The architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry has been experiencing a technology boom, with the majority of the new technology designed to simplify projects, identify safety measures, and manage and organize on-site requirements. One big advancement that’s beneficial for construction sites is the wide-format printer market. Traditional wide-format printers, or plotters, designed for AEC professionals now offer more compact sizes, affordable pricing, robust features and relocation and installation options at a construction jobsite.
Having an on-site printer provides a variety of benefits to site management, contractors and subcontractors. Now available in 24-inch widths ideal for printing blueprints and line drawings, these printing solutions are inclusive to all levels of workers. There’s a lot of activity on the jobsite, so providing paper documents enables workers on-site to easily follow project plans without needing top-of-the-line mobile devices to download and read PDF documents.
In addition, having a printer on-site keeps subcontractors updated on changing information, provides site- or project-specific blueprints to subcontractors, allows for printed up-to-date project changes and delivers tangible documents for owner signatures and approvals. Workers can also leverage the printer’s scanning capabilities to send new designs, and store and send permits and site inspections to headquarters or network folders immediately to share with off-site management, reducing the chances of misplacing or forgetting important paperwork.
This article outlines three ways every jobsite can benefit from a wide-format printer.
1. On-Site Printing for Incoming Changes
It’s common to receive multiple changes from remote and off-site workers. Whether the project requires a new style cabinet, an additional energy efficient light switch, or an updated measurement, even the smallest change can affect multiple aspects and contractors on a project. It’s important to deliver these changes to the entire team as quickly as possible, but it’s not always easy to alert everyone of a new digital PDF document that they need to download and zoom in on a small screen to locate the change. A printed document allows the entire team access to the project and any changing situations quickly while still being able to see the whole picture, which is much easier on a 24- by 36-inch or larger document than on a mobile device. The on-site printers have the ability to not only print, but also allow on-site staff to scan, share and copy the most up-to-date information to vendors, clients, subcontractors and remote workers.
Project changes are of critical importance for environmental construction projects. Having an on-site printer at a base camp can provide teams with accurate information on changing evacuation routes and safety hazards, should they be needed. These printouts can provide updates on downed trees, powerlines or any environmental dangers that teams need to be aware of before heading on-site for the day, especially as mobile services can be limited in remote job areas. In addition, the printer can serve to print quick signs, geographic information, system maps and additional advisories needed for critical situations, should it be needed.
When looking for a printer that will benefit a variety of construction jobsites, it’s important to find a compact option that will be easy to transport. Today, wide-format, 24-inch printers weigh only about 75 pounds and include a variety of features, including scanning and copying, that will provide significant on-site support to staff and communication with remote workers. Connectivity options like wireless and router-free Wi-Fi Direct printing allows workers to easily print remotely.
2. Personalized Copies, Schedules & On-Site Mark-Ups
With large off-site plotters, it’s easy to bring a few blueprints on-site to reference. However, sharing one document with multiple on-site teams can become confusing and difficult. For multiple subcontractors — such as electricians, plumbers and power companies, it can be difficult to decipher where specific lines are running, and tough to differentiate between a solid, dotted or dashed line on one printed document, especially as they overlap and cross paths to specific outlets and locations.
An on-site printer also allows a lead contractor to keep a job schedule available, so teams can maintain project organization and stay ahead of project statuses, deadlines, expected deliveries, and more. These schedules can be updated daily with handwritten notes and reprinted each day with new project statuses and deadlines as necessary.
This also provides the ability to create an easy document for all contractors and subcontractors to work from together and mark up as needed throughout the day. Having a communal primary document allows team leads to discuss any updates and concerns while overlooking the entire project rather than focusing solely their respective portions.
By having an on-site, wide-format color printer, each subcontractor can receive custom plans with specific lines printed in different colors, making it much easier to read while increasing safety measures and reducing the possibility of mistakes. All workers will have the ability to review a project schedule that can inform them of important inspection days, delivery expectations and deadlines to ensure the project is moving forward. This level of printed detail allows a contractor to keep tangible references and schedules with each individual utility company as the project commences.
3. Scanning to Communicate With Site Owners & Remote Workers
The remote working trend isn’t going to slow down anytime soon. Because it can be rare for all management and partners to be on-site at a project at the same time, the ability to scan and send updates remotely is critical.
These features allow on-site management to communicate efficiently with off-site teams by providing up-to-date revisions, order approvals, timeline adjustments, permits and site inspection notes immediately. In addition, having the ability to scan directly to a network folder allows invoices and commercial permits to be scanned and saved for remote access and safekeeping immediately, reducing the stress and risk of misplacing paperwork vital to the jobsite.
Installing a wide-format printer with capabilities like copying and scanning becomes an essential tool when communicating project updates, storing permits and approvals and timelines. Scanning allows an on-site contractor to keep a digital record of all handwritten notes, measurements and any collaboration notes from the day directly to a network folder or in an email attachment to remote workers.
Furthermore, today’s wide-format printers offer enterprise security features and protocol support for secure PDF printing from computers and scanning of secure PDFs to USB thumb drives and shared folders, without needing a computer, to safeguard sensitive information and ensure documents remain with the appropriate contacts.
In today’s busy environment, the use
of a wide-format printer on-site not
only enables team members to follow
safety guidelines, but also benefits
both tech-savvy managers and trade
workers who may not be accustomed
to downloading and viewing documents on a mobile screen. Furthermore, it provides a valuable way to maintain
and support communication and organization between remote workers, building owners and off-site
management.
