Eazy Taper Splitting

[Gary Birch]

quote Martin Oxenham:

In Australia they said they have not dealt with Peter since 2006.

Strange how I bought mine last August after emailling them through their website I was sold one by Peter.

I too had issues (now resolved) with Eazytaper and their lack of after sales service in the UK.

I may be wide of the mark but it seemed they just didn`t care about the UK market.

I hope that you get it sorted.

Cheers

Gary

[Peter Normington]

Do eazytaper have a distributor in the UK?
I though Jag sold them?
Peter

[Gary Birch]

I`m not sure Peter but when I contacted Eazytaper with my problem they said I should contact the European agent who I bought it from. They knew full well that Peter had given up the agency and i would get no joy going down that route. If Jag have the agency now I cannot see them wanting to sort out old issues for nothing as this could be a full time job in itself. But I may be proved wrong.

As it is my Eazytaper is going great at the minute so I have no problems.

Cheers

Gary

[Martin Oxenham]

If this is the outcome then I would not recommend buying one now !

[Martin Oxenham]

Has anyone else had this problem and are your rollers smooth or rough and are they starting to crack ?

[Bill McMurtry]

My 1500 wide ezytaper is exactly the same now as the day I bought it, I haven’t had any problems with it.

[Shane Drew]

quote Bill McMurtry:

My 1500 wide ezytaper is exactly the same now as the day I bought it, I haven’t had any problems with it.

I have one of the very very first 1500 wide originals, purchased many moons ago , and I have one of the newer 1530 ones, the same model/version that were being supplied to the UK, since early ’07.

No issues with either and both are as good as the day I purchased them. I use the newer one every day, and the older one most days. I also loan the older one out to other sign shops that need to laminate signs on to substrates, so a lot of inexperienced people are using it, and I have still had no issues with a failure.

I know there are some legal issues with the previous UK distributor with claims and counter claims, but in all honesty, they sell like hot cakes here, and I’ve met plenty of aussie sign makers that treat Warrick and Maree with a certain amount of reverence 😉

I don’t know too much about the legal side of things, so would rather not go there, but I do know that a lot of time, effort and expense was put into the UK market by the australian manufacturers, and there is some evidence that, for whatever reason, some in the UK were not as committed to their success as perhaps they made out to be. I know Warrick and Maree would be hurt by the claim that they ‘didn’t care about the UK market’ because I know nothing is further from the truth. I also know there was a concern that machines were being refurbished, instead of being returned to the factory for inspection and/or replacement. Warrick, I know, warned the UK people that he would not honor any warranty for a refurbished machine.

I suggest, with all due respect, that any complaints about after sales service and machine maintenance should be directed to the former UK distributor. They were the ones that signed on for the agency, and with that agency came some responsibilities. Sales and support are the two obvious ones.

It is also worth noting that they were dismissed as agents. I can’t see a successful manufacturer anywhere letting go an agent that was actually an asset to the company.

Ezytaper are releasing a new model here at the Sydney Sign Show in late October, and I’m looking forward to seeing whats new, and may consider updating one of mine as well.

I know they were considering other requests for distributors in Europe, but I’m not sure anything will happen until after the new model is released. Could be wrong though.

[Martin Oxenham]

The UK dealer I bought it from lives in spain and I have spoken to him on so many occasions and he has said he will change it but it never goes any further. I understand what you are saying that the people who make it are very good but I have emailed them with no response. If I bought a Tv from a dealer Which went wrong then the manufacturer would put it right not the dealer.
This machine has had hardly any use and is just coming up to a year old and the rollers are starting to crack up. I Have complained right from the word go that the rollers are not the same as the one that was demonstrated to me.
The one I seen had rollers just like any other laminator and are smooth, but mine are rough and have slight ridges to the touch.
The machine comes from Eazy taper and I don’t think its relevent who it was purchased from. The dealer was their appointed UK agent.
I Have an electric laminator kept in the same room and these rollers are smooth.

[Karen O Hagan]

Whilst we were distributing Ezy Taper at the end of 2007 we did try to change your machine but it was turned away without being taken out of the box.You said that the rollers looked the same a the ones you had.(I am am using this machine at present without problems).I mentioned this to Warrick and he said this was how the rollers were meant to be.Far from being dismissed as distributors we terminated our distribution due to costs we were incurring changing over 40 machines that had roller issues.During the evolution of this machine I encountered many different finishes to the surface quality of the roller but unfortunately could only supply what we were given.The issue of how he roller should be can only be answered or changed be the manufacturer.If I had a machine with the perfectly smooth rollers that you had seen previously before the said design change (for help with gripping of the board) then you would have it now.In the case of the splitting rollers please could you post a picture as I have never come across this problem.
Peter

[Martin Oxenham]

Hi Peter Whilst I agree….Yes the other machine was turned away on two occasions because the rollers were the same as the ones we already have. The machine that was demonstrated to me originally and was displayed at the shows was from Joe at Signcut and his rollers are completely different to ours as you well know. His rollers are smooth just like any other laminator and he is very happy with his machine and fully recomends it.
I am not blaming you personally as I think this is a problem for the suppliers as I have told you before. I understand that you can only send what you have but you have been unrespondent to my requests.
That said I will post pictures of our machine as soon as I can. The rollers ARE starting to split and separate.
I understand what other people are saying around the world that this is an excellent machine but from the way We have been treated I fail to see that.

[Bill McMurtry]

While my ezytaper has always worked flawlessly, as I have already stated, the roller surface is indeed slightly textured. This texture has never presented a problem with anything I’ve laminated or mounted, from poster and vinyl lamination to application of vinyl to riveted A-Frames. I’ve never really had cause to think about the roller surface texture. Certainly there is no hint of the roller rubber splitting on my unit.

Martin, if your ezytaper has given you poor results then I wonder if the actual texture of the rollers has anything to do with that? Perhaps, for whatever reason, you simply have a faulty unit. I wonder if you had not rejected the replacement unit without testing it, based only on the texture of the roller surface, would you still be an unhappy customer? Actual roller texture might have nothing to do with your previous poor results.

Anyway, good luck in resolving your problem, I’m keen to see how it all turns out.

[Martin Oxenham]

Bill the surface is what has given problems from the start. Laminating vinyl onto board is first class but when applying clear laminate to prints it leaves slight lines and a few bubbles, I do not mean general silvering which is inevitable with cold laminate and which disappears normally the next day.

[Bill McMurtry]

Martin, as I have already said I get excellent results applying clear laminate to prints and posters. The surface of my rollers is slightly textured as you describe. Therefore, I suspect there must be more to your issue than roller texture alone – all the more so if your roller rubber is starting to split. Might you be focused on something (roller texture) that isn’t the real problem with your particular unit?

[Peter Normington]

quote Shane Drew:

quote Bill McMurtry:

My 1500 wide ezytaper is exactly the same now as the day I bought it, I haven’t had any problems with it.

I have one of the very very first 1500 wide originals, purchased many moons ago , and I have one of the newer 1530 ones, the same model/version that were being supplied to the UK, since early ’07.

No issues with either and both are as good as the day I purchased them. I use the newer one every day, and the older one most days. I also loan the older one out to other sign shops that need to laminate signs on to substrates, so a lot of inexperienced people are using it, and I have still had no issues with a failure.

I know there are some legal issues with the previous UK distributor with claims and counter claims, but in all honesty, they sell like hot cakes here, and I’ve met plenty of aussie sign makers that treat Warrick and Maree with a certain amount of reverence 😉

I don’t know too much about the legal side of things, so would rather not go there, but I do know that a lot of time, effort and expense was put into the UK market by the australian manufacturers, and there is some evidence that, for whatever reason, some in the UK were not as committed to their success as perhaps they made out to be. I know Warrick and Maree would be hurt by the claim that they ‘didn’t care about the UK market’ because I know nothing is further from the truth. I also know there was a concern that machines were being refurbished, instead of being returned to the factory for inspection and/or replacement. Warrick, I know, warned the UK people that he would not honor any warranty for a refurbished machine.

I suggest, with all due respect, that any complaints about after sales service and machine maintenance should be directed to the former UK distributor. They were the ones that signed on for the agency, and with that agency came some responsibilities. Sales and support are the two obvious ones.

It is also worth noting that they were dismissed as agents. I can’t see a successful manufacturer anywhere letting go an agent that was actually an asset to the company.

Ezytaper are releasing a new model here at the Sydney Sign Show in late October, and I’m looking forward to seeing whats new, and may consider updating one of mine as well.

I know they were considering other requests for distributors in Europe, but I’m not sure anything will happen until after the new model is released. Could be wrong though.

I have to take the side of the dissatisfied customers, its not acceptable to blame an agent or distributor, no matter what the product, the manufacturer/patent holder has the final responsibility for the design and build, Dyson, Nokia, Ford, all back their products, and don’t hide behind an agent or distributor when things go wrong,

I dont have a clue if eazytaper is good or bad, but if one customer complains, then the brand will suffer, eazytaper should resolve any problems to ensure they keep credibility, not pass the buck to "agents"

If roland or mimaki blamed their agents when problems occurred, I doubt if they would stay in business,

Peter

[Bill McMurtry]

Peter, I don’t think anyone is blaming the agent. From what I can gather the agent has already sent out a replacement which was rejected without being unpacked and used, based on Martin’s perception that the roller surface texture is the only problem. I don’t think Martin’s problem is the slightly textured roller surface.

[Shane Drew]

quote Martin Oxenham:

If I bought a Tv from a dealer Which went wrong then the manufacturer would put it right not the dealer.
.

Martin, earlier this year I purchased a Roland take up reel from a reseller. I paid for a brand new one, but suspected it was refurbished. My suspicions were realised when I found ink on some of the components.

Roland had no interest in helping me. They suggested the issue was with the reseller, as they have a dealer nework for that very reason.

After some phone calls, the dealer agreed to fix the situation (replaced it with a new unit) and roland had no involvement in the resolution directly with me. They talked to the dealer I suspect, but not with me. Essentially, I could have told them anything, but they ‘trust’ their representatives to act on their behalf and in good faith.

If the distributor offered you a replacement as you state, (which was, in my opinion the right thing to do) and you rejected it, what else do you expect them, or the manufacturer to do? I’m guessing a replacement was offered after discussions between the distributor and manufacturer?

Manufacturers of anything often upgrade products as they evolve over time. If the rollers are different, then it was probably an improvement. My rollers, like Bills, are slightly textured, and the only time I’ll get a faint line across the laminate, is if I stop in the midst of a process for a period of time. It disappears though.

If your rollers are dirty, like any laminator, they will introduce bubbles in the print too. Been guilty of that myself.

I’m not sure that Peter in Spain, or Warrick in Oz can be held responsible for the fact that you rejected a new replacement, obviously offered in good faith. Peter, in this instance, did the best he could and you rejected the offer. I’m not sure what else you can expect?

I hope you get it sorted though. Its a great machine, and works well.

Take care

[Martin Oxenham]

Ok…so what about the roller splitting ? And also why did Eazytaper say they had not dealt with Peter since 2006, When I bought the machine in 2007

[Karen O Hagan]

Hi Martin
After we tried to change the machine twice we believed you were in discussions with the manufacturer and thought you would get a resolution.
In regards to selling refurbished machines we have only taken good rollers and reassembled offering them at a reduced rate to recoup our losses and made the customer fully aware of thisIn the 5 occasions that this has happened we have fully tested the machine on all materials and he customer as been happy.Even up until last week we were changing machines at our own cost even though they were purchased last year. Apologies Martin but in your case Martin we tried but could not do anymore.

[Martin Oxenham]

So whos going to sort out the splitting rollers ?
If you don’t want to know and the manufacture don’t want to know ?
And in the future what happens when other people get this problem
whos going to help them ?

[Martin Oxenham]

This is the problem.

[Karen O Hagan]

Martin
I have never seen this problem before in any machine.I think there is s no question that it is a warranty issue. if you have no joy with Australia then I can offer the machine originally refused that I am using at present.

[Jason Xuereb]

Looks kinda funny. The splitting on the top and bottom rollers are in the same spot.

[Warren Beard]

Just following this thread with interest and looking at those cracks I was wondering if it is possibly caused by dibond that has been cut with a stanley knife or similar? I cut my dibond with a stanley knife and it leaves raised edges, I wonder if there was something like this happening and causing these cracked lines on the rollers? As Jason pointed out they are in the same place top and bottom.

sorry, just thinking out aloud.

cheers

Warren

[Jason Xuereb]

Is this the 10mm version or the bigger one?

[Shane Drew]

I’ve contacted Ezytaper here Martin, Warrick is travelling around Australia on a promotional tour at the moment.

Personally I’ve never seen this issue… ever.. I’m of the same opinion of Jason that something seems to have cut it. As has been observed, the uniform cuts are mirrored on both rollers which would indicate its more than a random crack..

If it has been cut, it will not be a warranty I guess.

Interesting problem….. 😕

[Martin Oxenham]

Thank you Peter.
Warren yes we have used it with Dibond but we cut that on a saw and sand the edges. The only other things that have gone through it are Foamex, Magnetic and Vinyl.
These lines are not like cut lines but are the machine cracking up.

[Shane Drew]

Just a thought Martin, have you cleaned the rollers with a solvent?

[Martin Oxenham]

I have only cleaned the rollers with meths.

[Kevin Flowers]

The fact that the cracks are mirrored need not be anything to do with being cut but more that the rollers crack under the pressure of the edge of the board thats put through. I have had 2 ezy tapers an early one with smooth rollers which was set up by Warrick at my place but after some use went on to shred the Rollers on the bolt heads. This was changed by Peter as far as i am aware against Warricks wishes even though as you used it, shreds of rubber were drawn by the static under the vinyl that was being mounted. The 2nd unit is the slightly wider unit with the rougher rollers it is totally different to use and this was expressed to Peter who asked me to relay that information to Warrick which i did by email but never ever got any response. I do not use my taper for laminating because the results are just not acceptable but i’m lucky in having a laminator. I do use it for mounting on board & do sometimes have the odd issue with stray bubbles but nothing as serious as Martins problems.It does make working on my own quick & easy.
I do have some issues with using thick boards in the taper as i have mentioned before & i know people use wedges etc but the machine was sold as a tool for mounting & laminating without adjustment on to boards upto 12mm, 10mm boards caused the bolt securing the handle to sheer. All that said i would not be without my Taper as working on my own it allows me to carry out mounting jobs without to much effort.

I can understand Martin turning away machines which are designed the same as what he has & that design issue being the issue that is causing his problems. Smooth to rough rollers is a major difference and looking at Martins pictures i know i would not wanting to put out laminated work like that.

Hope you get it resolved Martin.

Kev

[Gavin MacMillan]

I had the same problem with 10mm foam sheering the head of the screw and it took a long time to get a new handle sorted, eventually having to get in touch with Australia. Unfortunately it did the same thing straight away, I’ve not bothered complaining about this because what’s the point in getting another part that’s not up to the job sent half way across the world. When I get a minute I’ll sort it myself

The rollers look knackered, no question about that. The lamination though, is it still like that after a few hours. Black shows up silvering worse than any other colour and when I first laminated a piece of black I was very disappointed but when I checked it after a couple of days it was fine.

[Martin Oxenham]

Thank you Kevin…At last someone who understands.
Luckily We also have a Seal heat assisted laminator but its a bit old and sometimes plays up. When its loaded with laminate you want to use it til the roll runs out, and not change it for different sizes. We now plan to replace this when we find which machine is the most suitable to buy.
Thats why we bought the Ezytaper so we can use different size films and just laminate short pieces when required and mount prints to boards I Hoped this would do away with the need for the Seal but the quality of laminating as shown from the picture is not acceptable. Yes the silvering goes after a while but we still get bubbles in those lines. This is the 1500 Model.
The cracks in the picture are more prominent at the end that gets the least use opposite end to the handle.

[Bill McMurtry]

Martin, it would seem from your picture that there is a fault with your roller rubber. It appears that the rubber has split where the edges of thick board has passed through them. If the rubber was cut by a blade edge then the crack lines would be seen as clean, straight cuts. The cracks in your rollers look like splits, not cuts. It’s pretty obvious from the pic that the unit would be useless for any decent quality laminating. Considering that the eazytaper is designed to accept thick boards with sharp edges (clean cut acrylic has a very sharp edge, I have the scars to prove it!), and I doubt that cleaning with meths should be an issue, I would guess that you have a warranty claim.

[Martin Oxenham]

Still no response from my Email to the manufacturers !

[Pauly]

Martin,

This has absolutely nothing to do with me and I’d rather not get involved. But I had a chat to a gentleman in the know just a few days ago and after speaking with him, I am confident this will all be TOTALLY resolved in the very near future, and only hasn’t been already because of various issues that needed to be solved over there beforehand.

I know it might be asking a bit much to wait a little longer, but I have full confidence that you will be looked after very soon.

If the people from Ezy Taper here in Australia had been looking after those account, I can fairly safely assure you that there would be nothing but happy customers over there. Unfortunately they have not been.

[Martin Oxenham]

Thanks for that Pauly, I have now had an Email from Eazy taper saying they have seen the photos and will look into it.