How Fairbanks and Anchorage Businesses Can Choose Printers That Perform in Extreme Conditions

You might not think of an office printer as a piece of equipment that needs to withstand the elements, but the truth is, printers are often exposed to harsher climates than you might realize. Whether it’s frigid temperatures from a nearby door that’s frequently opened and closed, high humidity, or simply extended periods of use, your office printer is likely enduring a lot more than you realize. It’s important to choose a durable printer that can withstand these kinds of conditions and keep working reliably for years. Keep reading to learn how your business can choose business printers in Anchorage, AK, that are built for even the harshest office environments.

Understanding Environmental Challenges

Before you choose a printer for your office, it’s important to understand what it means when a printer is designed for “extreme conditions.” There are many different conditions that can wear out a standard printer—yes, even in your climate-controlled office space—that these printers are built to withstand. Here are just a few of them:

• Very low or very high ambient temperatures

• Frequent and rapid temperature swings

• High humidity or condensation

• Dust, grit, or other particulates in the air

• Continuous heavy-duty use

• Limited access to service or maintenance

• Printing on special media like synthetic labels or thick card stock
  

For example, in a lower-quality printer, humidity that’s below about 20% or above 80% can cause print quality issues like shading or warping of your paper. Or, if you have a more industrial office space, dust, dirt, and even chemicals in the air can create a challenging work environment for your printer.

So, the first big system in finding a printer that fits a harsher work environment is to map out that environment and determine the challenges that may impact the printer’s performance. Ask yourself what the typical temperature range is in the print area. Does it dip below freezing or spike above 100°F? Is there a risk of humidity or condensation in the space? Is there dust, chemical fumes, or other airborne particulates that could get inside the machinery? Is the space climate controlled? How much printing do you expect to do, and what media types will you be using? With a clear picture of these items, you’re prepared to evaluate printers and find ones that can stand up to the more extreme conditions of your office space.

Specifications and Features to Look For

When choosing a printer for more extreme conditions, the printer’s specifications matter—but many businesses overlook them until problems arise later. Here are some things you should be looking for when choosing a printer that’s durable enough for more demanding work environments:

• High IP Rating: If you have concerns about dust or moisture in your work environment, you should be looking for a high IP rating—IP54 or higher. This shows the unit is sealed against dust and water intrusion. 

• Durable Casing: Look for a metal or reinforced casing rather than plastic shells. This helps it endure vibration and impact, giving it a longer life.

• Compatibility with Media: If you work with specialized media, like durable cardstock to avoid curling in high humidity, make sure that you’re choosing a printer compatible with that media type.

• Accessible Design: A machine that is easy to open up to address issues is one that will be maintained regular. Make sure the printer has a modular design for easier maintenance access.

• Easy Part Replacement: In addition to being easy to maintain, you should look for a printer where the consumables (ink and toner cartridges, print heads, rollers, etc.) are easy to replace. Again, this helps ensure the machine is properly maintained.
  

Keep in mind that these are features you should be looking for in addition to standard factors like print speed, connectivity, and the printer type. Ensure that all features and specifications are aligned with your business’s needs.

Matching the Printer to Your Environment

Different environments require different levels of durability. Perhaps you’re not worried about dust intrusion, but you have concerns about temperature swings, or vice versa. In these cases, you’ll need to prioritize certain durability features over others. Here are some examples:

• Low-Temperature Environments: If your work environment can drop below freezing, you’ll want to ensure the printer has an extended low-temperature rating, and consider adding an enclosure around the printer. Make sure you use durable media as well, since standard paper may crack or curl in freezing environments.

• High-Dust Settings: In factories or other work environments where dust and particulate matter are common, you’ll want to prioritize a machine with a high IP rating, metal housing, and sealed interior components. Use dust filters or enclosures around the printer if needed, and clean your printer regularly.

• High-Volume Printing and Use: If your printer needs to be running constantly, across multiple shifts, then you’ll want to prioritize finding an industrial-grade printer with a high duty cycle, large-capacity feeder trees, and high print speed.

Finding the Right Printer for Your Needs

While your printer may not be braving the Alaskan wilderness, there are still many situations in which it will be required to endure harsher work environments than is normal. Conditions being what they are in our beautiful state, it’s not unusual for printers to be exposed to freezing temperatures or large swings in temperature and humidity. It’s important to take these factors into consideration to ensure that you order an office printer in Anchorage, AK, that’s built to withstand these kinds of conditions. If you’d like to learn more about finding a durable office printer, contact Arctic Office Products today, or stop by our showroom to see some of the office printers that we currently have in stock. Our knowledgeable and experienced staff can help you find the right printer to endure your office’s climate, while still meeting all of your business’s printing needs.