Online classes and long-distance learning have exploded in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, most students still attend classes in person and spend the bulk of their university years on campus.
One of the most important on-campus departments is the university print center. This is where students can use the campus printer to print syllabi, assignments, and digital reading materials. These centers also provide an array of other specialized marketing services, including posters, architectural drawings, visual aids, and other types of
printing that students rely on to complete their coursework.
While university print centers are vital components of the modern university campus, they’re often overlooked. Despite their low profile, these centers are at the heart of student life. These locations allow students to:
- Print course materials and assignments
- Design eye-catching marketing materials for campus events and student clubs
- Create professional-grade final projects and theses
- Transform architectural and other design projects into reality
Common Printing Challenges in Universities
The modern university print center deals with a variety of challenges that are unique to college campuses. These include:
- Managing thousands of faculty and student users
- Maintaining accurate print-for-pay systems
- Providing a wide format printer for education
- Ensuring data privacy and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive information
- Reducing waste and the environmental impact of large-scale printing
- Minimizing hardware, paper, ink, and other printing costs
In particular, finding an efficient wide-format printer for education can be challenging. These high-end machines are capable of printing documents between 18 and 100 inches wide.
Many businesses and most home users will never need one of these devices. However, university students in engineering, architecture, graphic design, photography, marketing, and other specialized degree programs typically need these printers to complete course requirements.
Universities also need a printer system that’s capable of handling complex print-for-pay systems and thousands of users at the same time. Only the best campus printers can keep up with this heavy demand, while simultaneously reducing acquisition cost, cost per copy, and waste.
Finally, campus printers must come with robust data security. Students are not only printing weekly assignments and syllabi. Many students and faculty rely on these
wireless printers to handle financial aid documentation, personal health information, intellectual property, and other sensitive information that must be secured against prying eyes.
Overcoming all of these challenges is a huge task. But our DesignJet campus printers are up to the challenge.
Introducing HP DesignJet Printers for Higher Education
HP DesignJet printers for students are the country's most trusted campus printers for large universities. The line is designed to address the unique needs of the modern university print center.
Each of these devices comes with an intuitive user interface and simple workflows that dramatically reduce the number of customer service tickets. They can be used for simple document printing, or for complex design projects that require a wide format printer for education.
We also incorporate energy efficiency and eco-friendly materials into each model. This design helps universities meet their sustainability goals at no additional cost. Finally, all of our campus printers are secure by design and protect sensitive data from bad actors - keeping your students safe and the university's reputation intact.
Best HP DesignJet Printers for University Print Centers
Our HP DesignJet printers are a best-in-class solution for campus printing. These devices help departmental leaders and IT directors meet the diverse needs of their staff and students, without exceeding their budget or sacrificing critical features.
Each of these devices is a great campus printer option for small and large universities alike. These printers can help you overcome pressing challenges, save money, reduce waste, and meet student needs with a single device.
HP DesignJet T850 36 Inch
The
HP DesignJet T850 is a high-performance campus printer that is perfect for smaller universities and individual departments. It boasts numerous features that streamline campus printing and meet student demands for a user-friendly office printer.
Key Features and Benefits
- Prints up to 90 pages per hour
- Uses TIFF, JPEG, URF, HP-GL/2, HP-RTL, and CALS G4 formats
- 1GB of standard memory
- Compatible with sheet feed, roll feed, media bin, or input tray feeders
- Supports up to 36” x 66” paper sizes
HP DesignJet Z6 (24 Inch & 44 Inch models)
The HP DesignJet Z6 comes in both
24-inch and
44-inch models. The 24-inch model is perfect for individual departments searching for a high-quality printer for their students and staff. The 44-inch model is a better option for large university print centers that require a more robust printer. It is capable of producing wide format marketing materials, high-resolution diagrams, and other eye-catching visuals.
Key Features and Benefits
- Prints up to 866 square feet of paper per hour on plain media
- Uses Adobe PostScript 3, Adobe PDF 1.7, TIFF, JPEG, CALS G4, HP-GL/2, and HP-RTL formats
- Equipped with the HP Thermal Inkjet 6 ink system for high gloss campaigns
- Contains a 500GB self-encrypting hard drive for cyber security
- Comes with dynamic security features for data privacy
HP DesignJet Z9+ 44 Inch
The
HP DesignJet Z9+ 44-inch is one of our most popular DesignJet printers for students and university print centers. It comes with many of the premium features found in our Z6/Z9+ Pro 64-inch series but at half the cost. It’s a perfect solution for administrators who want to provide high-quality printing options for their students without exceeding their budgets.
Key Features and Benefits
- Handles roll feed, rear sheet feed, media output bin, and automatic horizontal cutter options
- Perfect for photographs, fine art printing, self-adhesive paper, banners, signs, and backlit media
- Made of 30% post-consumer recycled plastic for a reduced environmental impact
- Supports media sizes up to 44” x 66”, as well as standard media sizes (A4, A3, A2, A1, A0)
- Contains 126GB virtual memory and 500GB self-encrypting hard disk
HP DesignJet Z6/Z9+ Pro 64 Inch
The
HP DesignJet Z6 Pro 64-inch printer is our top-of-the-line campus printer. This premium option can handle any printing need you throw its way. It comes equipped with an Access Control List to restrict use to approved users. The Z6 Pro 64 inch also has fine detail output that’s required for professional-grade projects in fields like architecture, fashion and graphic design, and urban planning.
Key Features and Benefits
- Prints up to 10 1,055 square feet of paper per hour on plain media
- Comes with HP’s Thermal Inkjet printing technology to replicate studio quality
- Supports TIFF, JPEG, CALS G4, HP-GL/2, and HP-TRL formats
- Contains 86GB of file processing memory and a 500GB self-encrypting hard drive
- Incredible line accuracy of plus or minus 0.1% for detailed drawings and schematics
Key Benefits of HP DesignJet Printers for Universities
HP DesignJet printers are the premier choice for a university print center. They come equipped with a seamless workflow and HP Click, which is designed for novice users like university students. Beginner users can easily print, scan, fax, and copy documents with the click of a button.
The line’s extended warranty gives administrators confidence in their decision. Plus our extended coverage under the HP Care Pack plan comes with 24/7 support, theft and accident protection, and a money-back guarantee.
DesignJet printers are built with security as a top priority. This includes data privacy protections that ensure sensitive documents can’t be viewed by prying eyes. Each campus printer also has sustainability built into the hardware from the ground up, reducing waste and saving money.
How HP DesignJet Printers Solve University Printing Challenges
HP DesignJet printers are the best option for the modern university print center. They address all of the main challenges associated with campus printers. Each wide format printer for education can meet the needs of engineering, architecture, liberal arts, and business programs.
These devices also reduce costs and eliminate the need for multiple printers for each department.
The DesignJet printer for students can also seamlessly manage tens of thousands of users without human supervision, even when each student has their own university print card.
Finally, these printers are incredibly cost-effective and are built with sustainability in mind.
Conclusion
Our line of DesignJet printers is the perfect complement for a university print center. Each device discussed today can produce high-quality outputs and wide format printing at a fraction of the cost of competing printers. They’re also incredibly user-friendly, allowing students to get started on day one without training or supervision.
We’ve built every device with security in mind. This security focus ensures every document stays safe from prying eyes and that personal data remains secure. Whatever your unique printing needs may be, HP’s line of campus printers can help you solve student and staff needs without breaking the budget.
Contact HP today to transform your university print center with a state-of-the-art campus printer. Learn how our DesignJet line is capable of solving your most pressing challenges and addressing wide-ranging student needs.