Buying new printer tomorrow… final thoughts please :)

[Jason Xuereb]

Having a print and cut and a print only machine with two plotters I wouldn’t base my decision solely on a print and cut versus print only.

I’d look at the print quality, print speeds, ink costs, service backup.

These are probably the most important.

Even though you can cut with your summa small print and cut jobs would be easier on a print and cut machine.

I know you do a lot of vehicle graphics so if your laminating your prints and need to cut them then this consideration goes out the window.

I’m assuming your summa has an optical registration system. If it doesn’t go with the sp540i.

If your going to be doing printed vehicle graphics you will need to laminate them. So if its a matter of price also factor in the cost of a laminator very soon.

I’ve had three rolands in 2 years and they’ve been great machines. First one was a SP540 and we printed a lot of wraps off it and a lot of other things too. It performed very well for the price.

[Kevin Flowers]

Ben
go for the Roland,

Kev

[Robert Lambie]

I would go with the Roland, Ben…
We have had a second one installed in our place for some months now and its brilliant. much bigger than our Grenadier which is a Roland Soljet print and cut. but still… the new versaworks software is great and very easy to use. ive always argued the bit out on print and cut combined in one machine. i honestly would buy the same again if in same position…
i was at the roland roadshow a couple of weeks ago and their new kit is very impressive…
it appears to me that Rolands printers have the long tried and tested track record behind their machines and each year they seem to be fine tuning by simplifying and bettering parts of the machine, increasing the print speeds and making the software a breeze to work.
im seriously kicking myself my roland print and cut machine is too old to run the new versaworks or i would be using it on that too… because versaworks can run about 6 different printers at one time from one computer.
anyway, im waffling here as always… 😕 😳

[John Thomson]

I’d go with the Roland………..

john

[Jason Xuereb]

quote Robert Lambie:

I would go with the Roland, Ben…
We have had a second one installed in our place for some months now and its brilliant. much bigger than our Grenadier which is a Roland Soljet print and cut. but still… the new versaworks software is great and very easy to use. ive always argued the bit out on print and cut combined in one machine. i honestly would buy the same again if in same position…
i was at the roland roadshow a couple of weeks ago and their new kit is very impressive…
it appears to me that Rolands printers have the long tried and tested track record behind their machines and each year they seem to be fine tuning by simplifying and bettering parts of the machine, increasing the print speeds and making the software a breeze to work.
im seriously kicking myself my roland print and cut machine is too old to run the new versaworks or i would be using it on that too… because versaworks can run about 6 different printers at one time from one computer.
anyway, im waffling here as always… 😕 😳

You’d want one big monitor running 6 machines off one rip 😛 I think I need a 24" wide screen.

[Ben Hansen]

Thank you all for the replies!!! im Chuffed with your answers :lol1: I will take your advice and now sleep welll.. i will be taking my first step on the printing world and ordering it tomorrow, going to see if i can get a deal on a laminator also.. heated or cold? any advice again.. 😛 dont want to spend a fortune but i guess il get what i pay for. Anything good around the 2k mark?

[Jason Xuereb]

Ben not sure on pricing but you only need cold for wrap laminates and most stuff we use.

[David Rowland]

roland (or mimaki 😉 )

[Martin Oxenham]

Go for a basic laminator with a heated top roller. I Know people say you don’t need it for wraps etc but if you have it you will never have a problem with silvering or spots and bubbles. Every job will come out smooth and perfect ( once you get used to it ). It really is worth the extra money.

[Scott.Evans]

Hi ben
I was at the spandex show yesterday to, never seen ya, didn’t arrive till late tho.

I would go with the roland
Ive Had my vp540 nearly 2 years now and i don’t know how i use to manage without it grate machine. before you buy you could take a quick trip up to walsall to Rolands display room.

I have a easymount laminater (cold). good bit of kit only down fall i can think of is when mounting prints to boards( print can bubble on some boards)

neways best of luck with youre purchase

😀

[Mike Fear]

Would definitely second the opinions on here – have run roland hardware since I started doing this, both PNC and CX cutters and an SP300V and they do seem to be well built, reliable, and on the one occasion I have had a problem with the versacamm their support and repairing was spot on.

One consideration people often overlook is that if you are buying a machine, it needs to pay for itself over and over to make the investment worthwhile.

Any downtime, as well as being really annoying, can lead to lost income, so you want to pay for the best quality machinery you can afford and have it running as much as needed without breaking down, not performing properly etc…

With a new Roland you should get the 1 year free warranty, but I would also suggest taking out one of their warranties after this runs out as having the peace of mind that if your machine stops working you can get it fixed asap is well worth the money.

[Gary Birch]

Roland fan here too. Mine is just over 3 years old now and apart from a hiccup I had which turned out to be a problem on the pc running it I have had no trouble at all.

I have used Roland technical on the phone several times since it came out of warranty and found the service to be first class. Even got follow up calls once the problem was sorted.

Good luck but I doubt you’ll need it!!

Cheers

Gary

[Jon Marshall]

Get a JV33 🙂 2 years warranty and better build quality than a Roland. Try and get a deal for a printer + cutter + laminator.

[Steve McAdie]

Another vote here for Roland and also I seem to remember a member having some trouble with a valuejet from Spandex.
Here’s that thread
http://www.uksignboards.com/viewtopic.p … highlight=

Steve

[Gavin.Williamson]

Hi new to printing too but just bought a New Roland sp540i it should be here wed 2nd i looked at the Mimaki and the Roland and the roland seemed to be the best all round package, comes with 2 sets of ink loads of media and a roland course, also got a cold laminator coming, cost and support seems to be good too Good Luck making final decision ..
good deal too from malcome at signmaster…

[Jason Davies]

We have both Roland and Mutoh, I would buy the Roland over the Mutoh anytime. Hope that helps.

[Peter Normington]

quote Mike Fear:

Would definitely second the opinions on here – have run roland hardware since I started doing this, both PNC and CX cutters and an SP300V and they do seem to be well built, reliable, and on the one occasion I have had a problem with the versacamm their support and repairing was spot on.

One consideration people often overlook is that if you are buying a machine, it needs to pay for itself over and over to make the investment worthwhile.

Any downtime, as well as being really annoying, can lead to lost income, so you want to pay for the best quality machinery you can afford and have it running as much as needed without breaking down, not performing properly etc…

With a new Roland you should get the 1 year free warranty, but I would also suggest taking out one of their warranties after this runs out as having the peace of mind that if your machine stops working you can get it fixed asap is well worth the money.

but mimaki give a free 2 year warranty 😀

Peter

[Gavin.Williamson]

Its a 2 year gold warranty too, I did get a 2 year warranty with the Roland 1st year is gold and second year is silver, i think Roland put that deal on, Think it runs til end of November….

[Mike Fear]

Mine may have been just the 1 year as it was an ex-demo machine I bought from them.

[Chris Rundle]

ive just bought a sp540i too, my sp300v is on its way out but couldnt resist the offer!!