How To Choose a Zebra Industrial Printer Enclosure

The Zebra industrial printer enclosure increases productivity and extends the life of your industrial/desktop printer in harsh environments. It provides robust protection for your printer.

Choose NEMA 4 rated mild-steel enclosures to protect your printer against dust and other particulates. For applications that require frequent and intensive washing, choose NEMA 4X rated enclosures made from durable 316 stainless steel. These enclosures are designed to protect your equipment from water and moisture exposure, ensuring its longevity and reliability. Benefit from reliable 24/7 shop-floor printers in factories, warehouses, logistics depots, food processing plants, and more.

Here are three tips for choosing the best Zebra industrial printer enclosure for your business.

1. Find a Reliable Zebra Industrial Printer Enclosure Supplier

Your industrial printers are crucial, so choose a reliable enclosure supplier for the long term.

Look for a reputable manufacturer that offers waterproof and mild-steel printer enclosures with extended warranties and lifelong customer support. Ensure that the enclosure is specifically designed for your printer model.

Find an independent hardware vendor that can supply enclosures for all Zebra models. This enables you to establish a long-term relationship with a single supplier that fulfills all your printer protection needs.

2. Choose the Right Environmental Protection

To maximize production uptime, enhance printer reliability, and save time and money for your business, select the appropriate printer enclosure for your specific application.

To ensure optimal printer performance, carefully evaluate the potential hazards your printers may encounter, such as dust, humidity, temperature fluctuations, washing down procedures, and exposure to chemicals. Based on this, make a decision and choose the most suitable printer enclosure for your specific needs:

316 Stainless-Steel Printer Enclosures Rated to NEMA 4X

These NEMA 4X printer enclosures provide robust protection against power washing and aggressive cleaning procedures involving abrasive chemicals. They are specifically designed for use in food manufacturing, pharmaceutical applications, medical settings, and other hygienic environments.

The 316 stainless-steel body is corrosion resistant, antibacterial and easy to clean. These enclosures are ideal for any industry with rigorous hygiene standards.

Beware of cheaper enclosures made from 304 stainless steel. 316 stainless steel contains 2-3% molybdenum, which gives it superior corrosion resistance. 304 stainless steel is susceptible to degradation under washdown conditions, resulting in the accumulation of bacteria and the need for earlier replacement of 304 enclosures.

316 waterproof printer enclosures offer a superior long-term investment, ensuring maximum peace of mind regarding the hygiene of your facility.

Mild-Steel Enclosures Rated to NEMA 4

For dusty locations, choose mild-steel printer enclosures with an NEMA 4 rating. These industrial cabinets provide reliable protection for your Zebra printer against dust, liquids, grease, oil, and physical damage.

They are perfect for factories, production lines, workshops, warehouses, and logistics depots.

Both NEMA 4 and NEMA 4X Zebra printer enclosures have features that maximize printer protection:

• Optional heaters: Heated printer enclosures enable printer usage in temperatures ranging from 32°F to -22°F, making them perfect for chilled environments.
• Positive airflow: The inclusion of a recirculating fan prevents the buildup of heat and moisture, safeguarding the printer's printhead and other components from potential damage. Positive airflow ensures that dust is kept out by pushing air out of the enclosure.
• NEMA-rated locks and door gaskets: With locks and closed-cell foam seals, these enclosures effectively prevent water, dust, and fine particulates from entering, thereby preserving the NEMA 4/4X rating.

3. Look for Features That Speed Up Workflow and Boost Productivity.

Eliminate the frustration of frequent trips off the shop floor to retrieve printouts. With clean room printer enclosures, you can conveniently install printers exactly where operators need them. This results in a faster workflow for staff and improved productivity for your business.

Choose a Zebra industrial printer enclosure with the following time-saving features to further enhance efficiency:

• Lockable label window: Allows workers to retrieve printouts without opening the main enclosure door. This provides quick access to labels/barcodes while keeping the printer protected from industrial hazards.
• Slide-out printer shelf: Enables easy access to the printer roll, ribbon, printhead, and settings without the need to uninstall the printer from the enclosure. Simply slide out the printer shelf to access the printer from all sides. Fast printer maintenance minimizes disruption to your production schedule.
• Custom mounting options: Provides flexibility to install industrial printers in the most productive location. Choose from stand, or worktop mounting for optimal convenience.

Why Choose Armagard?

Over 100,000 Armagard enclosures protect screens and IT equipment in 53 countries. Previous customers include some of the biggest food brands from the USA and around the world, including Walmart, Cargill, Tyson Foods, and more.

By choosing Armagard, you benefit from:

• Over 30 years of industry experience
• In-house design, manufacturing, and testing
• Lifetime customer support
• Five-year warranties

Armagard printer enclosures have an expected 10-year lifespan, making them highly cost-effective. You can use the same enclosure to protect multiple Zebra printers over several years, offering a long-term solution with a low total cost of ownership.

Learn More About the Best Zebra Industrial Printer Enclosure for Your Business.

Safeguard your mission-critical printers from dust, power washing, physical damage, and other potential risks. Armagard printer enclosures are designed to uphold manufacturing uptime and prolong the lifespan of your printers.

Get in touch with us for a no-obligation discussion about the best Zebra printer enclosures for your business.

Call +1-866-434-0807 or fill in a contact form today.