Compatible ink question again!!

[Jason Davies]

I just couldn’t bring myself to use third party inks.

Good luck.

[Stephen Ingham]

Hi Jason, i have been tempted on a number of occassions but if im honest a little scared in case it caused any damage to my machine…

cheers
stephen

[Luke s Bremner]

I have used Mike at Colour mill before. Very good service. The inks are just as good as originals. You need to make sure you use the mutoh or roland matched inks if your like me using a mimaki you will need to reprofile. I used these for a short time wile I had a shortage of 2 colours and I needed it fast so I called up mike and got the work out. Cost saving is massive compared to originals I get more then 1ltr of ink for the cost of 1 440ml cartridge and my heads dont block up when left turned off for long periods.
I also bought bulk ink cartridges and permanent chips.

Luke.

[Jason Davies]

I was reading the independent roland repairers based in swansea website the other day and they believe that 3rd party inks will significantly lower the life of the print heads.
Not worth it.

Jason

[Luke s Bremner]

Thats what roland should say, the print heads they use are the same as mutoh and mimaki but they cost more. The ink is one of the most expensive as well. If every cartridge you buy is half the price or less then roland or make it even cheaper for your self and use permanent chips and refill cartridges if buy chance you have to replace a head once a year the cost saving will more then pay for a full set of heads. You need to make sure you are still using quality inks even though they are 3rd party.

[Jason Davies]

Hi Luke, I agree Roland would say that, however these guys have no affiliation to Roland other than being made redundant (I assume) when they moved from Swansea to Bristol.
I would also not see a need to change a head every 12 months we normally work on a 7-10 year cycle by which time the printer ha been replaced.

[Stephen Ingham]

thanks for the replys guys.

its better if you have some reference to someone who has experienced the particular 3rd party ink…and they are happy with it.

cheers
stephen

[Kevin Flowers]

Stephen
this doesn’t help you but it is down to personal preference. I use Lyson 2000 series ink now and previously ITL inks. The ITL ink was fine for 2 years then all of a sudden problems, changed to their newer ink and that didn’t work for me either. Swapped to the Lyson at £65.00 per litre and have not looked back for over a year now. However i will say i know my machine, i repair my machine so if it goes wrong then it only costs parts. Firmware plays a big part as well because Roland are matching ink & firmware but 3rd party inks are normally matched to a particular firmware & things can suddenly change if you update your printer. Has too heads needing changing sooner i can only say i have had no problems apart from when ITL changed & they supplied two replacement heads with out argument. Roland only state a 6 billion shot count for these heads & harsher solvents probably do take there toll on them but there are plenty of Ecosolvent 3 rd party inks on the market which have no more reason to damage the heads anymore than the Roland inks. Roland max inks where developed to stop people changing to 3rd party solvent inks (era of Uniform/ B&P) and the question is would this have happened as quick if it had not been for the 3rd party ink companies stealing so much ink business from the print manufacturers.

Kev

Kev