December 20, 2021

Rediscovering the Digital Duplicator

ADF

If there’s a term that describes what people are doing with today’s digital duplicators, it’s rediscovering.

It’s certainly a technology that is not new to anyone even though there have been improvements in resolution and speed, yet it remains a valuable print tool. Digital duplicators hold a niche success in the education, medical, and non-profit fields and that’s because duplicators can produce a high volume “per original” combined with a low cost-per-copy. Although digital copiers offer a variety of features, duplicators can offer a greater return on investment for some long run applications. It’s worth going over what makes duplicators the better option for any sector required to print higher volumes.

LOW COST-PER-COPY

The technology behind a duplicator is simple. The duplicator will scan the document once to create a master. The master is then wrapped around the cylinder and ink is pushed through the stencil master to create the printed image. The cost of the master is shared by all the copies produced so the more copies produced, the lower the cost-per-copy. Cost savings generally begin at 20 copies and the cost-per-copy decreases the more copies per master are made.

What’s more, many duplicators offer an unlimited copy volume as part of an elected service plan so there are no overage fees to worry about. If there is a limited number, overage is usually charged at the same rate as the initial copies.

LONGER LIFESPAN

Duplicators are highly economical in both equipment and operating costs. With cylinders that last a lifetime, duplicator users don’t have to constantly replace the photoreceptive drum as they would on a copier. Then there’s the long lifespan of the machine itself. While copiers last an average of three years, duplicators from Duplo are rated to last seven years/10 million copies and have proven to last a lot longer with many units still running after 10 years and millions of copies.

Imagine replacing a copier three times within those 10 years combined with cost-per-copy costs. Copiers may be convenient, but they’re expensive. With budgets getting smaller and smaller, public sectors have struggled to afford them.

Besides lasting a long time, duplicators offer a high production with low maintenance. Nobody likes machines being down. Average duplicator uptime is a whopping 95%, which means 95% of the time it’s running without any problems.

ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY

Duplicators do not emit ozone or generate any heat, making them ideal for high volume applications. Without the use of toner, there is no toner dust circulating in the air. In addition, Duplo duplicators are Energy Star qualified so they consume less energy, lowering electric bills. All models also consist of biodegradable materials and use soy-based inks, which contain low levels of VOC’s and minimize the release of toxics into the air.

SUPERIOR FEED SYSTEM

Duplo has been manufacturing duplicators for over six decades now. Its duplicators have the ability to go from 16 lb. to 110 lb. card stock with only a few adjustments, making them as versatile as they have ever been. They’re capable of feeding an increased variety of substrates from card stock to color and textured paper. They can also feed NCR and newsprint, which are difficult for copiers to feed. Newsprint is incredibly light yet it’s especially used in elementary schools because it’s cost-effective.

A lot more akin to a printing press than a copier, duplicators are designed to handle the long runs that certain sectors, such as public schools, require while keeping those costs low. It’s time to rediscover and maximize the benefits of this valuable tool.


John Coggins
Regional Sales Director
Duplo USA

Related Posts