By Olivia Cahoon
Part 2 of 2
Architecture, engineering, and construction and geographical information service professionals look to technical printers for effective output that supports their business. The latest technologies are particularly helpful to this segment with in-house printing, copying, and scanning functions that reduce print costs and improve efficiency.
Established in 1955, Denn Engineers is a land survey and civil design firm specializing in residential and commercial surveying including boundary, topographic, ALTA, and AsBuilt surveys in Torrance, CA. The company operates in a 3,500 square foot space with 15 employees and offers subdivision services like tentative maps, final maps, and condominium plans as well as property line disputes, lot line adjustments, legal descriptions, and construction survey, staking, and certifications.
Technical Printing
Since its beginning, Denn Engineers used technical printers to meet technical mapping requirements set by the Los Angeles County and local cities.
It previously employed the Océ TDS320 as its primary printer but transitioned to the Epson SureColor T5200D for its color options, ease of use, and software manipulation, says George Shweiri, owner, Denn Engineers. “The Océ is now used for back-up.”
The Epson SureColor T5200D is a 36-inch printer with double paper rolls for automatic paper loading and automatic media changeover. It uses Epson’s PrecisionCore TFP printheads and outputs an A1 print in 28 seconds.
With this device the company generates field surveys, tract and parcel maps, and topographical and aerial maps for the Los Angeles County and local cities. “80 percent of our output is with the technical printers due to many requirements that must be met in those types of developments,” offers Shweiri.
Denn Engineers also uses the Epson SureColor T3170 and HP DesignJet 800 42-inch model. The SureColor T3170 wireless printer produces A1/D-size documents up to 24 inches wide. Its compact desktop design is ideal for producing blueprints, line drawings, and posters with the ability to print from a roll or the automatic sheet feeder.
“We were immediately impressed with the size of the Epson SureColor T3170 printer—the small, sleek form factor allows us to place it directly on someone’s desk, so it’s readily available for use where we’re working,” comments Shweiri. “The setup was straightforward and quick, and the print quality is sharp—even in draft mode.”
With its digital devices, Denn Engineers typically uses OEM ink. Paper type varies on pricing and specific requests. Most mapping is generated in AutoCAD. According to Shweiri, the company rarely experiences any challenges or limitations with technical printing. “Sometimes a client will request a specific paper size that is not within our dimensions or unusual paper media,” he admits.
Recently, the technical printing market experienced a surge in documents distributed electronically and viewed on tablet computers or provided via online plan rooms. Despite this, Shweiri says the demand for printed versions remains with many companies that specializing in technical printing. “That said, I’ve noticed is that the size of printers are becoming smaller. The cost to print and for the printer itself are becoming less expensive.”
Quick & Cost-Effective Surveys
Denn Engineers typically completes surveys in less than a week, with one day at the site followed by three days in the office. Large projects likely require more time and expediting is also available for completion in a day.
The land surveying firm receives approximately 600 projects a year with 80 percent of its output completed on the Epson SureColor T5200D. “We make every effort to provide our customers with quick, accurate, and cost-effective projects and having them printed in house has lowered time spent on the project as well as the total cost,” comments Shweiri.
Denn Engineers enjoy printing documents in house and having the finished product in hand immediately without the need for finishing or proofing solutions. Because it uses UltraChrome XD inks with its SureColor T5200D, Shweiri says the printed images are vibrant and smudge- and water-resistant.
The ability to scan on the device is also an added value to the firm’s customers. For example, if a client comes in with a set of plans that are torn or damaged, the company easily scans a second set.
Successful Service
To ensure success and profitability, Denn Engineers embraces the latest trends in document printing and scanning with the use of its technical printers. Thanks to multifunctional features like print, copy, and scan with collaboration capabilities, the firm produces its surveys on time and in house. dps
Click here to read part two of this exclusive online series, Surveying Print.
Mar2019, DPS Magazine
