Key Takeaways
- Streamline your print-on-demand operations by selecting printers with built-in finishing for a competitive edge.
- Evaluate printers based on specific inline finishing features like trimming, folding, or laminating to match your production needs.
- Enhance marketing materials and business documents efficiently using printers that combine printing and finishing steps.
- Discover advanced printers offering unique features like 10-color printing or cold lamination directly inline.
Built-in finishing equipment is essential for print-on-demand (POD) applications, whether you need marketing materials or business cards.
It is not a question of whether or not you should get one, but of which one you should get. Your choice impacts everything from print speed to graphic quality. What printers have the best inline finishing options for POD?
The Importance of Inline Finishing For E-Commerce
Many e-commerce professionals operate almost exclusively online. However, printers are still essential to operations because they often send physical administrative documents, laminate packaging instructions for employees, market their small business with flyers or include promotional stickers inside packages.
While countless companies operating on the POD model exist, using them would mean paying more for supplies and services. This may be a strategic business decision for larger companies that want to streamline operations. However, investing in printing technology is generally more cost-effective, despite the relatively high upfront cost.
A standard off-the-shelf model may be insufficient since it will only print graphics. With inline finishing options, e-commerce professionals can use stapling, folding, trimming, binding, hole punching, stacking, coating and lamination to elevate their postcards, business cards and marketing materials.
7 Printers With the Best Inline Finishing Options
Deciding between the printers that have the best inline finishing options for POD can be challenging because there are so many specifications to consider. This detailed comparison of the best-in-class options can help you narrow your selection.
1. Fujifilm Revoria Press PC1120
The Revoria Press PC1120 from Fujifilm is a digital toner press capable of full-color printing. Thanks to its advanced print engine, you can print in 10 colors, including pink, gold, silver, white and clear — the largest CMYK color gamut available — in a single pass. No more waiting for multiple passes or swapping colors between stations.
Fujifilm’s cutting-edge vertical cavity surface-emitting laser simultaneously deploys multiple laser beams for high-resolution printing, achieving 1200 by 1200 dots per inch (dpi). These printers have the best inline finishing options for POD. The technology stands out because it can produce vibrant, precise images without sacrificing speed. It has a minimum capacity of 2,000 pages and an output of up to 120 pages per minute (ppm).
Sheet size specifications extend from 98 by 148 millimeters to 330 by 1,200 millimeters. The weight range is just as versatile, spanning from 52 to 400 grams per square meter (gsm). This broad scope allows you to print everything from postcards to posters.
The Revoria Press PC1120 has numerous inline finishing options, including full bleed, trimming, folding and creasing. If your needs are more niche, you can connect third-party finishers. There is even a built-in inline sensor that enables fast settings adjustments, improving productivity and reducing downtime.
2. Canon varioPRINT iX3200
The Canon varioPRINT iX3200 is a full-color sheetfed inkjet press. It can handle coated, uncoated and specialty paper. This enormous machine can print up to 320 ppm at a 1200 by 1200 dpi resolution. Its 23,400 capacity ensures you will go weeks — if not months — between tray refills.
This printer can withstand anywhere from 60 to 350 gsm, depending on whether the paper is coated or uncoated. The minimum sheet size is 203 by 208 millimeters, while the maximum is 356 by 508 millimeters.
Recently, Canon partnered with VistaPrint to integrate the Plockmatic DigiCoater Pro 400 — a bespoke inline finishing solution for high-definition light-emitting diode (LED) coating. Since this machine has a document finishing device and a smart feedback device interface, you can seamlessly connect alternative third-party equipment.
3. Konica Minolta AccurioPress C7100
A 3600 x 2400 dpi resolution makes Konica Minolta’s AccurioPress C7100 one of the most detailed printers on the market. Its full-bleed CMYK process ensures you get color-rich prints every time. Despite having such a high dpi, it still achieves 100 ppm.
The 738.5-pound AccurioPress C7100 has a 31.5-inch width, 44.8-inch depth and 59.19-inch height. Its massive size gives it a 15,140-page capacity and versatile feeding options. Its minimum size is 8.27 x 8.27 inches, while its maximum is 13 by 35.4 inches. Moreover, it can withstand anywhere from 52 to 400 gsm, which is ideal for POD.
There are several inline trimming and finishing options available to you. You can bind, stitch, hole punch or fold. The Intelligent Quality Optimizer IQ-501 automatically inspects print quality, correcting issues when they appear to ensure your color is consistent — no need to recalibrate midrun. With optional add-on units, you can crease, perforate and trim the final product to produce full-bleed business cards, book jackets or coupons.
4. Sharp MX-M1056
Sharp’s MX-M1056 is a light production print system that produces high-quality black and white images. It has a 1200 by 1200 dpi resolution and a 105 ppm. While its 300-page capacity is much less than that of the larger printers on this list, it makes up for that restriction by accepting a broad range of dimensions.
At minimum, the tray can fit a 5.83 by 8.27-inch paper. The maximum is 17.72 by 12.6 inches. The weight range is just as versatile, covering 51 to 300 gsm. Whether you want to use standard A4 paper or thick cardstock, you can.
Sharp leverages GBC and Plockmatic equipment to offer extensive inline finishing options like hole punching, booklet making and trimming. These modules are compatible with the commercial printing paper SRA3.
The MX-M1056 has a large 15.4-inch digital control panel. It helps reduce errors and improve productivity by simplifying settings adjustments and job edits. The screen swivels, tilts and swings out, so you and your co-workers can collaborate more easily.
5. EFi VUTEk Q3r
Electronics for Imaging developed the EFI VUTEk Q3r — a roll-to-roll LED printer that uses inkjet technology to achieve a 1200 x 1200 dpi resolution. It can print in 9 colors. However, while it comes with CMYK, white, clear coat and the light chromatic inks are optional. This broad range is ideal for POD applications in marketing.
EFI’s VUTEk Q3r has several unique inline finishing options. Aside from trimming and coating, it offers a built-in vision system that automatically monitors print quality. If it identifies print imperfections, it alerts you in real time. Additionally, this printer has roll-and-tape equipment that rolls printed sheets into scrolls and tapes the edges. The labels have job information on them, which simplifies storage and retrieval.
The roll-and-tape system is unlike most other finishing options on the market. Instead of handling the job manually, you can aggregate every process into a single end-to-end system. Also, you save money and floor space since you do not need another machine.
6. Xerox Graphic Whizard PT 335SCC
The Xerox PT 335SCC Multi is a full-bleed offline digital finisher that cuts, trims, creases and perforates in a single pass. Unlike the other options on this list, it does not print. It is technically a separate device. You must integrate this purpose-built add-on into a compatible Xerox printer. While it best fits mid to high-level POD solutions, it was designed to align with all production levels.
This machine can perforate 12, 24 and 50 teeth per inch. Also, it can crease up or down. Since it has six slitters with variable gutters, you can make extensive margin adjustments. The built-in vision system automatically detects bar codes, enabling it to recognize jobs. You can use the printer’s 9-inch touchscreen to create and edit jobs. It can remember up to 64 custom printing specifications, adjusting trim size and perforation count as needed.
Xerox’s Graphic Whizard PT 335SCC has a 25 ppm, which is relatively slow compared to the other best inline finishing options for POD. However, it does not just trim or hole punch — it does up to four jobs simultaneously. Even though it may seem like it takes longer, you are saving time by condensing operations to one unit.
7. Konica Minolta GBC CL-401
In March 2025, Konica Minolta announced the release of the GBC CL-401 for the AccurioPress series, developed in partnership with the General Binding Corporation. This cutting-edge inliner finisher for cut-sheet lamination is the first of its kind. It begins immediately after the print process without impacting productivity, maintaining up to 136 ppm.
Currently, lamination is a separate, time-consuming offline process. The GBC CL-401 has changed that by using an innovative cold lamination process. In addition to saving time by automating manual tasks, it eliminates warm up times. This machine can cut and laminate up to 120 ppm at the press of a button.
Thanks to the cold lamination process, you can laminate one or both sides. This feature is ideal for decals, coupons, business cards and stickers. When integrated into the AccurioPress 6136P MICR, sizing spans from 3.74 by 5.25 inches to 12.76 by 19.02 inches. You also get a 3,000-sheet capacity, a 350 gsm weight limit and a 1200 x 1200 dpi resolution.
Use the interactive liquid-crystal display panel to quickly set up your finishing parameters, saving you time. The machine automatically detects lamination types and sizes, so you do not have to worry about entering that data.
Which of These Best-in-Class Options Will You Choose?
Now that you understand why these printers have the best inline finishing options for POD, you need to make a decision. Remember, the most expensive option is not always the best. If you are a small business owner, you may not need machines that weigh hundreds of pounds and hold tens of thousands of pages. Consider your decision carefully.
