Gerber Edge and window cling

[Jason Davies]

Hi Saph, we tend to flood coat the whole background, however it depends what your client wants, sometimes you have to do this twice, you could just use the white self cling just be careful as it won’t cling where you have printed.

BE CAREFUL with self cling from any other company but Spandex, this is the only product we buy from Spandex now.

Regards
Jason

[Saph-D]

Hi Jason,

Thanks a lot for your reply.

We’ll have to bite the bullet and buy from them then, I was VERY put off by their attitude one time. Insisting we had to open a sales account before asking for or getting service help for the Edge.

Then telling us we’d have to wait ten days for this to be done, despite repeatedly telling them we didn’t want a sales credit account – partly out of principle – why should they do a credit check on a company that is wanting pro forma service ?

We’ve found PrintOne to be really helpful, friendly and willing to offer advice when they could which is why we return to them.

Thanks again,

Saph

[Jason Davies]

Completely agree with you, we have not opened an account with them and just pay for the material when we order it.

Perhaps their attitude will change in this current financial climate??

One of the guys on here bought an FX from them specifically to print self cling and the machine was exchanged a number of times because it would not feed the material through correctly, its temperamental stuff at the best of times.

Print One are brilliant, you can’t go wrong with their service etc and the self cling is probably okay but don’t get too frustrated if it doesn’t work.

Good Luck

Jason

[Martin Armitage]

Hi Saph, we never really had too much of a problem printing onto self cling, but we did try and get as few colours as we could and would also do the runs in short amounts, you also need to make sure that select the correct profile for self cling. We had more of a problem running through the gs15 plus, I would have to stand with a hand on either side of the machine keeping tension on the vinyl both sides to stop it fouling. i think colours can look a bit washed out printed onto clear without a white overprint.
mart.

[Shaun Harris]

quote Jason Davies:

BE CAREFUL with self cling from any other company but Spandex, this is the only product we buy from Spandex now.

Regards
Jason

Why is this Jason?

I only ask as I bought some self cling from Metamark last week, it seems to of worked fine. What are the inherent problems that exist and what should I look out for?

[John Cooper]

Interesting thread – anything Gerber is interesting for me 😀

I rang Printone last week to order some cling – they told me their’s was not very good so I went to Spandex.

The only reason I want an account with Spandex is so I can get the discounts. I don’t want credit as I pay when I order. No problem, forms emailed to me, completed and emailed back – ALL DONE.

I’ve read about Soandex poor service but I must speak as I find and to be honest, they’ve been ‘spot on’ so far.

Cheers

John

[Shaun Harris]

Morning John.

Did you say on another thread that you were going on a training course at Spandex for the Edge?

If so have you been yet? Was it worth while? and how much was it?

[John Cooper]

Hi Shaun

Yes it was me who mentioned training.

I contacted Spandex about some of the consumables they sell for the Gerber and we started discussing the Gerber potential. I asked if my partner and I could travel to Bristol (not to far for us) to purchase some consumables and also see what items the Gerber can produce. I also asked if it was possible to have a demo too.

The upshot was that we arranged a date which they subsequently canceled as their ‘trainer’ wouldn’t be available on the date chosen.

I guess looking at it from their prospective, what’s in it for them? I already have the FX and cutter and I do purchase consumables from cheaper sources.

I guess the only way they could gain is if:

1. We purchased consumables from them.
2. We purchase new equipment from them.

I’ve heard nothing from them since.

John

[Karl Williams]

It’s alright Spandex taking a negative attitude but if they had any sense at all they’d use the opportunity to get you on board and buying.

[Shaun Harris]

Correct Karl

And also bring there prices into line. That said I don’t know how much they sell there foils for.

In defence of Spandex in February/March time I went to there open day and they were very helpful. And I know it was sales based but I did learn alot.

[Martin Armitage]

The last time i used spandex for edge foils they were twice as expensive as third party. The training days i went for was payed for by us, two days on the edge and omega, two days on photoshop
Mart.

[John Cooper]

You’re right Karl,

If it was my business, I’d follow up all potential leads. Anyone whose ever been involved in selling will know the value of a ‘hot’ lead. Perhaps Spandex have it to good just now.

Foils from Spandex are about £70 for a spot colour. PrintOne are £39 for a refill.

When you buy a spot from Spandex, do you get the caddy too? I’ve had to buy a caddy from Spandex each time I’ve bought a refill foil from PrintOne. A caddy costs about £20.

Of course, when I start using my foils, I’ll just have to buy the refill.

As I’ve said previously, although I’ve only spent a couple of £100 quid with Spandex, I have had good service. Likewise, PrintOne have been very helpful – I usually speak to Carol.

John

[Shaun Harris]

I’ve also dealt with Carol she is very helpful.

I’ve been trying to mix a duotone colour to match a horrible green used by a customer but just end up with a streaky mess.

[John Cooper]

You’re ahead of me Shaun, I’m still stuggling with Omega 😀 full stop!

I’ll get there.

[Martin Armitage]

I have a leaflet in front of me now that says "we collect used Edge cartridges & FX refill cradles & resupply to our clients free of charge" this is from Print One, I never had to pay for a cart.

[John Cooper]

That’s interesting Martin

I’ve purchased 20 refills from Printone. They have supplied the roll ends but no caddies. I’ve had to buy these at £20 a shot from Spandex.

It’ll be interesting to hear from others on this.

Perhaps if I had caddies to return and returned them, I might benefit, but I don’t as I’m new on the Gerber scene.

John

[Shaun Harris]

I recently bought from Print One and wasn’t charged for cradles

[Martin Armitage]

You do need to ask for them they dont automatically send the carts with the refills
Mart

[John Cooper]

I’m just shooting an email to Printone to get the story. They were always aware I had no caddies.

Strange.

[Michael Potter]

We buy from print1 in the USA nice people and caddies have come with the foil every time. mind you we have asked each time as well.
cheers Mike

[John Cooper]

Here’s a reply from the MD of Print One UK, I have permission to reproduce it here for the benefit of others – hope that’s okay. Incidentally, I have the Edge FX:

Hi John

Carol has passed your email to me to offer information to correctly inform you about our service for Edge users

Edge I & II

Print One UK take the original Edge cartridges and modify them – remanufacture them – we make them refillable

Print One UK collect these cartridges from Edge users and modify them free of charge – and resupply clients with them

We then sell clients EdgeFoils Refills that fit the modified cartridge – Clients make a saving by using refills

This sytem was designed by Print One to be the best cost effective system for our clients – we did a good job

Edge FX

This is a different matter

The FX refill system is not quite the same as we’ve made for Edge I & II

FX has a refill assembly which fits into a Caddie rather than a refillable cartridge.

Print One collect & recycle spare FX refill assemblies and indeed supply those recycled components FREE to clients

The caddies are only available from Spandex.Caddies must be bought from Spandex by Edge users

But – you need to buy caddies regardless who you buy refills from – Spandex or Print One

This system is designed by Gerber

I’m sorry we can’t develope our service to make the FX refill system – we recycle existing USED components only

Print One is the ONLY alternative FX refill supplier – other suppliers have ignored clients needs

Print One will continue to support the Edge to the limit allowed by Spandex

We will continue to offer our services & save you money

I’m sure you understand – this is not Print One being awkward with clients

Best Regards

Dave Standen

MD Print One UK

[Shaun Harris]

Sounds fair to me.

[Michael Potter]

well now we all know?

[Shaun Harris]

Does anybody know if there is such a thing as an opaque static cling?

[Peter Normington]

It comes in white if thats what you mean Shaun?

Peter

[Shaun Harris]

I’ve got clear and white but a customer has asked if he can have opaque.
His labels have a solid outline with a clear centre with some text and a logo in the centre but he wants opaque centre!!!!

customer is king. along with his design & marketing people

[Martin Armitage]

Reverse print onto clear static cling then overprint the areas that need to be opaque.
Hope this helps
Mart.

[Shaun Harris]

Thanks Mart

I did think of flood coating with clearcoat or is there another foil I could use?

[Peter Normington]

quote Shaun Harris:

Thanks Mart

I did think of flood coating with clearcoat or is there another foil I could use?

Shaun can you define your meaning of opaque?
to me it just means you cant see through it?

Peter

[Shaun Harris]

I know exactly what you are thinking Peter

Why is he thinking of using CLEAR coat?

I agree with you opaque would be so that you can’t see through it but I was going to experiment with clear coat to see if it would change the clarity of the static cling.

What I need is opaque coat :lol1:

[Shaun Harris]

quote Martin Armitage:

Reverse print onto clear static cling then overprint the areas that need to be opaque.
Hope this helps
Mart.

Overprint with what?

[Peter Normington]

Shaun
Clearcoat is just that, it is meant as a protective, you can overprint with any foil, but white or even silver are the two main ones for using as a block-out

Peter

[Shaun Harris]

I know where you are coming from Peter.

I think the effect the customer is after would give it almost like an fine etch look but I can’t see that being available in static

[Martin Armitage]

I dont think your going to find a foil that will give you an etch glass effect, but I would imagine you could reverse print onto etch glass vinyl, or you could possibly apply etch glass vinyl to clear static cling in the areas that you need it to be opaque (on the reverse), if it is something simple it might work.
Mart

[Shaun Harris]

Thanks everyone.

I showed the customer 2 samples this afternoon one flood coated with white which he chose.

So we are sorted.

[Paul Humble]

WHat kind of money is a Gerber FX these days?

[Jason Davies]

Hi Paul, have you caught the bug? I reckon the full package will probably only set you back about £12K which includes FX, cutter and software as well as a good range of foils, this may have dropped a bit but they were retailing about £16K when first released.

Jason

[Paul Humble]

quote Jason Davies:

Hi Paul, have you caught the bug? I reckon the full package will probably only set you back about £12K which includes FX, cutter and software as well as a good range of foils, this may have dropped a bit but they were retailing about £16K when first released.

Jason

I was VERY impressed with the decals you sent Jason and I was interested. But at £12K ill have to wait till things pick back up.

[Peter Normington]

Paul, you could always look for a second hand edge 2
the fx was only a faclift model, and uses a cassette system which saved lifting the "lid" for foil changes, print quality was not improved (correct me if I am wrong)

Peter

[Jason Davies]

Agree with Peter, just be careful if you look on e**y as there are loads of Edge scams going on.

Jason