Ink Printing vs. Laser Marking: A Public Cost Comparison

We compared the actual costs of inkjet printing with laser marking to determine the overall cost of each.By combining different production scenarios, it analyzes the applicability of the two techniques, helping users to choose the most economical processing solution according to their actual needs.

Why is it so important to compare the cost?

Cost control is a headache for both small batch customizers and large-scale producers.Both inkjet printing and laser marking appear to be able to complete surface marking, but when it comes to actual use, there may be a big difference in cost.We spent a month visiting factories and measuring data, and finally got a clear picture of the real costs of these two technologies. Today we'll talk about our test results.

Initial investment: The price difference is huge.

The threshold for entering the printing industry is low.

The cost of a basic screen-printing machine is only a few thousand NT dollars, which suits the needs of a small start-up business.If you buy second-hand equipment, you can even get a working machine for as little as NT $ 10,000.

Laser printers are expensive, but for a reason.

The cheapest fiber laser equipment starts at NT $ 70,000, and imported brands easily break the NT $ 200,000 mark.However, there is a reason for its high price: the machine does not use ink, and its running costs are virtually zero.

Long-term costs: Consumables are the real money-eaters.

Hidden costs of printing.

You can't be fooled by the low price! In fact, the cost of ink alone can easily run NT $ 3,000-5,000 per month, not to mention the cost of screen cleaning agents and squeegee blades.The salary of the color mixing technician alone is enough to give headaches.

Is laser marking really cost-effective?

Laser equipment doesn't consume much of anything besides electricity.If you work 8 hours a day, it costs less than NT $ 500 a month in electricity.However, you must take care of the lenses. A new focusing lens might cost over NT $ 1000, but it will last two or three years with normal use.

Which material is more economical?

Paper packaging is the best choice.

The inkjet printers are faster than the label printers for paper boxes and plastic bags.In a test of 5,000 packaging boxes, the ink printing method proved to be 30 % cheaper than the laser method, and the colors were more vivid.

Plastic or metal parts can be inspected with a laser.

Laser marking's advantages really come out when it is used on mobile phone casings and metal components.It does not require pretreatment, the color does not fade, and the total cost is about 40 % lower than that of ink.

You may not have thought about the cost of maintenance.

The printing equipment requires at least four hours of maintenance every week, and if the nozzles get clogged, work has to be stopped for repairs.Although laser equipment saves labor, dust and moisture must be kept at bay, and in humid areas of the south, dehumidifiers must be installed.

That was our conclusion.

Inkjet printing is more flexible for small batches and multiple materials, while laser marking is more cost-effective for large-scale long-term manufacturing.How you choose depends on the kind of orders you take.They suggest taking samples first and testing them out. Don't just believe what the salespeople say. Sometimes using the wrong material can double the cost.