{{unreferenced, date=September 2010
A digital duplicator, also known as a printer-duplicator, is a printing technology designed for high-volume print jobs (100 copies or more). Digital duplicators can provide a reliable and cost efficient alternative to toner-based
copiers
A photocopier (also called copier or copy machine, and formerly Xerox machine, the generic trademark) is a machine that makes copies of documents and other visual images onto paper or plastic film quickly and cheaply. Most modern photocopiers u ...
or
offset printing
Offset printing is a common printing technique in which the inked image is transferred (or "offset") from a plate to a rubber blanket and then to the printing surface. When used in combination with the lithographic process, which is based on t ...
equipment.
The digital duplicator begins by digitally
scanning the original and then transferring it to a master template through a
thermal imaging
Infrared thermography (IRT), thermal video and/or thermal imaging, is a process where a thermal camera captures and creates an image of an object by using infrared radiation emitted from the object in a process, which are examples of infrared i ...
process. Then the master is automatically wrapped around a print cylinder, where the ink is drawn through the perforations in the master creating the print.
Digital duplicators are known for their high speed in comparison to other printing methods. They are able to produce anywhere from 45 to 180 prints per minute, while maintaining a per page cost that can be as low as 1/3 of a cent. They are also considered very reliable because they do not use heat or copier components, such as toner.
Office equipment
Printing devices