Reasons to Upgrade to a KIP Large Format Printer

For architects, engineers, and construction (AEC) firms, inconsistent print speeds and high ink costs can disrupt tight deadlines and strain budgets. 

A KIP Large Format Printer offers a solution with its toner-based technology, providing consistent print speeds, reduced operating costs, and features tailored to technical workflows.​

At Steven Enterprises, we’ve observed how KIP printers enhance AEC operations — reducing errors in bids by up to 35% and lowering color printing costs to approximately $0.20 per square foot. 

Our clients often produce over 500 D-size plans per hour, maintaining schedules and budgets.

In this article, we’ll highlight exactly why KIP printers are a great HP DesignJet alternative — and how your team can test one risk-free.

Who Needs a KIP Large Format Printer?

1. DesignJet & OCE Owners

Many design and construction teams use inkjet models like the HP DesignJet XL 3600 or older OCE printers. However, these machines slow down significantly with high ink coverage — especially when printing detailed color renderings or redline markups. 

This bottleneck can push deadlines back by days or force teams to break large jobs into multiple smaller batches.

KIP’s toner-based systems maintain 6–20 pages per minute at any coverage. Whether you’re printing simple floor plans or heavily shaded 3D renderings, the speed never wavers. 

Plus, you can print both monochrome and color plans at the same rapid pace without switching devices or sacrificing color altogether.. 

2. Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) Firms

In many architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) environments, plans are printed in monochrome to save on costs. 

Unfortunately, crucial elements — like electrical, plumbing, and HVAC routes — can blend together without color differentiation, leading to confusion, errors in bids, and costly rework.

KIP printers excel at high-volume, color-accurate output at a fraction of the cost of traditional inkjets. 

By using different colors for each subsystem, redline markups and final plan sets become far clearer. This improves communication among trades, reduces misinterpretation, and helps contractors submit more accurate project bids.

If you’re looking to discover more about multi-roll devices and their benefits, visit our Large Format Printer Solutions page.

3. Organizations Seeking Greater Cost Reduction

Some companies primarily want to lower their ongoing print expenses — whether that’s due to rising ink costs or an uptick in color-coverage needs.

KIP’s toner approach offers a more predictable cost-per-print, especially on color-intensive jobs. 

Firms facing excessive ink usage or ballooning supply expenses often see immediate savings when switching to toner. 

This predictable pricing model helps budget-conscious teams accurately forecast their monthly print expenditures and avoid the frequent cartridge replacements common with inkjets.

KIP’s toner-based approach means more consistent expenditures. Instead of guessing how many ink cartridges you’ll burn through on color-heavy jobs, you pay roughly the same per page.

Why Choose a KIP Large Format Printer over Inkjets?

1. Toner Never Slows Down: Traditional inkjets might slow to a crawl when coverage goes beyond 50% — especially if you’re printing color-intensive renderings. 

KIP printers maintain 6–20 pages per minute no matter how much coverage you’re using. That means no more splitting large jobs into smaller batches.

2. Historically Expensive, Now More Cost-Effective: KIPs used to have a higher price tag compared to standard inkjets. But there has been a big industry shift: the cost of KIPs has come down, while their toner-based approach makes color prints far cheaper than ever before.

Many AEC firms significantly reduce color printing costs with KIP printers, achieving rates as low as $0.20 per square foot, compared to around $1.00 per square foot or more with many inkjets.

3. Perfect for High-Volume Printing: Every KIP model handles 2–4 rolls of media at once and offers built-in scanning. This setup is ideal for firms juggling multiple projects, letting you print technical drawings, color-coded markups, and even foam board or yard signs (with direct-to-board capabilities) from a single device.

How to Test a KIP Large Format Printer Risk-Free

To see how much you could save and how quickly you can print, call us at (800) 491-8785 or fill out our online form to request a personalized KIP demo.

We’ll print your actual plans or designs in real time, so you can see the color accuracy, speed, and cost savings firsthand.

You can ask questions as if you’re standing right in front of the machine. We’ll then mail you the completed prints for review.

It’s a simple, no-pressure way to find out how KIP can transform your printing process — especially if you’re comparing it to an HP DesignJet or older OCE model.