Evaluating Latex Printers on the Expo Show Floor

Wide-format latex printers can give in-plants a mix of versatility, durable output, easy operation, and a cleaner production environment. For operations already producing banners, posters, wall graphics, and signage, latex can give shops the ability to print on a range of substrates, handle indoor and outdoor work, and move jobs quickly from print to delivery.

PRINTING United Expo (Sept. 23-25 in Las Vegas) will provide the perfect opportunity to investigate this equipment. With multiple wide-format technologies on the show floor, in-plants can see latex printers alongside UV, solvent, and other options. They can compare production details and ask several vendors the same questions.

Wide-format latex printers have been popular with in-plants for years. Alpine School District’s in-plant in American Fork, Utah, has two HP Latex 335 wide-format printers.

Jake McDonald

“For us, the biggest advantages have been versatility, ease of use, and the cleaner operating environment,” says Printing Services supervisor Jake McDonald. “Latex inks allow us to produce a wide variety of indoor and outdoor applications with durable results while avoiding many of the odor and ventilation concerns associated with some UV technologies. We’ve also appreciated the ability to laminate immediately after printing without long cure times, which helps production efficiency. The print quality and color consistency have also been excellent for educational and district branding applications.”

Eric Nazim, print manager for the City of Oklahoma City, runs an HP Latex 570 and points to affordability and durability as key factors.

Eric Nazim

“One great thing about the latex was I could get a good size roll printer for a reasonable cost, and I could get by without extra equipment, like a large laminator, due to latex’s durability,” Nazim says. “We have not have any projects where the client was disappointed with how long the latex prints last.”

Liz Bowden, assistant director of Document Services & Campus Mail at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has an HP Latex 830 and says the technology opened new possibilities for her operation.

“The quality and color is great and consistent regardless of media used,” Bowden says. “It allowed us to start printing on fabric and many other materials, which has been a game changer for us.”

What to Ask Vendors

At the Expo, in-plants should go beyond image quality and ask vendors detailed operational questions. What is the true production speed at sellable quality? How much operator intervention is required? What are the ongoing maintenance requirements, consumable costs, ink costs, printhead costs, and maintenance cartridge costs? How easy is it to create or adjust media profiles? What RIP software is required? What training is included?

From left: Liz Bowden, Matt Mabry, Megan Beeson, and Devin Dariotis-Pridgen stand with the new HP Latex 830 at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Service should be a major part of the conversation. Bowden recommends asking about technicians and proximity: “Are service calls included in the warranty? If not, what is the cost for travel and labor? I always try to get a vendor as close as I can.”

Nazim says availability of consumables matters just as much.

“We have had instances where ink orders took much longer than they should have, and we couldn’t print until it arrived,” he says.

During demos at the Expo, managers should control the conversation as much as possible. Bring files that reflect real work — gradients, solid colors, fine text, brand colors — and ask vendors to print at the quality mode the shop would use every day, not just the slowest, most polished demo setting.

“It’s also important to observe loading media, changing consumables, and general workflow simplicity,” McDonald notes.

Denise Cleary stands with in-plant's new HP Latex 730 wide-format printer.

Denise Cleary, print and production specialist for the City of West Allis, Wisconsin, runs an HP Latex 730 and takes a hands-on approach when checking out equipment. “In my opinion, demos are already preset up to print and operate perfectly,” she says. “I like to get my hands into everything: opening covers, touching the screens, asking a lot of questions. Do your research before going to the show.”

That hands-on inspection is critical. Look at each printer’s construction, footprint, take-up system, media loading, ink access, printhead access, covers, screens, and user-serviceable parts. Study the workflow from file to finished output. Consider whether a new operator could learn the machine quickly.

McDonald says in-plants should “pay attention to overall build quality, accessibility for maintenance, take-up systems, RIP workflow integration, and ease of operator use.” In a busy shop, he adds, “reliability and workflow efficiency matter just as much as print quality.”

Nazim also recommends checking the physical feel of the machine. “Does it feel cheap and easy to break, or sturdy and well made? Look for how hard or easy it is to access user-serviceable parts, ink, printheads, etc.,” he advises.

Comparing Products

“I’d recommend having each vendor provide realistic operating costs and production expectations for your environment,” McDonald says. “Ask each vendor where they feel their machine is stronger or weaker compared to competitors. Their willingness to answer honestly says a lot about the partnership you can expect after the sale.”

PRINTING United Expo is the perfect place for in-plants to compare wide-format printers.

Nazim advises being direct: “Be upfront about what you want and what you are asking from the other vendors. Lay out your expectations and make them step up to give you their best pitch.”

Finally, watch for red flags. Be cautious of top-speed claims, hidden costs, weak service coverage, limited parts availability, new models without a track record, and salespeople who promise too much.

“I would be cautious of vendors focusing only on top-end speeds or ‘best case scenario’ output,” McDonald says. “Ask to see real-world production samples, not just showroom-quality prints.”

Bowden adds: “Any new-to-the-market printer is a no-go for me. Same if the vendor doesn’t offer tech support over the phone and in person. Also, if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.”

Be picky about who you talk to, adds Cleary. Be wary of “pushy salesmen who promise you everything. Talk to the repair technician, if possible,” she advises.

For in-plants, wide-format latex printers can offer durability, flexibility, quality, and manageable operation. At PRINTING United Expo, the smartest approach is to bring real questions, real files, and real production expectations — then make vendors prove how their printers will perform back home.