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One fast press or several specialist machines? LFR explores the pros, risks and trade-offs behind each print strategy.
A question without a definitive answer, LFR examines the debate between investing in one high-speed press or adopting a multi-machine model, weighing up the key pros and cons of each approach to determine which strategy may work best for your business.
On the surface, many printers appear to operate in similar ways, producing comparable materials for similar customer bases. However, behind the scenes inside the printroom, production setups can differ significantly, and while output may look alike, the operational strategy driving it often varies from one company to the next.
Of course, there is no set way of running a print business. What may work well for you could be completely alien to your competitor down the road, and vice versa. Perhaps the stand-out debate in this area is how you configure your machinery: do you throw all your weight behind a single high-speed press, or adopt a multi-machine approach and spread production across several pieces of hardware?
It all comes down to personal preference as to how you want to run your business. That said, there are certainly pros and cons to the two approaches, and one method might suit you more than the other. In this feature, LFR caught up with several manufacturers and a print service provider (PSP) to offer insight to those seeking guidance on how to best approach production.
Why print investment is now a tougher decision
To kick-start the debate with a leading manufacturer, Mike Lewis, Wide-Format HQ Business Manager EMEA at Fujifilm, offered his opinion. He said while entering the market to buy new technology is an exciting moment for any business, at the same time, social and economic pressures across the modern print industry have changed investment trends.
“Buying new technology is now a more considered decision, and in an extremely congested marketplace, it can be daunting to make the right decision,” he said. “Matching technology to your core requirements, with ambitions for growth but to be within budget, whilst being supported by people and a brand which reflects your business image and ethics, is therefore paramount.
So, if you are active in the wide- and super-wide format market – a mature space – where do you begin the search for your next investment? Mike said choosing between a single or multi-solution approach very much depends on the motivation of the buyer.
“Redundancy is often a driving force behind having multiple devices, meaning if there’s a technical challenge on one device, then there’s another waiting to absorb the workload,” he said. “Adopting a multi-solution approach also offers the luxury of running two or more separate jobs at the same time, potentially on completely different substrates and, in some instances, running alternative ink sets to suit the application.
“Investing in multiple devices may also offer an opportunity to completely mix technologies and focus on their core strengths, such as partnering a roll-to-roll solution with a hybrid and/or a true flatbed.
“On the other hand, investing in a single solution, which delivers the same applications and print capacity as the multi-solution approach, can offer several benefits. These can include a smaller overall footprint, and in some cases, a lower total capital investment, whilst also being more energy efficient.
“Quicker turnaround times may be achieved, especially with the adoption of automation. One device often requires one focused operator for most of the time, with one ongoing service contract, and therefore, operational savings should also be a consideration.”
Match your print investment to growth plans
Taking this all into account, how do you know which route to travel? Mike recommended taking a “helicopter view” of your current business; include your operators when assessing where you are today, what your daily challenges are, what your ambitions are moving forward and share your findings with whoever you’re choosing to partner with. He added that the more informed a sales specialist is, the more they can help you to achieve your goals.
“Talking about applications as just one substrate may dictate the recommended ink type and the solution,” Mike said. “Be honest about the budget from the beginning, as these elements will both shape the potential solutions and shorten the qualification process. Investigate environmental considerations from both an operational and economical perspective and always keep in mind the available floorspace. There really isn’t a simple formula, as every business has unique circumstances.”
As for how Fujifilm can help companies across both approaches, Mike said the manufacturer offers a broad range of UV and LED UV technologies at varying levels of productivity and investment. He said any device could be part of a single or multi-solution approach but picked out the Acuity Ultra Hybrid range as offering the greatest headroom and versatility from one device.
“Operators in the field regularly highlight that the performance on both rigid and roll media is equally impressive, both in terms of substrate handling and ink performance, and given the 3.2m print width, an Ultra Hybrid accommodates a plethora of media and applications,” he said.
“The Acuity Ultra Hybrid LED and Pro are both modular systems, allowing customers to scale over time. For example, adding heads and therefore additional colours or even automation at a later date, as demand grows.
“Businesses are sweating their equipment for longer than in recent years, so build quality, reliable access to parts and consumables, plus trustworthy and quality support to stand that test of time, is of huge importance. At Fujifilm, we have our wide-format HQ based in the UK, inks are manufactured in Broadstairs, and our global and local service resources are designed to support customers long term – all key factors when choosing the right long-term partner.”
Start simple, then scale as demand increases
Elsewhere, Stuart Thomas, Business Development Manager, Large-Format, at HP spoke about the main positive and negative points of each approach. He said some print companies choose to invest in one fast, versatile printer and run a wide mix of work through it, which keeps the operation simple; fewer machines to manage, easier training, lower space and energy costs, and consistent colour.
“It works well when the job mix changes regularly and when speed, flexibility, and margin matter more than running maximum volume all the time,” he said. “However, the obvious downside of a single‑printer setup is risk. If that machine is down, production stops, so service support and reliability really matter.
“With a multi‑machine model, this gives more resilience and makes scaling easier once volumes grow. Adding a second or third printer allows work to run in parallel, reduces dependency on any one device, and helps handle seasonal peaks. The trade‑off is more complexity, higher running costs, and the need to keep all machines busy to justify the investment.”
Stuart said this is where the HP Latex R2000 fits nicely, setting out how it is “productive and flexible enough” to start as a single main production printer. He added that it also scales well as the business grows, either by adding another R2000 or complementing it with roll printers.
