If you were asked to work out the cost per mile to run your car you’d want to make sure that the figure you arrived at covered all the costs, especially if you were being asked to use it on someone else’s behalf. The basic cost of the fuel and oil might be of the order of 12 to 13 pence per mile, but by the time you add in the cost of maintenance, oil, tyres, spares tax, insurance and depreciation, the true cost is at least three times that figure.

When comparisons are made of different coding technologies, a cost per thousand prints is a useful measure, though, just as with the motoring example, this figure can have many elements.

At the tip of the iceberg are the visible costs – the inks, solvent or ribbons that have to be changed or replenished at regular intervals. Surprisingly, the costs hidden below the surface are often overlooked, perhaps because they are on a different budget or charge code, but can be substantial.

One of the starkest examples of different cost structures is between Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) and Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) printing methods. A CIJ printer is using both ink and make up solution all the time it is running, not just printing. A TIJ printer, by contrast, only uses ink when it prints. In a similar vain, a CIJ printer will require servicing (manpower) on a regular basis, together with a number of spares parts to keep the ink delivery system in tip-top condition. A TIJ printer has the whole ink delivery system replaced each time the cartridge is changed and this is the only cost due to manpower and downtime in the graphs shown.

At the other end of the spectrum, embossing is still a common method of marking blister packs and cartons and for good reason: it is incredibly cost effective. There is no consumable cost; only the requirement to change the type that will have to be replenished from time to time as it wears.

So, if you are looking to purchase new coding equipment or would like to investigate ways to save money with current installations, it pays to fully understand the true costs – something Rotech are always happy to help with.