Wide format printers are a significant investment for any business, and like any high-value asset, regular servicing and maintenance are essential to ensure they remain in optimal working order. Whether you're producing vibrant banners, crisp signage, or detailed graphics, downtime caused by printer issues can be costly and disruptive. That's where Signmaster support comes in.
We offer a comprehensive maintenance and repair service to keep your machines running in top condition and minimise downtime. We recognise the disruption a broken or malfunctioning printer can cause to print runs and client deadlines but with a regular maintenance programme you can cut this substantially. All our technicians are highly trained and fully certified, so any wide format printer repairs are carried out to the highest standards.
How Often Should My Printers Be Serviced?
As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Regular servicing can avoid expensive unplanned repairs and enable you to schedule in maintenance at times when your production is quiet.
Depending on how heavy your printer usage is having your machines serviced every six to 12 months can help avoid many emergency breakdowns and keep your productivity optimal. If your printer experiences particularly heavy usage, increasing this to three to six months can be beneficial, even if there are no obvious issues.
Regular cleaning, following manufacturer maintenance guidelines and replacement of worn parts before they break can prevent problems in the long-run and keep your printer running efficiently.
What Are The Common Issues With Wide Format Printers?
Print Head Issues
The print head is an essential part of any wide format printer but if not maintained it can impact print quality. Dirty print heads can cause issues like streaking, fading or missing nozzles. When ink dries inside the nozzles they can get clogged and blocked. And sometimes print head contacts get dirty which means they aren’t detected by the software.
Print Quality Problems
You may notice your prints are faded or streaked. This can be caused by stagnant ink accumulating in the print head. It may block the ink entirely or lead to uneven droplets. Problems with print quality can also be caused by ink settings or the type of ink used.
Environmental Interference
Print performance can be impacted by the environment. If your print shop is particularly dusty or humid this can lead to inks not drying properly or substrates absorbing too much of the ink and the substrate cockling. Similarly, too little humidity can lead to overspray and other printing issues.
Lack of Regular Maintenance
Not undertaking regular cleaning or using extraction fans and circulations fans correctly can all affect printer use. A regular programme of maintenance following manufacturer guidelines can identify problems early on before they lead to a breakdown. Similarly, enable automatic cleaning functions if they’re available and let the machine take care of itself.
Not Updating Software
It’s important to implement software updates as they become available. If you stay operating on older systems there will come a point where they will no longer be compatible with modern programmes leading to poor quality prints or worse still, no prints at all.
Why Use Signmaster For Your Servicing And Repairs
A regular and comprehensive maintenance programme will keep your printers in optimal condition, reduce breakdowns and extend their working life. Signmaster support can help with both maintenance and repair. We offer:
- Certified technicians who are experts in Mimaki and Roland wide format printers
- Quick diagnostics to rapidly identify the issues and resolve them to minimise downtime for you
- Preventative maintenance to extend the life of your printers and prevent costly, unexpected breakdowns
- On-site and remote support to give you full flexibility and ease of use depending on the type of repairs needed
- The use of genuine manufacturer parts only to give you full peace of mind as well as ensure longevity
Keep your wide-format printers running at peak performance with expert repair and maintenance services from Signmaster Systems. Give us a call at 01948 804963 or send us an email at tech@signmastersystems.co.uk today!
