expensive cartridges. In contrast, you wouldn’t want to select a printer that only uses high-capacity inks that the PSP cannot effectively consume before it expires.”
Consider third-party cartridges/bags/inks and whether they are readily available for the printer model you are considering buying. “Using third-party inks on a given printer model can reduce ink cost by as much as 50 percent, which equates to substantial savings over the life of the printer,” admits Tony Martin, president, Absolute Inkjet Inc.
“If a PSP chooses to try a lower cost, third-party ink, they should conduct their due diligence and ensure that the third-party ink is a drop-in, plug-and-play equivalent to OEM,” cautions Pedro J. Martínez, CEO, Afford Industrial.
Due diligence includes asking the third-party vendor the right questions, like these recommended by Martínez. “I see that your inks are less costly than the OEM inks. Are they accredited to run trouble free in my printer? Will you send me one set of inks free of charge to try before I decide to purchase from you? Can I pour your inks directly on top of the OEMs inks—or insert your cartridge without flushing in between? Am I eligible for a volume-based price discount and if so, at what purchase volume? Do you have technical support if I need to contact you with an ink application’s question?”
Beyond just asking about ink, Reed Hecht, group product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America, Inc., says consider the total cost of ownership of the printer, including the hardware, ink, media, and service. “That information should be available when buying a printer. While one of those items may be positioned lower, for example, the ink price may be a few cents lower, the cost of the hardware, service, or other items could very quickly overcome that savings.”
“There are so many variables even in a single print run—application type, media used, durability requirements, lamination requirements, and textured layering. These questions need to be explored directly with a manufacturer or an authorized manufacturer’s representative,” advises Alfredo Cruzat, ink business manager, Mimaki USA, Inc.
Read more about the cost of ink in Digital Output’s April issue.
Apr2025, Digital Output
