What Should I Consider When Buying a Photocopier?

In every business, there is one piece of equipment that is in constant daily use: the photocopier. The photocopier is one of the best selling office utilities, and until the day we have the paperless office, it will continue to be so. A good photocopier can be an aid to your business in many ways. There are a number of checkpoints to look out for when considering which photocopier will best meet your requirements.

They type of photocopier you will need depends on the volume and type of copying you do each day. You may only require a small number of documents to be copied, such as accounts or bills to be sent out, or you may need to copy higher volumes of print such as mailshots. Photocopiers come in a variety of sizes and copy speeds vary, but most copiers have some basic functions that are universal.

Photocopiers use a light lens to duplicate documents; the original technology is analog, although digital copiers are becoming popular. Digital photocopiers enable the user to print color copies by converting the visual data on the original document into computer code. The computer code then programs the laser printer that creates the final copy.

The clarity of the copy depends on the resolution of the photocopier. The resolution of the photocopier determines the quality and sharpness of an image. This is measured in dots per inch (DPI). Photocopiers with 500 DPI have 500 x 500 dots per square inch. Many copiers can offer an extremely high resolution, but these are only useful for such people as designers, who need very detailed prints.

The number of copies you make each day should determine the size of the photocopier you are considering. If your photocopier is in constant use each day, then you should consider a copier with a large capacity tray. These larger trays can hold in excess of 1,000 sheets and are useful to avoid constantly refilling the copier. Most copiers hold up to 1,000 sheets, which is adequate for the moderate user.

If your business creates documents that need to be bound, you should look out for the image shift feature. This allows the user to adjust the image for binding. You should also be aware that some machines have stapling and collating capabilities that you can adjust to work automatically.

Another point to look out for is the pages per minute function. This determines how many pages your copier prints per minute. The higher the number of pages, the quicker your copier speed will be. If you need documents to be enlarged or reduced, look out for the enlargement/reduction and zoom functions.

The amount of features a photocopier can have varies greatly. Modern multifunctional photocopiers can also act as fax machines, digital storage devices and computer scanners, with information stored on a hard disk. The photocopier can be linked to your office’s computer network so that you can print directly from your computer without leaving your seat. The most important thing to remember is size. If you have a small office, don’t go for an industrial sized photocopier, unless you want it to function as your office desk as well.