New VersaCAMM

[Rodney Gold]

Where has a new versacam been announced? I know Roland are marketing a sublimation model and there is a FLJ-300 coming out , which is a flatbed. (its listed in the latest version of Colorip)

[Rodney Gold]

Oh , sorry , I saw on the japanese site the SP-540v
Its as easy to convert a wider machine to true solvent as any other.
The makers of the Cadet already have a 54″ wide model called the Grenadier , will be interesting to see how they treat this one. Roland already have a 54″ model , the SC 540 ex (tho its a 6 ink double head model)

[autosign]

What they need is a smaller versacamm/cadet. At least in the physical dimensions of the machine. Then I’d be able to buy one to fit in my small workplace.

Any manufacturers planning a machine with a smaller footprint?

[J. Hulme]

quote Rodney Gold:

Oh , sorry , I saw on the japanese site the SP-540v
Its as easy to convert a wider machine to true solvent as any other.
The makers of the Cadet already have a 54″ wide model called the Grenadier , will be interesting to see how they treat this one. Roland already have a 54″ model , the SC 540 ex (tho its a 6 ink double head model)

Hi Rodney, but does this mean the earlier version of the VersaCAMM / Cadet becomes less desireable than the new wider one, does it mean the first version is now *cheaper* and residual values may have fallen as it’s taken it’s place in supersession?

[Rodney Gold]

I doubt that values will drop . Its the same as asking if the 1.6 litre Shlrod gondola is less desireable then the 2.8 litre new model which has just been announced and will this drop the price of the 1.6. Obviously the bigger models pricing will be higher and a lot will depend on what a customer needs and wants and how much extra they will or can afford to pay. There seems to be no “real” speed advantage with the new machine and the only thing one gets is extra width. It’s not a new generation vastly improved model.
At the versacam level there is really only one worthwhile improvement , and thats speed to print. Size is really secondary to most users as if one did want to do more production large format stuff , one would have gone for the bigger faster and a lot more expensive , SC540 pro II.

I amortise the price of my machine over 2 years , IE have to make sure its paid off over that time as the next best thing since sliced bread in this market will be the “desireable” one , not just a new Roland. I doubt my machine will have any great value in late 2006?
BUT If you think about it , the versacam or like machines will still be producing saleable output for many years. It will still have taken your business into new markets and so forth. One can’t view a machine like this as an investment with a residual value or agonise over how well it holds it. So long as its producing , its making money. Its not even a prime producer , the money is made in this business by offering finished output , not raw print.
It’s really only going to affect new prospective purchasers as they now have to decide which size they go. I think the bigger machine is more a response to other mnfgrs that have or intend to introduce a Versacam competitor and will use extra print width as a selling tool.
One other point one must bear in mind is this , a top of the range zillion megapixel camera doesnt make you Alfred Eisenstad and neither does a computer controlled sewing machine make one Coco Chanell. Same thing applys to a vinyl cutter/printer , having the biggest and best and fastest does NOT give you a creative edge.