If you’re a business that sends hundreds of letters and parcels a week, then a franking machine will be an invaluable piece of office equipment. Those who use franking machines regularly will know all too well the frustration of discovering the ink is faint. For a machine designed to improve business efficiency, streamline postage processes and present a professional image, faint ink that’s difficult to read will have the opposite effect.
So, what are the causes of faint ink, and how do you resolve the problem? We’ve got all the answers you need right here.
Understanding Franking Machine Ink Use
A franking machine allows businesses to print pre-paid postage on letters or parcels, measuring the exact weight of the mail to make it highly accurate to save money on selecting the correct postage, as well as add a return address, company message, slogan or logo.
If you’re a large business using a franking machine that can handle larger volumes of mail, such as the PostBase Ten, which can frank approximately 90 letters per minute, the use of ink will understandably be higher. This means the ink will need to be changed more often, especially if you are including a company logo or phrase, and the machine will need to be properly maintained regularly.
For smaller companies that may be using a franking machine such as the PostBase Vision 3S, which franks approximately 35 letters per minute, changing the ink and maintaining the machine may not be as regular, but it is still extremely important for it to run as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
Common Reasons for Low Ink Levels
If you’ve noticed the ink on your franked mail is faded and difficult to read, this suggests the ink level in the machine is low. Some of the most common reasons for franking machine ink to be low include:
- Prolonged use of the machine.
- Franking large volumes of mail.
- Incorrect settings.
- Technical glitches.
- Incorrectly installed ink.
- Ink that has been idle for a few weeks (cleaning the machine may help bring them back).
By continuing to use the franking machine while the ink is low, the quality of your franked mail will be significantly reduced. It could also cause delays in sending the mail out as you work to resolve the issue and potentially re-frank.
What Are The Signs of Low Ink
While it depends on the machine itself, most modern franking machines will alert you when the ink is low or needs changing. However, there are also other signs to look out for to indicate low ink, including:
- Faint ink.
- Streaky ink.
- Blotchy ink.
Before the ink runs out and you face these common problems, causing an interruption in your postage operations, you should monitor the ink levels, which can be done on most machines through the interactive menu, to ensure the ink is changed in time.
Regular Maintenance And Cleaning
Another important aspect of making sure your franking machine and the ink are working properly is regularly maintaining and cleaning it. This will help prevent issues, like low ink levels, and improve the machine’s longevity. Franking machines offer an automatic ink cartridge clean setting, which should be detailed in the handbook.
We’d suggest creating an easy-to-follow cleaning and maintenance schedule, either once a week, once a fortnight or twice a month, depending on what your particular machine needs to prevent any dirt or buildup from clogging the machine and help to keep it in good condition.
How To Choose the Right Ink for Your Franking Machine
When it comes to replacing the ink for your franking machine, you’ll need to ensure you purchase your franking ink from Officeology, or your machine may be affected.
Luckily, the process of changing the ink is a quick and simple task. And generally, every franking machine will have a similar way of replacing the ink.
- Select the ink functions from the menu and then select ‘replace ink cartridge’.
- Open the franking machine and find the ink head.
- Press the ink cartridge latch to remove it.
- Remove the protective tape from the new ink cartridge.
- Install the ink cartridge into the print head, ensuring it is straightened and upright and press on it until it’s firmly in place.
- Close the machine and test the ink by printing something.
However, if you are unsure, contact our support team, who will be able to help.
For more information, take a look at our franking machines page along with our mailing solutions and mailroom equipment page for expert advice for every business size.