Capital
Include the coder, mounting, guarding, extraction and installation.
Consumables
Estimate ink, make-up, ribbon or cartridge use from your message and annual volume. For lasers, include filters and electricity.
Maintenance
Add scheduled service parts and labour, and any service contract.
Downtime and errors
A stoppage or a wrong code often costs more than a year of consumables. Reliability and code assurance belong in the calculation.
Compare over five years
Add the figures over a realistic life. A higher-priced laser can beat an inkjet printer on high-volume lines; a simple inkjet can win on low volumes.
