For most copiers and MFPs, output speed is directly related to duty cycle, hardware costs, and operating costs. Higher speed toner-based copiers can handle much heavier volume, but hardware acquisition costs increase proportionately. The trade-off is that high-speed copiers usually have a lower operating cost than slower copiers. For example, one copier manufacturer offers a 45-ppm color copier with a $21,000 purchase price and an operating cost of about eight cents per color page. The same company offers a 65-ppm color copier with a $45,000 purchase price and an operating cost of about six cents per color page. Here higher speed costs more upfront but costs less to operate.

Digital duplicators and high-speed inkjet printers are different. Higher speed doesn’t directly relate to variations in operating costs. Most all digital duplicator models can print 120 or 130 pages per minute, with some printing up to 180 ppm, and the operating costs all hover at around a half-cent for each highlight-color impression. Hardware costs of higher-speed models due tend to cost more, but you are mostly paying for value-added features like paper size, paper capacity, connectivity, higher image resolution, and other functions.

So with RISO duplicators and high-speed inkjet printers, high speed doesn't cost you more than slow speed. So why not get all the print speed you need?