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When it’s time to get a new printer for your office, consider that a laser printer offers speedy performance, quiet operation, and precise printing. They’re made to print large volumes, so they’re perfect for everyday office needs.

In this article, we’ll talk about how laser printers work, their benefits, and the different types of laser printers you can find on the market. You’ll learn about the basic differences between laser printers and inkjet printers.

How Does a Laser Printer Work?

Laser printers are essential office equipment for modern-day businesses. They work by converting digital images of the document into paper copies with special laser beams. Laser printers work similarly to photocopiers through a process called electrography.

The entire process of laser printing can be divided into seven phases: processing, charging, exposing, creating, transferring, fusing, and cleaning (or recharging).

The electrically charged laser beams form images on rotating discs. The areas on the paper that aren’t exposed to light from the laser are covered with toner. Patterns such as text and photos are printed when the laser beam creates a negative charge onto the photoreceptor. Laser printers require heat to fuse toner to the paper. To be more precise, they need to use heat of up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to achieve this.

Laser Printer vs. Inkjet Printer

When buying a new printer, the choice is usually between laser printers and inkjet printers. As their names suggest, laser printers use a laser to print paper, while inkjet printers use ink.

Sometimes called inkjets, inkjet printers work by spraying ionized ink onto the paper with the use of magnetic plates. They’re usually used as home printers, but some small businesses prefer them over other types of printers.

Inkjet printers can produce high-resolution photos and high-quality images. They usually come in small sizes, which is why people buy them for home offices. They’re also pretty quiet.

Laser printers are faster than inkjet printers, and they produce more detailed and precise images. Considering their speed and quality, laser printers are a better choice for offices that have high-volume printing needs.

They’re also typically larger than inkjet printers, since they are made of bigger components, such as the imaging drum, the toner cartridge, and the transfer roller. Their bulky size makes them more suitable for offices.

Due to the improved features laser printers offer, they are more expensive than inkjet printers. They can be three times more expensive than inkjet printers. Color laser printers can come at an even higher price. They generally pay off in the long term, as you won’t have to replace the cartridge as often as you would with inkjet printers.

Four Categories of Printers

When they first came on the market, the laser printer could only produce black-and-white documents and images. Today, you can find a wide variety of color laser printers on the market. Color printers have four drums for four different colors: black, yellow, cyan, and magenta. Printers combine these four colors to create the required hues on the paper.

The most popular types of laser printers are multifunction printers because they’re extremely convenient. Also known as MFPs, multifunction printers combine the functionalities of a printer, copier, scanner, and fax machine. The benefits of multifunction printers include increased productivity, less energy use, and greater sustainability.

Laser printers can also be categorized into four groups: personal, office, workgroup, and production printers.

Personal printers are small, and they can usually hold up to 100 sheets of paper and fit on a desktop or file cabinet. They can be connected to a terminal of a multi-user computer. Office printers are bigger than personal printers, and they are designed to be used by either one person or a small group of people.

Workgroup laser printers are great for offices, since they’re large and floor-standing. They’re usually connected to the network so a larger number of employees can utilize them.

Production printers are special printers that can work throughout the entire day. They’re extremely fast. They are some of the fastest printers on the market. But they take up a lot of space and need to be installed in a ventilated room as they run pretty hot.

Benefits of Office Printers

There are many reasons your office would benefit from a laser printer.

Since laser printers are all about performance, they are perfect for printing large volumes. If you constantly need to print multiple pages per printing session, laser printers won’t disappoint. They’re incredibly fast, which is a huge plus in a busy office. The best laser printers have high-capacity paper trays, allowing them to print more without constantly having to replenish the machine’s paper supply.

But what truly makes the laser printer the best type of printer for your office is its quality. Thanks to its laser technology, laser printers can produce sharp and precise text and photos. You won’t find any smears or smudges on the paper. This is due to the laser fusing the toner directly onto the paper.

This also makes laser printers easier to maintain. Unlike inkjet printers, which require you to replace the toner cartridge often, you can use your laser printer for months without having to replace the cartridge. In addition, laser printers are very quiet. They make far less noise than other types of printers, allowing your employees to focus on work without distraction.

Modern laser printers can be used for more than just printing. MFPs can also be used for scanning, copying, faxing, and emailing documents.

Equip Your Office With a High-Quality Laser Printer

There’s a reason most businesses buy laser printers for their office space as opposed to other types of printers. They’re fast, reliable, and they produce high-quality documents.

If you’re looking for a printer, scanner, or copier solution for your Houston business, you need to find a reliable company that can solve all your printing needs. Stargel Office Solutions supplies office equipment in the area and also install wide-format printers, scanners, and multifunction systems to meet all your business needs.