September 19, 2022
Plans change. Being able to print the newest version in-house can simplify collaboration, reduce confusion, and save a tremendous amount of time. A wide format printer, also called a large format printer, is up to the task of printing blueprints, schematics, and much more. However, in addition to added convenience, investing in a wide format printer offers many distinct advantages to AEC businesses.
3 Advantages of Investing in Wide Format Printers and Plotters
On your wide format printer, you’ll be able to generate Arch and Ansi-size prints ranging from 3 “D” prints per minute up to 30 “D” prints per minute in either monochrome or full color. You’ll be able to make additional copies of your prints as needed, and you’ll also be able to use your new printer to scan your designs (in monochrome or color) to create PDF, Jpeg, or TIFF files.
But beyond basic wide format printing capabilities, this single investment offers three competitive advantages for your business.
1. Save Money
In the long run, using a third party to produce blueprints and schematics will be more expensive. A wide format printer is an investment that may come with additional tax benefits for your business.
2. Increase Responsiveness
Clients made more revisions? Of course they did. With a wide format printer, you’ll be able to produce an updated version quickly and get them into the right hands as soon as possible.
3. Generate More Business
Many companies have misconceptions about wide format printers and the ROI they bring. However, the same printer that can produce those can also help you produce your own marketing materials, like posters, trade show materials, banners, and more.
The Importance of Color for the AEC Industry
Many AEC businesses underestimate the importance of creating documents in full color. It seems counterintuitive that businesses that have always relied upon black and white documents could now derive real benefits from full-color documents, but this trend is pragmatic.
You can use full-color printing to better indicate, for example, piping, different wall types, or revisions, so that no important details are overlooked. Adding color seems like an overly simple solution to a complex problem, but research indicates it works well. For every dollar you spend on color printing within AEC industries, you save $4 on the overall project. It gets better — depending on your printer, full-color printing can be achieved for roughly the same cost as a black-and-white document.
The Best AEC Wide Format Printer
Every business is different, so most print experts are hesitant to recommend a printer before having an in-depth conversation to understand what you print, how often you print, and what long-term goals you’re trying to achieve.
However, AEC businesses have specific needs, and I feel confident that many of them would benefit from checking out the HP Pagewide XL. It’s amazingly fast and offers up to 50% savings in total production costs. For businesses where time and money are of the essence, it’s tough to beat. HP has also created intuitive workflow solutions for the HP PageWide XL and Pro printers to increase productivity and collaboration and help you gain more insight and control around your print costs.
There are different models available for different budgets and needs, but scaling back isn’t the only way to save money on an HP Pagewide XL printer. HP is one of Marco’s strategic partners, so we are able to offer clients highly competitive pricing on all HP models. If you’re curious about what the HP Pagewide XL printer could do for your business, one of Marco’s print experts would be happy to get to know your organization and recommend the perfect printer for you.
