Help sourcing a printer & laminator please?

[Aaron McCulla]

Have you a budget in mind? Are you looking new or second hand?

I started out with a 30" roland sp300 and it was a great machine but a lot of suppliers don’t do medias in that width.

If you have the space and budget I would recommend a 54" machine.

[Billy Lawton]

Hi Aaron,
I was thinking of keeping under £10k for both the printer and the laminator. Space is OK so I could get a 54" in easily I think.

New or Recon would be great, but I would need a 12 month support I think as I’ve never run one before although I’ve been preparing artwork for them for 28 years 🙂

Thank you for your reply!

[Aaron McCulla]

I moved to a roland sp540i with a basic easy mount laminator. And have to say it was a great machine. I still have it and run it most days. Along with other machines. Eco solvent ink is grand and just make sure to let prints outgas for 24 hours before laminating.

[Billy Lawton]

Brilliant thank you – can you recommend your machine supplier?

Appreciate this.

[Aaron McCulla]

Im in Northern Ireland but my machines have came through Grafityp. Cant comment on after sales/ service as a guy local to me does it.

[Billy Lawton]

Thanks buddy.

I’ll contact a few places.

I’m locking up now – have a great weekend.

🙂

[David Hammond]

Try signmaster systems in whitchurch, they have refurb’d machines.

[Billy Lawton]

Thanks David! [emoji106]

[Robert Lambie]

A couple of options for you…

Printmax are Official solvent printer supplier to the UK Sign Group and offer both Mimaki and Roland machines, laminators etc etc. http://www.printmax.co.uk/

Also try http://www.csl-digital.com who should also be able to help with a UV option.

Just a thought, when you say UV Safe, do you mean UV Stable Inks and you will then laminate?

[Billy Lawton]

Thanks Robert,
That’s a great help. I will contact printmax.

Yes I think I mean UV stable inks before I laminate – so they don’t fade quickly?

Sorry – newbie printer!

[Hugh Potter]

Also worth looking for a used HP Latex (L26500 or newer), quite a few of those come up at very reasonable money, heads are a consumable so are easily changed by the user, ready to laminate with no outgassing etc to worry about.

pro’s and con’s with every machine, the only I’ve found with the HP is an occasional tendency for the head to slightly distort the media.. only noticable when contour cutting small decals but I’m now aware of the fix for this within the cut program so shouldn’t be an issue once I’ve sorted that!

Best,
HUgh

[Billy Lawton]

Thank you Hugh. Really good advice. 🙂

[Hugh Potter]

you’re welcome! TH L26500 is also 61", while the machine is about 2.4m long in total, it is front loading so doesn’t need to have any rear access except when changing the waste ink bucket etc. It’s was that access issue and the instantly ready to use prints that swung it for me – I just don’t have the space to be dragging the printer about to get to the back of it, or to leave prints around to outgas!

[Paul Bellard]

I would echo what Hugh said. Solvent is not the way to go as a business we certainly haven’t regretted the move from solvent to Latex and if you are interested we have 2 HPL2600’s for sale one with warranty until mid Feb.

[Billy Lawton]

Thanks Paul – can you pm your details – I’m out at the moment but will get in touch v soon

[Paul Bellard]

quote Billy Lawton:

Thanks Paul – can you pm your details – I’m out at the moment but will get in touch v soon

Hi Billy 0141 941 4193 is my tel number.

[Philip Gibbs]

We recently bought a secondhand printer (mutoh valuejet 1614) from Verter Print in Milton Keynes. The number is 07443003005. He is called Alex and he has been really helpful and spent ages with us showing us how to use it.

[Billy Lawton]

Thanks Philip, that’s really helpful. Cheers buddy. [emoji106]