Inkjet Press Buying Tips

Buying a new inkjet press is never an easy decision. To help you determine when inkjet makes sense for your in-plant, how to calculate the ROI, and what to consider during your research, we spoke with four in-plant managers who are already using production inkjet presses. They shared valuable insights and practical advice to guide fellow in-plant managers on their own inkjet buying journeys. Answering our questions were:

• Kristen Hampton
  Director, Print and Mail Management, State of Michigan
  Inkjet press: Ricoh Pro Z75
• Chad Simpson
  Director of Printing Services, East Baton Rouge Parish Public Schools
  Inkjet presses: Riso ComColor GL7430, two Riso ComColor GL9730s
• Simon Ortiz
  Print Services Operations Manager | Design & Print Center, Intermountain Health
  Inkjet presses: Ricoh Pro VC60000, Canon varioPRINT iX
• Nikki Hiller
  Administrator - Printing and Publications & Mail, Omaha Public Schools
  Inkjet presses: Two Kyocera TASKalfa Pro 15000c presses, Riso Velezus T2200

Why did you decide on inkjet and not a toner-based device?

Chad Simpson

Chad Simpson: We decided on inkjet because it was the only technology that allowed us to produce the color volume we needed at a cost that made financial sense. Toner-based devices can handle quality well, but once you cross into higher monthly volumes — especially in color — the cost per impression quickly becomes unsustainable. Inkjet gave us a way to bring more of our color work in-house, control costs, and still meet turnaround times. It was the only practical solution that balanced speed, cost efficiency, and reliability for our production environment.

Kristen Hampton

Kristen Hampton: We were looking to grow our digital production capabilities, building on the success we saw after implementing a large-volume continuous feed inkjet press in 2019. That investment was a game-changer for our transactional work, significantly improving speed, reliability, and overall efficiency. We explored additional options for cut-sheet inkjet printers and ultimately decided that an inkjet sheet-fed solution was the best fit for our evolving needs. Several key factors drove this decision — faster production speeds, the ability to handle larger sheet sizes, improved registration accuracy, and greater flexibility with paper types. We also liked the cost model, which is based on consumables rather than traditional click charges, and the image quality, which is comparable to our toner devices.

Simon Ortiz

Simon Ortiz: We chose inkjet because it offered faster throughput, lower running costs, and greater flexibility for larger print runs. The quality that inkjet technology offers is unmatched in comparison to toner and the cost per click. Toner still has its place, but for the type of work we handle, inkjet was the clear long-term solution.

Nikki Hiller

Nikki Hiller: Inkjet is really a good low-cost option, especially with the quality that we need to do. You wouldn’t tell the difference on inkjet versus toner on a 20-lb. white sheet. So, you still have great quality, you still have a low price, and it is value to give back to the district.

How did you justify the cost of inkjet and calculate ROI?

Simpson: Our return on investment came within the first year. I focused on lower-cost inkjet models to minimize the upfront expense and achieve ROI quickly. The math was straightforward — when you look at the dramatic reduction in consumable costs and the ability to replace multiple toner devices with one inkjet, the savings add up fast. For organizations considering a larger, higher-end inkjet investment, I’d emphasize that the same principle applies: the low running cost of inkjet offsets the initial purchase faster than most people realize. When you factor in labor efficiency, reduced service calls, and less downtime, the ROI becomes even stronger.

Hampton: At the time, we were operating with equipment which had begun to fall short of our operational requirements. Specifically, it lacked the necessary speed, print quality, substrate flexibility, and reliability to meet our evolving production demands. Additionally, the device(s) had reached end-of-life, making continued maintenance and support increasingly difficult and costly. These limitations provided a strong foundation for justifying the investment in a new press. Beyond addressing performance gaps, we identified a strategic opportunity to insource a significant portion of the work we were previously outsourcing. By bringing this volume in-house, we could not only improve turnaround times and quality control but also generate enough throughput to support the cost of the new equipment. This combination of operational need and financial justification made a compelling case for the upgrade.

Ortiz: We built a business case around reduced click costs and consolidation of several older devices into one. Inkjet’s efficiency and uptime quickly offset the initial investment. Then we factored in increased capacity and the ability to bring more work in-house.

Hiller: I did a percentage breakdown of what it would save them bringing [inkjet in], and even with inflation now, I think it will be an even larger savings and they will see that.

How did you research and evaluate inkjet?

Simpson: I evaluated everything on the market that fit our volume range. My process started with understanding our true print volume, the types of jobs we run most frequently, and the color coverage we needed. From there, I compared device capabilities, operating costs, and maintenance requirements. Funding availability was also a factor — I needed a solution that would deliver high value without requiring an excessive upfront investment. I also looked at print quality with our actual job files, not just demo prints, to make sure the output would meet our customers’ expectations. In the end, the decision came down to striking the right balance between cost, performance, and reliability.

Ortiz: We visited several in-plants that had already made the transition, met and networked with several print vendors at the Inkjet Summit and IPMA conferences, and ran extensive print samples through their systems. We also analyzed our own job mix and paper usage to ensure compatibility. That combination of peer input and hands-on testing gave us confidence in our final decision.

Hampton: We explored a range of inkjet press options, including conducting on-site visits to organizations currently using this type of equipment. Additionally, we attended the Inkjet Summit and leveraged the IPMA [In-plant Printing and Mailing Association] member network to gather insights and feedback on equipment performance and user experiences. We also reviewed vendor presentations tailored to our projected volumes, which helped us assess the advantages of inkjet versus toner. Finally, we evaluated all submitted proposals through the State of Michigan’s formal procurement process.

What would you tell in-plant managers who have fears about investing in inkjet:

Simpson: Most of those concerns come from not matching the right device to the right application or misunderstanding how inkjet economics work. The biggest factor is volume. If you have the volume, the ROI will come — period. Inkjet thrives in high-usage environments because the cost per impression is so much lower. As for quality, modern inkjet can meet or exceed customer expectations for most types of work. You can choose a device with higher quality if your applications demand it — it just comes with a higher entry cost. And even if customers aren’t asking for inkjet specifically, they do want faster turnaround times and lower prices. Inkjet enables both. Once people see what it can do, the demand naturally follows.

Ortiz: I feel that most of the concerns and fears that come up regarding inkjet technology are based on outdated perceptions. Today’s inkjet presses deliver offset-level quality, handle a wide range of substrates, and offer competitive operating costs compared to toner devices. I feel that customer demand has grown as of late, because of the many benefits of what inkjet can do, and the efficiencies it brings … paired with achieved ROIs that happen much faster than expected.

Hiller: The cost is very low for the machine, and the ink is a lower cost, and depending on what you’re doing for service you shouldn’t have many calls for that machine. So those are three benefits if you’re wanting strong ROI.

Hampton: One of the biggest advantages of the Ricoh Z75 is that we’ll be able to bring a significant amount of outsourced work back in-house, which plays a key role in justifying both the cost and the return on investment. A lot of the jobs we handle require very precise registration, and the solution we selected gives us the reliability and accuracy we need for that kind of critical work. In addition, by pairing this new press with near-line bindery equipment, we’ve been able to speed up production compared to traditional in-line methods. The larger sheet size also allows us to run more pieces per press sheet, which boosts efficiency and helps us get more done in less time.

What would you do differently if you were buying an inkjet press today?

Simpson: The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that the inkjet engine itself is typically very solid and reliable — it’s the paper feeding and handling systems that can create bottlenecks. Next time, I’d spend more time evaluating the reliability of the feeder and paper path. The machine I have now performs great, but I can see how a stronger feeding system would make the overall operation even more efficient. So, I’d say: focus on the paper path as much as the print engine.

Ortiz: We would have planned more carefully for finishing and workflow integration, as that was a big challenge for us in the initial implementation phase. Those areas can bottleneck production if not aligned with inkjet speeds. We also learned the importance and challenges of getting staff trained, and the learning curve that comes with inkjet technology.

Hiller: As much as you look at equipment, [test] equipment, and have feedback on equipment, you’re always going to have to deal with how that equipment runs in your shop. I’ve learned that no matter the prep and energy I put into doing the right thing, you still will have struggles on making it work for you.

Hampton: One of the biggest takeaways is the importance of fully understanding the electrical and ventilation requirements upfront. Inkjet presses draw significantly more power than toner-based machines, and during our 2019 purchase, we hadn’t budgeted for the necessary electrical upgrades. That oversight led to unexpected costs and delays. For our most recent purchase, we made sure to gather all the technical requirements early in the process and included those costs in our budget. This helped us avoid surprises and stay on schedule.

Have you gotten the types of work and the volumes that you expected?

Simpson: Yes, absolutely. The device performs exactly as we projected, and we’ve been able to keep up with demand without overextending the machine. The consistency and uptime have also helped us take on more internal work confidently, knowing we can deliver it efficiently.

Ortiz: Yes, and we still have plenty of room for growth. Our ability to print our short-run color jobs with great quality and speed with seamless transition from one job to the next has allowed us to increase our productivity greatly. The new capabilities and lower costs have allowed us to bring in print work that we once would outsource, helping us increase overall print volume.

Hiller: Actually, it increased faster than what I thought would happen, and we picked up close to 5,000 orders in the month of September. I was not prepared to have that many orders come through here, and that’s when I noticed where our bottlenecks are, and when we couldn’t turn around what I thought we could turn around. It was a good eye opener to look to see where I can improve and what I can improve with our workflow, and what I can improve with equipment.

Hampton: We have seen an increase in volumes over the years. Our latest installation is still new, so we are beginning the insourcing process.

Any unexpected installation issues?

Simpson: No real issues at all. But I’ll add that part of that is because we chose a relatively simple inkjet platform — the RISO devices are straightforward to install and operate. Their footprint is small, and they don’t require the same kind of infrastructure upgrades that larger production presses often need. It made for a very smooth setup process.

Ortiz: The main challenge was ensuring proper humidity control as inkjet printers require and operate more efficiently under these conditions and are more sensitive to environmental factors than toner devices.

Hiller: Make sure you have enough network … because [everything] needs network. Plus your plugins, your air, making sure the humidity is correct.

Hampton: There were a few minor hiccups, which are to be expected, but nothing major. Overall, the installation went smoothly.

Any tips for researching finishing solutions?

Simpson: In my experience, inkjet is actually easier to finish than toner because the output doesn’t build up static. That means you don’t have to worry as much about misfeeds or handling issues in binders, folders, or inserters. So, while there isn’t a lot of complexity to research for finishing in our specific setup, I’d recommend matching your finishing speed and capacity to your print engine so neither one becomes the bottleneck. Consistency and workflow integration matter more than fancy features.

Ortiz: Look at finishing as part of the total workflow, not an afterthought. Make sure the finishing equipment can match your inkjet’s output speed and handle the same substrates. Talking with other in-plants about what’s worked for them is invaluable before committing to a solution. Also, vet the service support for the printer you are potentially selecting to ensure that you will get the support that you need, as uptime is very important in meeting productivity needs and ROI.

Hampton: Take time to evaluate the types of jobs you handle on a daily basis and identify opportunities to streamline workflows wherever possible. Consider implementing prepress solutions that can support both your new printing technology and any near-line finishing equipment. Optimizing these processes upfront can lead to greater efficiency, reduced turnaround times, and improved overall productivity.

Your Next Step...

If you're still reading, you're obviously very interested in adding an inkjet press. Your next move should be to register to attend the Inkjet Summit, taking place April 27-29, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas, in San Antonio, Texas. If you qualify to attend, we will pay your travel and hotel expenses. Don't miss this opportunity. Apply today at this link.