A printer duplex option is another term for double-sided printing. With a printer duplex option, you can transform a printer that’s only capable of one-sided printing—sometimes called a simplex printer—into one that’s capable of duplex printing.
Printing on both sides of the paper is possible on simplex printers, but this requires you to manually flip the page over and reinsert it into the paper tray. Printer duplex options remove this arduous process so that it can happen automatically.
The benefits of changing a simplex printer into a double-sided machine are many. With double-sided printing, you can use one sheet of paper... instead of two, saving you on paper costs. Printer duplex options are relatively inexpensive and simple to install, making for a rapid return on investment. Printer duplex options also save you on the cost of purchasing a completely new printer. They can be part of a larger effort to make your business more environmentally friendly, as duplex printing requires less electricity than simplex printing. For some operations, duplex printing is a must. Creating double-sided brochures without a duplex printing option is virtually impossible without excessive amounts of effort.
An added bonus of printer duplex options is that you’re less likely to run out of paper at an inopportune time. Because you’ll be using only half as much paper as you once were, you’ll go through your supply that much slower. This means you’ll only need to purchase paper half as often. Other benefits include less volume and weight on printing jobs because they will take up half of each than the same job would on a simplex printer.
There are two primary types of duplex printing options: single-engine and dual-engine. A single-engine printer prints one side at a time, whereas a dual-engine printer, is capable of printing both sides simultaneously. This means a dual-engine duplex printer works twice as fast as the single-engine one, even if it’s the same machine otherwise.
The most important factor to consider when choosing a printer duplex option is compatibility. First and foremost, your printer duplex option needs to work with your printer. Here at Connection, we make sure you understand exactly which printer duplex options are compatible with which printers.
We proudly carry a wide range of printer duplex options for a variety of brand-name printers. If you’re still not sure, you can rely on our expert customer service representatives, who are ready to help you choose the exact product that works best with your printer.